CLB Advice
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: El Segundo CA
CLB Advice
Just looking for opinions here. I live in Los Angeles and I plan on buying a 2000 C5 from the midwest in the next few weeks. I want to fly out there and drive it back. My biggest concern (besides hitting armadillos) is getting stuck because the column locked up somewhere in the middle of the desert. If no work was previously done on the steering column, would you buy a CLB in advance and install it before the trip home? Is it pretty easy to install quickly? What tools would I need? Am I being too paranoid?
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 131
Likes: 4
From: Virginia Beach VA
If you plan to take a CLB with you, you will need a T15 torx screw driver and a small standard flat screw driver. There are two torx screws under the driver knee bolster and and one each behind the interior temp senor grill and behind the trunk release/fog lamp switch. Use the flat driver to pop the two covers off to get to the torx screws. After that, it's all done in a matter of minutes. By the way, where in the midwest are you flying to? I flew to San Antonio and drove back to Ohio. Very enjoyable ride...only saw one armadillo...he was already dead though...lol!! Enjoy the trip!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,056
Likes: 264
From: Slower than a speeding bullet................ Fort Lauderdale, FL
The column will not lock while the car is running.
Just don't turn off the ignition
Install a CLB after you get it home if it doesn't already have one.
Just don't turn off the ignition
Install a CLB after you get it home if it doesn't already have one.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
Take a CLB with you and install it before you drive back...OR if it were me and I knew that NO recalls had been done to it, I would turn on the key, ensure the steering is NOT locked, disconnect the column lock motor wiring harness and drive it home that way. It will complain at you on the DIC everytime you drive it so you'll have to reset it on the DIC, but should be fine until you get home and have your CLB in hand.
John
John
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,774
Likes: 24,683
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If it were me, yes, I would buy a CLB and install it before the return trip home. Just a little added insurance that you won't have problems on the way back.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 23,900
Likes: 218
From: Foxtrot Delta Tango
I installed one yesterday...40 minutes top..and most of that was getting the knee pad back in place...Why not have a stress free drive home.....get one before you go...even if you get the knee pad out and see that it has a K harness...replace it with your CLB....you might be glad you did.....
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Get the CLB and never look back! 
It's not difficult to install, and the instructions are straightforward.
I've had mine since I bought my car in 2000 and never had any issues. GM still can't get their stuff right so don't even consider their recall.
It's not difficult to install, and the instructions are straightforward.
I've had mine since I bought my car in 2000 and never had any issues. GM still can't get their stuff right so don't even consider their recall.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by Nighthawk7
Oklahoma. Is it tornado season yet?
Have you gotten a GM VIS report on the car? That will tell you what recall and warranty work has been done on it.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
Before I went out to get one I would ask the seller a simple question - does the steering wheel lock when the key is out of the ignition? If it does not, then a CLB will (most likely) be a waste of your money.