Posted by USA on January 03, 2003 at 12:20:38:

In Reply to: Disco auto transmission shifter posted by Colihan on July 23, 2002 at 12:02:45:

This is not an easy job by any means, but it is doable. I just finished replacing on a 97 Disco. First, carefully remove the "frame" around the gear select with a screwdriver and the burl surround over the window control area, then take a small screwdriver and press tabs on both seat adjustors (they break if pushed too far).
Next, remove the four small phillips screws holding the window control unit. Pull out and remove window control connectors (mark with tape if not sure where they go back before removing - they are colored).
Next, remove rubber mat laying over console area. Then remove two screws up front and two same screws inside cubby box. Next, (IMPORTANT: cannot take the console out without removing the pin that goes through the emergency brake handle. Handle needs to go to almost 90 degrees.)take a large screwdriver and carefully remove the leather/ bracket from the console and find and remove this pin. It is held on with a slip washer and can be easily removed. (putting it on takes a little more time since the cable has tension downwards).
Next, take a razor blade or small sharp screwdriver and pry the top off the gear stick. You will then see a rectangular washer. Remove this (careful- it pops a bit since button is spring loaded) and put aside with plastic piece washer held on. Then take a longer needlenose plier and loosen nut that holds handle on underneath (does not need to come out, just fully unscrew.) With a little elbow work, the handle will come off.
As mentioned, pull emergency brake handle up to almost 90 degrees and then lift rear of console up high. This will cause two flanges on top front of console to go under "indentations" on dash and then you can remove the whole console.
Take a long handled screwdriver and push foam backaround the gear select area. You will see four Phillips head screws holding this unit on. Remove screws and set aside.lift out the rectangular unit and take to workbench.Turn upside down and remove four more screws underneath. This will allow you to replace the plastic sheath with a new one.
In logical order, reinstall all parts, connect seat and window controls and pin for emergency brake. Since this was the hardest, I recommend taking a short screwdriver and guiding holes together on one side and putting pin through coming from the passenger (right) side.

The entire procedure took me 2.75 hours and that was due the fact that I had no accurate information to remove various screws and pins. Should really take about 1.5 hours to do the whole remove, repair and reinstall.