[Z06] Help Removing Stock shift knob!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield NH
Help Removing Stock shift ****!
Im having trouble with removing that metal clip! if anyone found an easier way or w.e please let me know. I had to quit, i was getting so frustrated lol! i tried using a flat head screwdriver and prying it up, but still failed! anything will help im sure!! thanks
Evan R
Evan R
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
I just put a shifter in, so it's still fresh in my head.
Here's what I did;
Spray a little Liquid Wrench on the 'spike'
Used a small (about 4" long) pair of needle nose vice grips
Grabbed it by both sides and gave a little wiggle like pulling a tooth
Out it cam in about a dozen wiggles
I've also seen people in here that got two screwdrivers and place one on each side of the retainer to pop it out.
Here's what I did;
Spray a little Liquid Wrench on the 'spike'
Used a small (about 4" long) pair of needle nose vice grips
Grabbed it by both sides and gave a little wiggle like pulling a tooth
Out it cam in about a dozen wiggles
I've also seen people in here that got two screwdrivers and place one on each side of the retainer to pop it out.
Supporting Vendor - Supporting Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: FLORIDASPEEDSHOP.COM
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'14-'15
The two small flathead screwdrivers on either side ,left and right, works the best. If your worried about tearing the **** up you can always pad either side with a papertowel.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Irving (Dallas) Texas
Hopefully what is going on with my shifter doesnt happen to you. That demon key has turned out to be the devil in my case. Went to put on a new shift **** and turned out the previous owner had already gone to town on my shifter key. It looked like it had been tapped multiple times. I couldnt get and bolt or screw to re-tap into it. So now im a few days into the process slowly using a dremel to work every last bit of the key out so I can remove the shifter. Its still not out but im working on it! Why did chevy every put these impossible things in? Why nut just use a bolt or screw to keep shift **** in place? 
Good Luck
Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 55
From: b.b. n.j.
Hopefully what is going on with my shifter doesnt happen to you. That demon key has turned out to be the devil in my case. Went to put on a new shift **** and turned out the previous owner had already gone to town on my shifter key. It looked like it had been tapped multiple times. I couldnt get and bolt or screw to re-tap into it. So now im a few days into the process slowly using a dremel to work every last bit of the key out so I can remove the shifter. Its still not out but im working on it! Why did chevy every put these impossible things in? Why nut just use a bolt or screw to keep shift **** in place?
Good Luck
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield NH
lol thanks alot guys! would oil just work aswell..i have no clue what liquid wrench is or where to find it. Walmart?!!...lol..i will let you know how it goes. I dont think anyone has touched the **** before because the clip piece wasnt even chewed up or touched at all! until me yesterday anyway lmao
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,937
Likes: 1,925
From: NC
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Demon key
Actually some of them come out quite easily. Some though can be a real pain. I have removed many and usually the liquid wrench and a set of small long nose vise grips will do the job. But I remember one that was truly a pain. Good luck.
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Brett Foote
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Woodstock Ga
One of the "ears" on the demon key on my Z was broken off already, making it even worse. I tried prying up the one side w/ a paint can opener, various screw drivers, etc without luck. Grabbing it with a pair of vise grips proved fruitless, couldn't budge it. Used every ounce of strength I could summon, about gave myself an aneurysm or something I'm sure.
What ended up working for me was kinda jury-rigged, but I gripped the key w/ the vise grips coming straight down from the top. Then I put a large screw driver horizontally through the space in the jaws of the vise grip above the demon key (Making kind of a T-shape with the vise grips and screwdriver). Then with a hammer turned upside down with the head underneath the screwdriver, I pulled up smashing the underside of the screwdriver repeatedly. Hit w/ the hammer as close to the vise grips as possible, and had my knee bracing the otherside of the screwdriver so it didn't just pivot. Kind of a homemade crappy slide hammer. Came out pretty quickly at that point actually.
What ended up working for me was kinda jury-rigged, but I gripped the key w/ the vise grips coming straight down from the top. Then I put a large screw driver horizontally through the space in the jaws of the vise grip above the demon key (Making kind of a T-shape with the vise grips and screwdriver). Then with a hammer turned upside down with the head underneath the screwdriver, I pulled up smashing the underside of the screwdriver repeatedly. Hit w/ the hammer as close to the vise grips as possible, and had my knee bracing the otherside of the screwdriver so it didn't just pivot. Kind of a homemade crappy slide hammer. Came out pretty quickly at that point actually.
Last edited by GM Fan; Feb 1, 2010 at 02:26 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 838
Likes: 17
From: Maple Valley WA
St. Jude Donor '10
EASIEST WAY: Clamp on to it with a pair of vice grips, then start tapping the vice grips upward with a hammer while holding the grips in place. It'll come right out after a good 10-12 taps.
I wouldn't personally spray liquid wrench, or any other lubricant, anywhere in the interior of my car. And, seriously, don't use motor oil, whatever you do...
I wouldn't personally spray liquid wrench, or any other lubricant, anywhere in the interior of my car. And, seriously, don't use motor oil, whatever you do...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield NH
i just dropped a tad bit of PB blaster on it, Obviously not spraying it everywhere lol, used the 2 flat head screwdrivers and it finally came right out. Easy after the PB and the 2 screwdrivers, so again thanks so much guys, so much good help on this site i love it!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 403
Likes: 2
From: Allen TX
EASIEST WAY: Clamp on to it with a pair of vice grips, then start tapping the vice grips upward with a hammer while holding the grips in place. It'll come right out after a good 10-12 taps.
I wouldn't personally spray liquid wrench, or any other lubricant, anywhere in the interior of my car. And, seriously, don't use motor oil, whatever you do...
I wouldn't personally spray liquid wrench, or any other lubricant, anywhere in the interior of my car. And, seriously, don't use motor oil, whatever you do...
This method worked quite well for me.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 3
From: pasadena in the great state of TEXAS
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
lol thanks alot guys! would oil just work aswell..i have no clue what liquid wrench is or where to find it. Walmart?!!...lol..i will let you know how it goes. I dont think anyone has touched the **** before because the clip piece wasnt even chewed up or touched at all! until me yesterday anyway lmao
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Pine Beach NJ
Whoever messed with mine before I owned the car really mangle the clip. I ended up having to just cut the **** off because I couldnt deal with. Pretty crap design IMO on GM's part. There is a hundred different ways to secure a shift **** and that had to be the worst way to do it.