Removing C5 stock shifter knob
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Use a little screwdriver wrapped in a piece of sheet of something thin and pry up the plastic plate with the shift pattern on it.
Next is the fun part, the "demon" key. Here is how I do it. I have a pair of needle nose vice grips and I grab the key on the left/right side. Then I put a small piece of wood on the front of the shift **** and then pass a screwdriver between the needle nose and pry on the wood. Kind of hard to visualize. I also put a towel over the whole mess while prying because the needle nose and key can fly once it comes loose and you don't it in your eye or into the top either. Then just unscrew the ****.
Next is the fun part, the "demon" key. Here is how I do it. I have a pair of needle nose vice grips and I grab the key on the left/right side. Then I put a small piece of wood on the front of the shift **** and then pass a screwdriver between the needle nose and pry on the wood. Kind of hard to visualize. I also put a towel over the whole mess while prying because the needle nose and key can fly once it comes loose and you don't it in your eye or into the top either. Then just unscrew the ****.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 1,165
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
Another tip: Before you attempt removing the demon key, spray some penetrating oil around the key. Let it set for 30 minutes to soak in. I did this and was able to pull the key by wiggling the vise-grips back & forth while lifting at the same time.
(I installed a new shift ****, hated it, & put the stock **** back on!
)
(I installed a new shift ****, hated it, & put the stock **** back on!
)
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 68
From: Hewitt NJ
Originally Posted by sleek_c5
Hey, I finally got the darn thing off and "demon" key seems to be the perfect name for this key. Thanks for all of the good tips!!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Not to seem brash, but it's really pretty easy. Take a fairly wide screwdriver under either side, stick a rag under each tip to protect the ****, and just pry up on both of the 'drivers at once. Pops off just as easy as you please every time. Or maybe I'm just lucky? 
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 220
Likes: 1
From: East Windsor NJ
There are worse ways to hold it the shifter **** on....the GTO has plastic clips that grab a flange when you push it down to seat it. If you think it is tough the handle the demon key, stay away from the GTO. It made the vette look like a walk in the park.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Corvette Monkey
I pulled as hard as I could with a vise grip.
When it popped loose, I hit myself in the face and almost scored a KO.
Good stuff.
When it popped loose, I hit myself in the face and almost scored a KO.
Good stuff.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville Georgia
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Use a little screwdriver wrapped in a piece of sheet of something thin and pry up the plastic plate with the shift pattern on it.
Next is the fun part, the "demon" key. Here is how I do it. I have a pair of needle nose vice grips and I grab the key on the left/right side. Then I put a small piece of wood on the front of the shift **** and then pass a screwdriver between the needle nose and pry on the wood. Kind of hard to visualize. I also put a towel over the whole mess while prying because the needle nose and key can fly once it comes loose and you don't it in your eye or into the top either. Then just unscrew the ****.
Next is the fun part, the "demon" key. Here is how I do it. I have a pair of needle nose vice grips and I grab the key on the left/right side. Then I put a small piece of wood on the front of the shift **** and then pass a screwdriver between the needle nose and pry on the wood. Kind of hard to visualize. I also put a towel over the whole mess while prying because the needle nose and key can fly once it comes loose and you don't it in your eye or into the top either. Then just unscrew the ****.
I couldn't have said It any better myself 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
Originally Posted by Corvette Monkey
I pulled as hard as I could with a vise grip.
When it popped loose, I hit myself in the face and almost scored a KO.
Good stuff.
When it popped loose, I hit myself in the face and almost scored a KO.
Good stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Fl
And by the way, when you go to put the key back in, you don't need to drive it in with a hammer.
Just a gentle tap with the handle end of a screw driver will do. The key just keeps the **** from rotating. It doesn't hold it on like a nail.
Just a gentle tap with the handle end of a screw driver will do. The key just keeps the **** from rotating. It doesn't hold it on like a nail.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I discovered the vice grips /hammer technique accidentally as I thought through friction and inertia.
A couple of sharp but light raps on the side while wiggling front to back and it was out....
No threat of a K.O.
A couple of sharp but light raps on the side while wiggling front to back and it was out....
No threat of a K.O.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: Palm City Florida
C6 ***
The C6 **** is secured with a screw in the side of the stick. You can easily mount this **** with minor machining of the stock stick and drill and tap the side of the stock stick. Throw the demon key away and enjoy the improved C6 ****!
