First of all, why are you removing the shifter; in my case it was to replace the shifter boot as the cheap plastic method to secure it to the console was cracked. Otherwise, if you just need to get below the boot, you can carefully unclip this bottom surround.

contrary to the bulletin posted by Volvo which tells you to cut off the shifter knob to remove it, I have successfully removed the knob without damage.

In my case, the boot was already cut-off, but the key here is to pull straight up without undue tension on the pivot ball assembly under the boot. What I did was to clamp onto the shaft with Vise-Grips just below the plastic `hat' under the knob itself. This `hat is part of the knob assembly upon removal, but looks like a separate piece when assembled. This small piece covers the top of the boot stitching for a finished appearance.

Once the Vise Grips were secured, I took a large flat screwdriver under the `hat' prying it up using the grips as my pivot. It takes a fair bit of force to pop it off, but doing it this way prevents any tension stress to the lower pivot, which is a plastic ball.

Once this is off, then the boot pops off as well. Replacing the shifter is by just pushing it straight down with the tooth engaged in the shaft's slot until it `clicks' into its retaining groove.

Good Luck!