Shift Knob
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Shift ****
Hello All,
I am trying to replace my factory shift **** (C5) for an aftermarket ****, but I can't seem to get the old one off. Do I need any special tools or is it as simple as unscrewing the old one and installing the new one. I'm not sure how to remove it.
Regards,
Varian
I am trying to replace my factory shift **** (C5) for an aftermarket ****, but I can't seem to get the old one off. Do I need any special tools or is it as simple as unscrewing the old one and installing the new one. I'm not sure how to remove it.
Regards,
Varian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
On the manual, you need to pull the pattern panel by gently prying it off with a flat head. You'll find the daemon key under that. This is the hardest thing to pull off a car. Lol
Basically, you need to pull the key straight out. I used a vice grip and a pry bar.
Once you get the daemon key out, you can spin the **** off. The daemon key its basically a pin to prevent the **** from spinning.
Basically, you need to pull the key straight out. I used a vice grip and a pry bar.
Once you get the daemon key out, you can spin the **** off. The daemon key its basically a pin to prevent the **** from spinning.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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On the manual, you need to pull the pattern panel by gently prying it off with a flat head. You'll find the daemon key under that. This is the hardest thing to pull off a car. Lol
Basically, you need to pull the key straight out. I used a vice grip and a pry bar.
Once you get the daemon key out, you can spin the **** off. The daemon key its basically a pin to prevent the **** from spinning.
Basically, you need to pull the key straight out. I used a vice grip and a pry bar.
Once you get the daemon key out, you can spin the **** off. The daemon key its basically a pin to prevent the **** from spinning.
Did you mean "demon" perchance? 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,213
Likes: 4,575
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
First remove the shift pattern cap to expose the wedged metal "demon key" that holds the shift **** in place. To remove the shift pattern cap without damaging it or the leather **** I used a thin plastic trim removal tool. You can easily make one from a thin piece of scrap plastic.
To remove the demon key, I used a narrow nose vise grip to prevent contact with the stock leather ****. With the vise grip firmly in place on the demon key, use the flat side of a metal hammer and keep a sharp steady rythm tapping the hammer against the elbow of the vise grip while pulling and the demon key will come right out.
Here are some helpful links:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...hift-****.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...t_install.html
http://augerresources.com/instructio...ebrakeboot.htm
To remove the demon key, I used a narrow nose vise grip to prevent contact with the stock leather ****. With the vise grip firmly in place on the demon key, use the flat side of a metal hammer and keep a sharp steady rythm tapping the hammer against the elbow of the vise grip while pulling and the demon key will come right out.
Here are some helpful links:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...hift-****.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...t_install.html
http://augerresources.com/instructio...ebrakeboot.htm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
First remove the shift pattern cap to expose the wedged metal "demon key" that holds the shift **** in place. To remove the shift pattern cap without damaging it or the leather **** I used a thin plastic trim removal tool. You can easily make one from a thin piece of scrap plastic.
To remove the demon key, I used a narrow nose vise grip to prevent contact with the stock leather ****. With the vise grip firmly in place on the demon key, use the flat side of a metal hammer and keep a sharp steady rythm tapping the hammer against the elbow of the vise grip while pulling and the demon key will come right out.
Here are some helpful links:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...hift-****.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...t_install.html
http://augerresources.com/instructio...ebrakeboot.htm
To remove the demon key, I used a narrow nose vise grip to prevent contact with the stock leather ****. With the vise grip firmly in place on the demon key, use the flat side of a metal hammer and keep a sharp steady rythm tapping the hammer against the elbow of the vise grip while pulling and the demon key will come right out.
Here are some helpful links:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...hift-****.html
http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...t_install.html
http://augerresources.com/instructio...ebrakeboot.htm
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Le Mans Master
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From: Los Angeles California
Team Owner
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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Maybe capitalize it next time: 
Daemon Key
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Good advice on how to get the shift **** off. While the auto **** is easier to remove, the manual one is not bad once you get that retaining pin out of the center of the ****. I used vice grips to clamp down on the top of the key and then gently tapped up on the side of the vice grips with a hammer to pop it out.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Good advice on how to get the shift **** off. While the auto **** is easier to remove, the manual one is not bad once you get that retaining pin out of the center of the ****. I used vice grips to clamp down on the top of the key and then gently tapped up on the side of the vice grips with a hammer to pop it out.
Unfortunately even that method doesn't work for some guys. For the absolute most stubborn key, I think the drill a hole and screw in a self-tapping screw and use it to pull it out method, maybe using a slide-hammer or even Vice-Grips locked onto the screw and smack it upwards with a hammer.
Too bad many a good shift **** has been ruined by impatient guys that go medieval.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I have also herd of people calling the demon key a Death Spike 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
First time I've heard death spike. But at least now you know where it gets its nick-name. I'm sure it'd be easy to remove it now knowing how we did it... But it certainly isn't something I'd want to do again.
Cruising
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
For me it took longer to gather up the tools and walk out to the car than to get the pin out. I use a small ballpean hammer and the regular vice grips. Tapped maybe twenty or thirty times as described int one of the links above and it came right out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 889
Likes: 11
From: Houston-ish
Mine was pretty stubborn. Had to put one pair of vice grips on the key, another pair onto the first pair of vice grips to form an L shape so I could hammer up on the second pair to get it out of there.
After removing it the first time, I never had that problem again. Removed it a few months later with no problem.
After removing it the first time, I never had that problem again. Removed it a few months later with no problem.
Cruising
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Pretty ingenuous putting two vise grips together. I think the key is using a small enough hammer so there is room to swing it with some fource. That's why I mentioned a small ballpean.
Last edited by Maz 7; Jun 4, 2011 at 03:45 PM.