C5 steering wheel
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 106
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From: Louisville Kentucky
C5 steering wheel
Looking for a new steering wheel, has anyone seen a c6 or c7 steering wheel on a c5? Is it possible with or without steering wheel controls? Any special hub needed?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
The only C6 wheel that would fit without exceptionally major modifications is the 2005 specific wheel. The 2005 C6 steering setup uses mostly C5 components (2005 cars are subjected to column lock issues like C5s), and starting in 2006 the shaft was changed over to the C6 style proper. The 2005 steering wheel is discernible from later wheels in it will have four spokes and has no wheel controlled buttons. 2006 onwards wheels have three spokes (it's the basic three-spoke design shared with other GM cars) and have wheel controlled buttons.
The later 2006 onwards C6 wheels and C7 wheels will not bolt directly to the steering shaft as the spline counts are different. They will require modifications to the steering shafts in some form or another.
A forum member did a good write-up on utilizing a post 2006 C6 wheel to a C5, which included utilizing the steering wheel buttons, but it is a very involved process. I also believe last I read there was issues with the air bag functioning properly.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-interior.html
The later 2006 onwards C6 wheels and C7 wheels will not bolt directly to the steering shaft as the spline counts are different. They will require modifications to the steering shafts in some form or another.
A forum member did a good write-up on utilizing a post 2006 C6 wheel to a C5, which included utilizing the steering wheel buttons, but it is a very involved process. I also believe last I read there was issues with the air bag functioning properly.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-interior.html
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Mot sure what exactly you are looking for in terms of the steering wheel (I.e., different design, different thickness), but you may want to see what some of the forum vendors can offer on a stock C5 wheel - I've seen some lately that really look pretty good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Some people have converted to non-airbag wheels such as Momo and Sparco. There are hubs that fit and delete having an airbag but then you have to put in a resistor to keep the airbag light off. Then you have to decide if you don't care or want an airbag. It can look much better but it's a major decision.
You also can research how to convert to a C6 steering wheel. Based on other people who have done this I am also attempting to do this conversion. I have the spline portion of a newer steering column that will allow me to convert to a newer spline so that a C6 wheel will fit without any incorrect mods to the wheel. The next thing will be to figure out the correct clockspring and get an airbag that fits the wheel and works with the C5's electronics. It's not a priority I work on this occasionally to figure everything out. I'd really like to have the steering wheel control buttons for phone and radio like my Chevy Sonic.
You also can research how to convert to a C6 steering wheel. Based on other people who have done this I am also attempting to do this conversion. I have the spline portion of a newer steering column that will allow me to convert to a newer spline so that a C6 wheel will fit without any incorrect mods to the wheel. The next thing will be to figure out the correct clockspring and get an airbag that fits the wheel and works with the C5's electronics. It's not a priority I work on this occasionally to figure everything out. I'd really like to have the steering wheel control buttons for phone and radio like my Chevy Sonic.
Le Mans Master
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It can be done if you dont want the airbag functionality (although some claim theyve figured out that piece of the puzzle as well. We did it in an f-body (actually were the first in the country to do so)... vette is essentially the same thing less a few steps... heres a link to a write up.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...el-f-body.html
http://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance...el-f-body.html
