JOESMTOY

I would like to revive an age old discussion about changing the steering wheel in a c5 to that of a c6......


Heres what I want.

C6 wheel with steering wheel controls.

Heres what I have ..... C6 wheel with a modified single stage airbag that fits into the wheel so I can keep the airbag functional.

The upper steering shaft for making the splines match and not cutting a steering wheel up.

I am about to install the wheel and get my bezel modified with Dennis @ double D

Heres where I get stuck and need advice and tech support.

I have to get the clockspring for a 2007 and up C6 then make a few mods to the clock.

I dont have any idea what the wires on the car go to and I dont know what interface to use to get the pioneer double din to accept the button presses on the wheel.


Ok fellas ..... shock and amaze me. I know somebody on here knows what to do.

Vetteman Jack

Everything I have read on this subject has been it's not possible but the last I saw any information was in 2011. Perhaps it can now be done. If you do get this to work, please post up all the details, hopefully with pics and a parts list. I'm sure others will be interested in a mod like this.

Best of luck getting this to work.

jdvann

See link to thread below...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-interior.html

Martinez310

i near thought it would possible

StayinStock

We'll as far as the controls or the airbag firing im not sure... but yes you can physically make the wheel work because I managed to do it in an F-body and they all share the same basic steering column... heres a write up on my conversion.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...el-f-body.html

Jeff T.

No air bag, no deal here... My life is more important that a better wheel...

StayinStock

Yea id have a hard time doing it in my Vette, the F-body was one thing because its strictly a race/show car that sees some light street duty from time to time... airbag wasnt really essential. In the summer I daily my Vette in DC traffic, so I cant imagine not having the bag.

66dts-v

I don't know that I would call it a better wheel. Next to the seats, the OE Corvette wheel is the worst part. It seems like a lot of work for what is a parts bin wheel.

You can get a few very nice aftermarket wheels with functional air bags that require no mods.

StayinStock

matter of opinion i suppose, i love the stock c6 wheel personally

66dts-v

It's the same wheel as a Chevy Cobalt and Malibu. I bet you can even get a minivan with it. IMO if I am spending 3x as much as a Malibu, I would expect a slightly nicer wheel.

JOESMTOY

I have done some serious research to be sure I can have an airbag that will pop if the worst happens so take a look at this.

I opted for the airbag from a cobalt which gives me the chevy bowtie instead of the wrong corvette crossed flags.

I got the airbag out of a 2008 Chevy express which is still a one stage airbag like the c5 but is smaller so it will fit in the c6 airbag cover.

I also found out that the upper steering shaft for the c6 is the same that is in numerous other GM vehicles. So instead of chopping up a steering wheel and worrying about failure I am just going to change the shaft and the new wheel just bolts right on.

If you dont care about steering wheel controls you are pretty much finished. your c5 clock spring will plug into the new airbag and because it is the same bag.... NO AIR BAG LIGHT this gives you the functioning bag and the much nicer wheel.

My problem is that I want the audio controls too.... more extensive mod


I attached some pictures so you could see what I was talking about.

Jeff T.

Not looking for a wheel, just commented on the lack of an air bag...

JOESMTOY

jptgs1,

They point of this thread is so that people that want to change the wheel and have up to this point been dealing with the fact that there is no air bag no have an option.

This setup gives you both the wheel and the safety of an airbag.

DISCLAIMER. I AM NOT A GM ENGINEER. THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE SIR IS ON YOU!!!!!

ALL OF THIS WORKS IN THEORY. AN AIRBAG IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE DEVICE SO THESE MODS SHOULD RENDER YOU A FULLY FUNCTIONING AIRBAG IF YOU DO THIS IT IS 100% MORE LIKELY TO WORK THAN LEAVING THE WRONG BAG UNPLUGGED HOWEVER IT IS NOT 100% THAT IT WILL WORK.

Jeff T.

Trust me I'm not modifying mine.

If you or anyone else has done it and you feel comfortable about it, kudos to you.

CTD

Nice! I've wanted to do the conversion

mikeyrko

It's important for me to have a working airbag too.
But when you own or drive a old musclecar you don't stress that they don't have airbags.

JETZ

Other than a 'Raid', what?

CTD

Who are the aftermarket suppliers with functional air bags?

JOESMTOY

I was wondering the same thing.... Where are the aftermarket wheels with functioning bags?

Heres a question....If I could assemble all the parts for this conversion including the modified bag is there a market for it?

I dont know how much yet I was just curious as to the demand for such a thing.

CTD

I dug into that a year or two back, I remember something over in Germany or Europe. That was it, everything else deleted the Air bag, I doubt very much that has changed.

Your idea about doing a kit is good. I really like the idea of changing that shaft rather than modifying the wheel itself. I'm a bit envious of the C6 guys being able to very inexpensively swap the wheel out for new & improved. GM has some nice wheels, you don't have to the aftermarket.

My self right now I've no need for the controls, so it sounds very straight forward to swap out to a C6 wheel. Then in couple of years I want to upgrade to controls & Bluetooth, swap the wheel again, maybe do the clock spring this time & good to go?

What is the difficulty to change the shaft in the Column?