looks nice, good job 
C6 handbrake in C5
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
C6 handbrake in C5
If you ever wondered whether C6 handbrake lever fits C5, wonder no more. It's a direct bolt on, took me 15 minutes to install (not including stitching a new leather handle).
Why, you ask? Because I don't like the thin button of the original, but more because I'm making a new console and wanted more clearance a'la C6.
The angle is sharper and the lever bends more towards the passenger side.
Why, you ask? Because I don't like the thin button of the original, but more because I'm making a new console and wanted more clearance a'la C6.
The angle is sharper and the lever bends more towards the passenger side.
Last edited by T5Mika; Jul 21, 2013 at 01:03 AM. Reason: Picture
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,415
Likes: 24,799
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 '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Your pic is not showing up. Please check it again - I'd like to see what the C6 handle looks like in a C5.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
If you ever wondered whether C6 handbrake lever fits C5, wonder no more. It's a direct bolt on, took me 15 minutes to install (not including stitching a new leather handle).
Why, you ask? Because I don't like the thin button of the original, but more because I'm making a new console and wanted more clearance a'la C6.
The angle is sharper and the lever bends more towards the passenger side.
Why, you ask? Because I don't like the thin button of the original, but more because I'm making a new console and wanted more clearance a'la C6.
The angle is sharper and the lever bends more towards the passenger side.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
It requires a little cutting underneath to fit into the C6 tip on the lever, and some dremeling of the C5 button to slide and glue the C6 button on.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
You know what? If you don't need to move the handle out of the way and only want to change the looks, the C5 lever can be modified to accept the C6 tip and button.
It requires a little cutting underneath to fit into the C6 tip on the lever, and some dremeling of the C5 button to slide and glue the C6 button on.
It requires a little cutting underneath to fit into the C6 tip on the lever, and some dremeling of the C5 button to slide and glue the C6 button on.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
If you don't care about the silver button, sewing a suede boot and handle on the C5 lever is super easy. You can just pull the original boot out, detach the handle and take them to an upholstery store and they can do it while you wait for sure. I sewed both myself from a new calf skin, and it took me maybe an hour, tops.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
If you don't care about the silver button, sewing a suede boot and handle on the C5 lever is super easy. You can just pull the original boot out, detach the handle and take them to an upholstery store and they can do it while you wait for sure. I sewed both myself from a new calf skin, and it took me maybe an hour, tops.
Did you have to remove the seat?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
By the way, the C6 boot may not fit without modifications, I did not try that. It's possible to replace lever without removing the boot, just slide through. To replace the boot, the center console needs to be removed. There's a plastic frame in the C6 boot that needs to be removed, and some velcro needs to be glued to one side.
The hardest part is to replace the cable. The spring loaded ratchet can be pre-loaded with a suitable tool and locked in place with a thin screw driver through a small hole in the ratchet and the lever. Then the cable can be removed and replaced more easily. I still managed to cut my thumb pretty bad.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
I did remove the seat, no room to get to the bolts otherwise.
By the way, the C6 boot may not fit without modifications, I did not try that. It's possible to replace lever without removing the boot, just slide through. To replace the boot, the center console needs to be removed. There's a plastic frame in the C6 boot that needs to be removed, and some velcro needs to be glued to one side.
The hardest part is to replace the cable. The spring loaded ratchet can be pre-loaded with a suitable tool and locked in place with a thin screw driver through a small hole in the ratchet and the lever. Then the cable can be removed and replaced more easily. I still managed to cut my thumb pretty bad.
By the way, the C6 boot may not fit without modifications, I did not try that. It's possible to replace lever without removing the boot, just slide through. To replace the boot, the center console needs to be removed. There's a plastic frame in the C6 boot that needs to be removed, and some velcro needs to be glued to one side.
The hardest part is to replace the cable. The spring loaded ratchet can be pre-loaded with a suitable tool and locked in place with a thin screw driver through a small hole in the ratchet and the lever. Then the cable can be removed and replaced more easily. I still managed to cut my thumb pretty bad.
I will let everyone knows how it goes.