cant find write up on steering wheel swap.

[MIKe30]

been searching for 20+ min for a write up on a airbag steering wheel to non-airbag steering wheel swap.


can anyone link one up? or write a quick one up yourself (including all the lil bugs and such, like getting the turn signals to stop automatically, stalks are gonna be closer, etc)?


thanks.

[PeaveyBassist]

Stalks are gonna be closer and you have to live with it really. There are 4 torx screws on back of the airbag wheel. After those are loose, pull the airbag out of the wheel and unplug the orange connector. Then the airbag can be put aside out of the car. There is a 22mm/24mm (dont remember which but I think its a 22) nut that holds the steering wheel on. Loosen that and pull the steering wheel off. There should be a ring bolted on the back of the non-srs wheel that makes the turn signals go off automatically. You might need to cut off the bolt holes for that and just push it on the wheel. You will see when you have it all off. Then put the non-srs wheel on the column. You will need a couple spacers of some kind on top of it. I used 2 lock washers and the spacer that was on top of the wheel when it came off. If you dont have the factory spacer, just use some more lock washers. Start with 2 or 3 and tighten the nut onto the column and check for in/out play of the wheel. If there is none and the nut is ALL the way onto the column then you are good to go. If you have any questions dont hesitate to ask.

Will

[dude8383]

when removing the 22mm bolt, lock the steering column...then once you've loosen the bolt unlock the steering column. Makes for an easier removal!

[PeaveyBassist]

when removing the 22mm bolt, lock the steering column...then once you've loosen the bolt unlock the steering column. Makes for an easier removal!

QFT. If the column is still locked, the steering wheel won't come off lol

Will

[MIKe30]

lol ok.... ummm if i dont use any spacer at all, besides the stalks being closer is there any difference? will my turn signals go off automatically, or do i still need that ring you spoke of before either way?

thanks.

[MR 325]

You should space it.

[MIKe30]

You should space it.

i understand that i "should" but i think i would actually like it if my wheel was a lil closer to the stalks so i wouldnt have to reach as far... sometimes from reaching/strecthing to hit the stalks i push the highs on or flick em on for a sec by accident.

i like to leave my hand on the wheel and just reach out a lil... so for that i'm curious as to if there would be ANYTHING different other than the wheel just being closer.

[PeaveyBassist]

The splines on the column only go out so far so you can't space the wheel OUT from the stalks very far. You will knock the wipers/turn signals a couple times on accident but you get used to it and it isnt even noticable. The stalks are pretty close to the wheel though.

Will

[MIKe30]

ok, so i got the mtech wheel in.

didnt put a spacer.

long story short... got the wheel lined up, broke the top part of a lil white peice that pushes in when the wheel is off that i dont know what it does, the turn signals turn off automatically after turning, and the wheel doesnt lock when the key is not in the ignition.

oh, also have no horn.

so i am happy with the way the wheel looks and feels.

am unhappy with no horn, and only midly upset about the wheel not locking.


anyone know what the white piece was/is did do? (i think it had something to do with locking the wheel, but dont know)

anyone know a simple way to get my horn working? (the mtech wheel didnt have any wires attatched to it before i put it in.)

[dmoffitt]

The splines on the column only go out so far

umm.... don't the spacers bolt to the hub adaptor WELL after the splines / in between the Momo (etc) piece and the wheel itself??

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

umm.... don't the spacers bolt to the hub adaptor WELL after the splines / in between the Momo (etc) piece and the wheel itself??

We're talking about a different spacer using an OEM part.

You're talking about a hub spacer that goes between the hub and the steering wheel.

[MIKe30]

yea, oem wheel to oem wheel.


original was airbag wheel, now it is non airbag.

supposedly it is best to use a spacer so that it stays the same distance from the wheel? but i didnt use one because i dont have huge thick mechanic hands and they dont bump the stalks anyway.

[e9nine]

....got the wheel lined up, broke the top part of a lil white peice that pushes in when the wheel is off that i dont know what it does, ......

oh, also have no horn.

.....................

am unhappy with no horn, ......

anyone know what the white piece was/is did do? ........

anyone know a simple way to get my horn working? .....

That white piece held a cooper pin that provided current to the ring around the wheel on the back side. Take a look behind your old wheel. You will see what appears to be a copper ring with some crud on it (electric grease?) That's why you have no horn. You disabled the horn by breaking the pin.

[MIKe30]

there is another copper pin that is there that is much thicker longer and spring loaded like the white pin, and it is still in there. thought that was for the horn?

its hex shaped btw.



its underneath the column part where you slide the wheel onto...

[e9nine]

The horn piece is at 6 o'clock

The steering wheel lock piece is at 12 o'clock

Which one did you break?