T5Mika

If you ever wondered whether C6 handbrake lever fits C5, wonder no more. It's a direct bolt on, took me 15 minutes to install (not including stitching a new leather handle).

Why, you ask? Because I don't like the thin button of the original, but more because I'm making a new console and wanted more clearance a'la C6.

The angle is sharper and the lever bends more towards the passenger side.

Vetteman Jack

Your pic is not showing up. Please check it again - I'd like to see what the C6 handle looks like in a C5.

703

I would like to see the picture as well.

jrose7004

I sure wish that I could see your pic!

T5Mika

Photo fixed, at least for myself.

ZachHasAVette

looks nice, good job

mikeyrko

Is the boot the same for both?

3boystoys

Think the stocker looks better

T5Mika

The C6 handle looks a bit out of place, for sure. But the button feels better under my thumb

Once I have my custom console, it'll feel more at home

mikeyrko

I want to do it for the suede handbrake from the Carbon fiber edition C6 Z06.

3boystoys

Didn't think guys with automatics used the E brake very often.

jdmvette

Something different.

vette.mix

looks fine

T5Mika

You know what? If you don't need to move the handle out of the way and only want to change the looks, the C5 lever can be modified to accept the C6 tip and button.

It requires a little cutting underneath to fit into the C6 tip on the lever, and some dremeling of the C5 button to slide and glue the C6 button on.

mikeyrko

That sounds great here is a picture of what I want

T5Mika

If you don't care about the silver button, sewing a suede boot and handle on the C5 lever is super easy. You can just pull the original boot out, detach the handle and take them to an upholstery store and they can do it while you wait for sure. I sewed both myself from a new calf skin, and it took me maybe an hour, tops.

mikeyrko

I might just go ahead and replace the whole unit.
Did you have to remove the seat?

T5Mika

I did remove the seat, no room to get to the bolts otherwise.

By the way, the C6 boot may not fit without modifications, I did not try that. It's possible to replace lever without removing the boot, just slide through. To replace the boot, the center console needs to be removed. There's a plastic frame in the C6 boot that needs to be removed, and some velcro needs to be glued to one side.

The hardest part is to replace the cable. The spring loaded ratchet can be pre-loaded with a suitable tool and locked in place with a thin screw driver through a small hole in the ratchet and the lever. Then the cable can be removed and replaced more easily. I still managed to cut my thumb pretty bad.

mikeyrko

Thanks is probably going to be couple months but plan to do this.
I will let everyone knows how it goes.