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OK, so I own a 2011 GS A6. (Waiting for all the bashers). I love the paddle shifters. However I do not like that the two paddles on the steering wheel do the same thing on either side (pull for down, push for up). I do have the article on how to change the wiring so that the left side is for up-shift and the right side is for down shift. However I am one for not really modifying the wiring and am looking at using off the shelf product from one of the Forum suppliers (F1 Paddle Shift Module) to modify it so the left and right paddles do only one thing either up or down not both.
I am looking for input from those that have done the paddle change for their experience and did it give you what you wanted?
I may do this the same time I change the steering wheel to a DSVETTES 'D' shaped wheel.
Keep in mind that you might have to shift gears while turning the wheel. That could make it a little more difficult to do with one of your hands. Might be the reason they both do the same thing. I do have an automatic with paddles.
I did the mod when I changed steering wheels about this time last year. I was used to the right paddle being upshift and the left being downshift so I switched the wires in the right paddle using the guidance found here on the forum so that my car matched what I was used to. I'm not a thumb shifter guy and only use the finger paddles so this mod made sense to me. I'm very happy with the change. I even took a little black paint and changed the right + symbol to a - symbol so that the thumb button indications are correct.
It's not a permanent change so if you find you don't like it or want to return it to original condition you would just go in and return the two wires to the original location.
Right shift button
Last edited by CorvetteSparky; Jan 17, 2015 at 12:55 PM.
Reason: Add photo
Keep in mind that you might have to shift gears while turning the wheel. That could make it a little more difficult to do with one of your hands. Might be the reason they both do the same thing. I do have an automatic with paddles.
I have heard this said on other post and I am a little confused to this issue. How exactly is this a problem and why is it not a problem in any of the paddle shift cars out there? They are all connected to the steering wheel as is the Corvette paddles. Also I don't know about you, but I down shift coming into a corner and up shift out of the corner.
For me, it just depends on what you learn and not the setup. I track my car on road courses and don't feel a need to change it. In a turn, one hand or another is in place to shift.
I did the change to the right paddle as well, and I like using the fingers to upshift on the right, and the fingers to downshift on the left paddle. I changed my paddle designation so it is clear what side does what. The arrows show what the thumb will do, the fingers do the opposite. I don't use the thumbs to shift.
To answer BWF07, unfortunately, the paddles on the Corvette are attached to the steering wheel, so the paddles turn when the wheel turns, unlike the higher end cars (Ferrari, Lambo's). Their paddles stay stationary even when the wheel is turned.
Picture of a Ferrari paddle unit, which is attached to the steering column, not the steering wheel.
As you can see, the Ferrari uses only finger controlled paddles, no thumb actuator. I wish the Corvette had no thumb actuator, and I was tempted to cut them off, but didn't. The other way to take the thumb actuators out of play would be to set a limiter, so the paddle can only work with the fingers. That would be easy to do.
Used to have a Mitsubishi Outlander with fixed paddles (magnesium paddles, real nice pieces of hardware actually, a surprisingly awesome setup for a pretty typical CUV).
The "paddles moving" argument makes sense on the surface, but the reality of it is when you're on the track, your hands almost always stay at the corners, it's pretty rare to have to make a movement that requires you to move your hands. Therefore, the paddles are perfectly placed, because they're always within reach.
That said, if you're shifting while turning, you're doing it wrong, so it's really a moot point either way. I like the C6 paddles because they don't take up a ton of space and require a really long steering wheel. The paddles doing both functions were weird to me at first, but i'm over it now. My father's PDK Porsche has the same kind of setup, and ours is actually a little nicer. That said, I do find myself using the left side to shift down and the right side to shift up. Kind of funny really.
I did the change to the right paddle as well, and I like using the fingers to upshift on the right, and the fingers to downshift on the left paddle. I changed my paddle designation so it is clear what side does what. The arrows show what the thumb will do, the fingers do the opposite. I don't use the thumbs to shift.
To answer BWF07, unfortunately, the paddles on the Corvette are attached to the steering wheel, so the paddles turn when the wheel turns, unlike the higher end cars (Ferrari, Lambo's). Their paddles stay stationary even when the wheel is turned.
Picture of a Ferrari paddle unit, which is attached to the steering column, not the steering wheel.
As you can see, the Ferrari uses only finger controlled paddles, no thumb actuator. I wish the Corvette had no thumb actuator, and I was tempted to cut them off, but didn't. The other way to take the thumb actuators out of play would be to set a limiter, so the paddle can only work with the fingers. That would be easy to do.
I understand what you are saying, but again,if you are in the middle of a turn with both hands on the wheel, I can still hit the paddle shifter. AS I said I don't remember when I was shifting in a turn, I also agree that the paddles on the Corvette with the paddles for down shifting and the little thumb buttons for up shift are not any good. Until I do the mod, I down shift with the left and up shift on the right. I do that my putting my fingers behind the right paddle and pushing it forward.
