In my situation the OEM shift **** was fixed into the black ring inside the top of the shift boot very firmly. I removed the very bottom large ring assembly, both top and bottom large rings, together using nylon trim tools...very carefully.

Then pulled the OEM **** off with the boot assembly. Working from the rear, or bottom of the OEM **** from the inside of the shift boot, I used a screwdriver to pry the **** tabs inwards until I could pull the OEM **** free from the black securing ring at the top of the shift boot. That inner top ring is secured to the shift boot. I wouldn't try and separate that at all.

Take your time and work around the clips until you can feel the **** loosening up.

 

Good news!

"New" GP shift **** is installed!

Thank you to all the people commenting on this thread and specially to ECSTuning, Ghetto Mr Bob and fastzombie !!!

The problem was that the lower ring on the GP shift **** was installed in the wrong way (up side and down side changed). Then I was trying to separate the lower ring in the incorrect way (only way was by using a clamp).

The OEM shift **** was attached to the leather only by the lower ring, then, with a flat screwdriver (and patience) I could separate the upper ring from the lower ring and then, I could separate the white tabs from the OEM lower ring. Separate the lower ring from the upper ring in the OEM shift **** was easy (without damaging the leather) since, obviously, the lower ring was installed correctly in the OEM stuff.

At this point I could check that! The lower ring in the GP shift **** was with the upside and downside changed!

Removing the OEM shift **** from it original OEM lower ring/leather was very easy, but installing the new shift **** was extremely easy (just checking the correct position of the numbers and considering the small plastic "guide" to insert correctly the white tabs.

Thanks for this day, people !!!

 

I'd just done my a month or so back so it was fresh in my mind haha. I didn't realize what you meant by the lower ring being attached before your picture...seems odd it came that way (with the lower ring on the ****).

Anyways, congrats and glad I could help in even the slightest way

 

Since it is a used GP shift ****, it is possible that he has sent deliberately in that way because it is much (much, very much) more difficult to remove it. Installed in the right way, maybe the ring could easily get lost.

Again, thank you very much for your time and help Ghetto Mr Bob!