Heat and twist completed. Shift button drops in but not engaged.

[PKmode]

So I swapped shift knobs over the weekend. No big deal to do the heat and twist. Took my time and thought I did it well. I heated at the thickest point and twisted there with a solid 90* and seemingly stayed in the same orientation otherwise. The knob goes on far enough as it drops down to the 2nd line but when I pull the trigger safety out, the button snaps in and stays without lifting the plastic shift rod (won't leave P). Then I have to pull it off and use my hanger tool to get the button to pop back out enough to grab it.

Anyone have any tips? I did sand the keyway a bit and lube it to help with no success. I'm guessing it has to be an alignment thing with the buttons lever not sliding into the hole on the shift rod properly.

[S6Express]

So I swapped shift knobs over the weekend. No big deal to do the heat and twist. Took my time and thought I did it well. I heated at the thickest point and twisted there with a solid 90* and seemingly stayed in the same orientation otherwise. The knob goes on far enough as it drops down to the 2nd line but when I pull the trigger safety out, the button snaps in and stays without lifting the plastic shift rod (won't leave P). Then I have to pull it off and use my hanger tool to get the button to pop back out enough to grab it.

Anyone have any tips? I did sand the keyway a bit and lube it to help with no success. I'm guessing it has to be an alignment thing with the buttons lever not sliding into the hole on the shift rod properly.

Same exact thing happened to me. Perfectly aligned, sanded inside, lubed, and I just could not get the thing to engage. Most frustrating mod I've ever done. It's on there, but the locking mechanism is not functional. I inserted some foam inside the knob to push the button out. If you figure it out, let me know. I would need a new shift knob at this point.

[PKmode]

That doesn't sound promising. Although mine varies slightly as I cannot drive the car at all with the knob installed as the button doesn't lift the shift rod to get out of park.

[PKmode]

So on my lunch break, I decided to adjust the alignment position by giving it a little extra twist after seeing some pics on the internet. I now have a working shift knob, albeit not a fully retracting button but 50-75% there. That may be because I opened the hole a little bit on the top as well as the bottom so there is likely less stroke with the button due to this. It works well enough.

[S6Express]

That's what happened to me as well. I could get it to push in, but not release the button. The logical explanation is that the hole is not big enough, but whatever. I raised the white flag. Its working.

[bmre90]

there is a video somewhere on B8 forms where a user used duct tape to pull the trigger out. dont have the link available right now.

[PKmode]

Yeah, there's no need to show me that. Like I said, initially, it was dropping in all the way because the lever actuated by the button was not falling in to the slot on the plastic shift rod. After aligning that with some additional rotation, it works. Now it doesn't pop all the way out because I sanded the slot on the top end which pushes the lever back down.

As far as those who get there button stick in, I made a hook type tool with a coat hanger and it pulls down the lever, thus pushing out the button enough to grab it and put the safety back in.

[RAF_S7]

Not all knobs are created equally, even if they look similar.

On the C7 model, you have to use a C7 knob. So if it's an A6 say, you have to use an S6/S7/RS6/RS7 knob.

I bought what l thought was an RS7 knob off eBay to put on my S7, and had the exact symptoms you describe. Turned out it was an RS5 knob, which has a slightly different stick fitting.

I ended up buying a new one from the dealer

[SpectreGadget]

I ended up buying a new one from the dealer

Who did you buy yours from?

[PKmode]

I used the facelift knob that I got from Europrice

[SpectreGadget]

I used the facelift knob that I got from Europrice

Cool, thanks!

[A6sport]

Did you guys sand both the upper and lower inside of the pin? It is because of your experience and many others, that I did the cut, drill, tap, set-screw method. It just seemed a bit more exact.

It's not too late to try it, the more you manipulate the pit with heat and more sanding, the weaker it'll become. I think I spent 20-30 bucks on tiny drill bits, tap, and set screw.