prelude60

Hello All,

I am trying to replace my factory shift **** (C5) for an aftermarket ****, but I can't seem to get the old one off. Do I need any special tools or is it as simple as unscrewing the old one and installing the new one. I'm not sure how to remove it.

Regards,
Varian

thrasher64

I'm on my second 98 C5 and neither of them wanted to give up their *****

WildTurkey

There is a horeshoe clip that must be removed (atleast on the A4)

SCM_Crash

On the manual, you need to pull the pattern panel by gently prying it off with a flat head. You'll find the daemon key under that. This is the hardest thing to pull off a car. Lol

Basically, you need to pull the key straight out. I used a vice grip and a pry bar.

Once you get the daemon key out, you can spin the **** off. The daemon key its basically a pin to prevent the **** from spinning.

LoneStarFRC

First time I've heard it called a "daemon" key. Did you mean "demon" perchance?

Mike98SilVert

First remove the shift pattern cap to expose the wedged metal "demon key" that holds the shift **** in place. To remove the shift pattern cap without damaging it or the leather **** I used a thin plastic trim removal tool. You can easily make one from a thin piece of scrap plastic.

To remove the demon key, I used a narrow nose vise grip to prevent contact with the stock leather ****. With the vise grip firmly in place on the demon key, use the flat side of a metal hammer and keep a sharp steady rythm tapping the hammer against the elbow of the vise grip while pulling and the demon key will come right out.

Here are some helpful links:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...hift-****.html

http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...t_install.html

http://augerresources.com/instructio...ebrakeboot.htm

ALLEGRO

This is the one !

imavettegirl

"demon key" because it is a devil to remove.

hahahahaha

SCM_Crash

Exactly. What a pita to pull out. Took me 20 minutes just to figure out how to pull it. It was really in there. So I've been calling it the daemon key since. You practically have to perform an exorcism on the shifter to get that sucker out.

LoneStarFRC

OK, gotcha. Maybe capitalize it next time:

Daemon Key

Vetteman Jack

Good advice on how to get the shift **** off. While the auto **** is easier to remove, the manual one is not bad once you get that retaining pin out of the center of the ****. I used vice grips to clamp down on the top of the key and then gently tapped up on the side of the vice grips with a hammer to pop it out.

LoneStarFRC

Unfortunately even that method doesn't work for some guys. For the absolute most stubborn key, I think the drill a hole and screw in a self-tapping screw and use it to pull it out method, maybe using a slide-hammer or even Vice-Grips locked onto the screw and smack it upwards with a hammer.

Too bad many a good shift **** has been ruined by impatient guys that go medieval.

Dave68

http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/corvette_install.htm

SCM_Crash

Lol! Next time...

LSGUN

I had a heck of a time getting my shift **** out but the vise grip method seemed to work nice I have also herd of people calling the demon key a Death Spike

SCM_Crash

First time I've heard death spike. But at least now you know where it gets its nick-name. I'm sure it'd be easy to remove it now knowing how we did it... But it certainly isn't something I'd want to do again.

steve8

Needle nose vice grips/hammer worked for me.

Maz 7

For me it took longer to gather up the tools and walk out to the car than to get the pin out. I use a small ballpean hammer and the regular vice grips. Tapped maybe twenty or thirty times as described int one of the links above and it came right out.

Z06Aggie

Mine was pretty stubborn. Had to put one pair of vice grips on the key, another pair onto the first pair of vice grips to form an L shape so I could hammer up on the second pair to get it out of there.

After removing it the first time, I never had that problem again. Removed it a few months later with no problem.

Maz 7

Pretty ingenuous putting two vise grips together. I think the key is using a small enough hammer so there is room to swing it with some fource. That's why I mentioned a small ballpean.