OK, so I own a 2011 GS A6. (Waiting for all the bashers). I love the paddle shifters. However I do not like that the two paddles on the steering wheel do the same thing on either side (pull for down, push for up). I do have the article on how to change the wiring so that the left side is for up-shift and the right side is for down shift. However I am one for not really modifying the wiring and am looking at using off the shelf product from one of the Forum suppliers (F1 Paddle Shift Module) to modify it so the left and right paddles do only one thing either up or down not both.
I am looking for input from those that have done the paddle change for their experience and did it give you what you wanted?
I may do this the same time I change the steering wheel to a DSVETTES 'D' shaped wheel.
I did the mod many years ago, and it does exactly what the paddles should do from the factory, IMO.
The left paddle does the exact as factory, pull with fingers from the back to downshift. I changed the wiring as per the thread by Dan Bratten on the right paddle so now it's pull with fingers from the back to upshift.
I never use the thumb paddles from the front anymore, but the left thumb paddle upshifts , anf the right thumb paddle downshifts.
I changed my paddle indicators to show opposite from factory.
I use the paddles all the time, and I really like the change.
I did this mod to mine several months ago and still prefer it to the factory configuration. I also painted the plus on the right side paddle to appear as a minus if I do use the thumb buttons, but I was already painting my paddles flat black similar to how the centennial A6s come.
I opted for the wiring change, but I went with after market paddles. I love it now. Down shift on the left up shift on the right. Paddles are large enough so they give you plenty of area to hit even with the wheel being turned. I auto cross and what a difference these are.
I wish the C6 a/t had the same set up as the Miata, i.e. not only the paddles on the wheel but also the ability to bump the shift lever fore and aft to change gears. FWIW, I also have an 06 Miata with the a/t and find myself using the shifter much more often than the paddles.
I have heard this said on other post and I am a little confused to this issue. How exactly is this a problem and why is it not a problem in any of the paddle shift cars out there? They are all connected to the steering wheel as is the Corvette paddles. Also I don't know about you, but I down shift coming into a corner and up shift out of the corner.
Here's one scenario: You're sitting first in line at a red light, and going to turn left. You're in first gear. You likely will need to upshift before you complete the turn ... going straight ... and it's difficult since the paddles turn with the wheel.
My natural tendency is to squeeze to up-shift. It's inconvenient for me to try and use my thumb to go up thru the gears. Many times I have downshifted when I wanted to up-shift, my car does not like it and neither do I. My personal opinion is that GM really F'd this one up. To each his own we all like different things that's what makes the world go round.
Here's one scenario: You're sitting first in line at a red light, and going to turn left. You're in first gear. You likely will need to upshift before you complete the turn ... going straight ... and it's difficult since the paddles turn with the wheel.
First, if you don't change down to first at the red light the car only goes down to 2nd. You have to manually use the paddle down to first. If you can't make it thru the turn in 2nd before having to change to third then I don't know what to tell you since 2nd is good for 78 MPH at redline.
You really don't even NEED first in city driving, starting in 2nd from a light is just fine for normal driving.
My natural tendency is to squeeze to up-shift. It's inconvenient for me to try and use my thumb to go up thru the gears. Many times I have downshifted when I wanted to up-shift, my car does not like it and neither do I. My personal opinion is that GM really F'd this one up. To each his own we all like different things that's what makes the world go round.
Though I believe Porsche Automatics were set up similer until the new PDK trans was available in 2009 (?).
Originally Posted by billyboy47
Hey DIP, my 012 is a a6 and I have no problem with the stock set up. Like anything else it becomes second nature.
I tried to get used to it and kept finding myself pulling the right paddle wanting an upshift and got nothing because I was already in first. Thus hitting the rev limiter at redline in first.
I found the mod and aftermarket shifters to be much better for myself. Not that either of us is right or wrong, just some things work better for certain people.
Here's one scenario: You're sitting first in line at a red light, and going to turn left. You're in first gear. You likely will need to upshift before you complete the turn ... going straight ... and it's difficult since the paddles turn with the wheel.
Well I also down shift into first and I can honesty say, I have never had that problem. If the paddles are fixed to the column, and you are turning you will need to take your right hand off the wheel and hit the paddle to grab second, if the paddle is attached the the wheel you still need to do the same thing. Besides if I am making a simple right or left hand turn at the light and I need to shift into second before I have completed the turn, I don't need a Corvette, I need a Prius.
First, if you don't change down to first at the red light the car only goes down to 2nd. You have to manually use the paddle down to first. If you can't make it thru the turn in 2nd before having to change to third then I don't know what to tell you since 2nd is good for 78 MPH at redline.
You really don't even NEED first in city driving, starting in 2nd from a light is just fine for normal driving.
totally. When stopped ready to make a turn I'm always in 2nd gear.
Paddle Shift Changes
Though I believe Porsche Automatics were set up similer until the new PDK trans was available in 2009 (?). 
