Shift Knob Won't Twist Off

I am having issues removing the shift knob, when I try to twist it it becomes loose and slides off the shift rod but I can't remove as it hits something and just wobbles of the rod not letting me twist off the actual knob off.

Is it possible that the inner thread or lock was broken previously? I have a 2021 4runner TRD. If so any suggestion on how to remove the knob? I will take it to the dealership eventually but want to get some thoughts.

 

There should be no issue with this. Rod has a plain tread and knob even if it has sleeve should just twist off. Turn counter clockwise, it doesn't require much force unless some one put tread locker on it during installation. Give it hell, don't be shy - Lefty/Loosey.

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

Is there a hidden hex set screw, maybe even under plastic if not visible like mine
Goodluck

 

No hidden setscrew on any OEM shift knobs.

 

Why are you removing the shifter?

 

From my experience, I believe the oem shift knob has a plastic threaded insert inside that can break free or strip with enough twisting motion. I ordered an oem TRD shifter from Toyota, and when I installed it, it didn't seem tight enough, so I turned it a bit more, still not tight. I decided to take it off, and it just spun like you're describing. I was finally able to remove it by pulling up as hard as I could while turning it...needless to say, I didn't keep that knob.

As said above, maybe someone used thread locker, and that insert came loose when you tried to remove the knob.

 

Hey this is exactly the issue I am having, I was twisting to tighten up the shifter as it was loose, I am not sure if I broke the insert inside the knob but it spins now every time I try to loosen it. I was afraid to pull it since I don't want to break the knob. Once you pulled the knob off did the OEM replacement worked as normal again?

 

I was trying to tighten the shifter as it was loosed and noticed that it spun after turning it.

 

In my case, I was trying a TRD knob instead of the billet aluminum knob I got. After I couldn’t tighten it up, I got the TRD knob off by pulling up and twisting, I sent it back to the Toyota dealer I got it from, and went back to the Ellis Precision billet knob because I have no problem getting that one tight. No more oem knobs for me.