2005-08 DODGE MAGNUM
shift boot installation guide

Shift boot installation

1. There is a small chrome cap on the bottom of the shift knob. You can remove it by taking a thin but wide flat head driver (wrap it in tape to not scratch anything) and push down wards on one side with it and your hand on the other. It may require a few positions to get it loose. It just pops on the knob. The knob will slide up with a small amount of force and leave you with a metal shaft.

2. Remove the chrome square ring on the shifter bezel. This can be done by hands if there’re small enough or you can use a gift card or the same tape wrapped screwdriver to pry it up. Work your way around the four sides and it will release itself.

3. Next, you will remove the bezel/cup holder plastic part. This will be done but grabbing the sides near the back half of the cup holders. You will be able to feel with your hands where the piece separates with ease. You are going to pry one side up at a time working your way to the dashboard until it pops out. Rotate it away from the bottom of the dash console and over the shifter. You can disconnect the illuminated cup holder lights and this time or just turn the part away and place it on the seat.

4. Since these cars do not come standard with a boot, there’s no way to connect them. You can do this by a couple of methods, there are bottles of glue that bond plastic to leather or you can do what I chose, and use Velcro around the shifter assembly to make the boot removable. That is up to you entirely.

5. Now it is recommended to test fit the boot to see how it will sit. Depending how you install the shifter rod through the boot, you might need to trim some of the excess material on the underside so the material does not interfere with shifting from park to drive and drive to park. Otherwise it will touch the assembly.

6. Take the new shift boot and align it with the shifter assembly, ensuring the sides are properly rotated.

7. This next step may take a couple of tries. Once the boot in over the shift rod, put the car in neutral to get the rod centered. Take a plastic card or use your fingers to get the sides of the new boot to fit inside the creases in the shift assembly.

8. Do not push the sides down so far it becomes stretched. Only do so enough so the flaps are not visible. You need as much slack as possible for the motions of the shift knob.

9. At this point, if you chose to use the special glue, ensure its seated properly and adequately applied. If you chose Velcro, ensure the sides are all pressed on the adhesive side of the Velcro you applied earlier to the assembly. Once installed and fitted to your liking, replace all items in the reverse order. The chrome trim you removed first will no longer be able to fit as the leather is too thick for it.

10. Be sure that with the pieces all reassembled that the flaps are still not visible and you can run through the gears properly. Adjust as necessary (this is why I chose Velcro, for the ease of adjustment and removal)

11. Enjoy your new leather or suede shift boot for your Charger, Magnum, or 300!

Installation of armrest cover for VES equipped cars only

1. Lift up cover showing the VES screen.

2. Locate and remove two Phillips head screws at the base of the cover.

3. Once removed, this will allow you to remove the cover assembly. At this point you will see two more of the same screws head the release latch. Remove these as well.

4. Now, firmly, but carefully, pry off the bottom black cover plate of the arm rest. Start in the corners and work your way from end to end and repeat as necessary as it’s a tight hold. It will release itself and will feel as if it broke. So long as you don’t gorilla handle it, and work all the corners and sides evenly it will come out intact. *** Do not pull or remove any of the rubber feet on the bottom. They will not expose any screws or help the removal at all. They will not be able to be reattached if removed. ***

5. With the cover removed, you will see four more screws holding the other half of the hinge on the cover. Remove and set aside these screws. This leaves you with only the lid.

6. Now, with a pair of needle nose pliers, staple remover, or thin pry bar, remove each of the staples on the underside.

7. Now with only a cover with foam padding on it, wipe it down to remove any oils or chemicals on it.

8. Align the stitching of your new cover on the indents made on the sides of the foam. This is a good indicator of the edges. It will not line up perfectly as the new piece is a little larger, but use it as a guide leaving an equal amount of material on either side of it. Ensure the piece is centered so the sides have enough material to wrap around. Also, if you choose an embroided design, make sure the design is positioned in the correct orientation.

9. After a test fit, spray an adhesive that can bond the plastic foam to leather. 3m has a large selection of these. Just read the can first for suitable applications.

10. After a couple of light coats, allow it to tack up and replace the new cover on the lid. You can reposition right after application so don’t worry about misplacing it…but do it quickly!

11. Allow the glue to bond and dry for an hour or so.

*** You will need a very heavy duty, narrow crown staple for this task. Do not attempt with your average hobby staple gun. An air powered or electric gun works best. You can also use leather glue but will require more time to dry and will take more time to hold the leather in place while it tacks and bonds to the plastic. ***

12. Come back and stretch the sides underneath. If you have embroidery, do the long sides first to smooth out any wrinkles on the leather from the stitching.

13. Ensure while stretching that you are not moving the leather off center. If you are, pull it up and apply more adhesive spray and wait more time.

14. When you start to stretch the sides, put a new staple on the middle of each side and evenly staple more on alternating sides to ensure the fit is tight. Once its tight, staple as many times as you can on each side to make double sure it wont be coming off.

15. The corners will possibly require you to trim off some of the material to get a staple in and the plastic cover back on.

16. Once dry, stapled/glue tight and trimmed to your liking and requirements, reassemble in the reverse order described above and show off to your friends and fellow car enthusiasts!

Installation of head rest covers

1. Remove original cover, likely by clipping the existing stitching off. You will possibly have a zipper, clip or Velcro holding the cover on making it much easier to remove. Pay no mind of damaging it, as you will now be installing a stellar cover from RLG!

2. Take a 1-gallon zip lock bag (or similarly strong) and split it down the sides so it folds out into a ~1’ x 2’ piece of plastic.

3. Put the plastic over the top of the bare headrest so there is an equal amount of material on both sides of the rest

4. Position the new leather cover over the headrest and give a tug firmly but delicately on all four sides, one and a time.

5. *** The design of this, and most, headrests does not allow a quick slip on as the middle of the padding is a lot thicker than the top. This will require you to squeeze the foam tightly while sliding the cover on so to not stretch or tear the stitching. Please use caution when doing so. ***

6. Once past the middle, thickest part of the foam you're home free. Wiggle the rest to the bottom and smooth out and wrinkles.

7. Align the Velcro tabs installed by RLG, pull them snugly and connect the halves.

8. If there is a little empty space at the bottom of the headrest that looks as if there is a pocket of space, that is fine. The original design of the covers use a very thick plastic latch that is discarded on the new covers.

9. Slide them newly installed and refreshed headrests in the seat back and admire your high quality, expertly crafted head rests