OK - I have spent several hours reading and searching on the board about aftermarket steering wheel installs, steering wheel removal, and the like.

I wanted to try and get all of the information people have on this in one thread - so that it can be referenced as the place for "Steering wheel information."

It would be great if even those who don't have anything to contribute other than "I have an aftermarket steering wheel on my F-Body" would chime in - at least that way people (like me) could bug the **** out of you and PM and e-mail you with questions.

So post up Injuneer, Bud M, MadKilla, RCJim (if you are still around), and any others that have done this. It would be very helpful to all of those who like the idea of an aftermarket steering wheel.

Also - if you are just going to complain, gripe, rant, rave, or anything else about how you don't like aftermarket steering wheels, and how people who remove their airbags are goons - please just leave.

Thank You all for you help.

 

ive changed my steering wheel from the 93-94 version to the 95+ style with the radio controls. get a hub remover and take off the nut and the wheel will come off with the hub remover. if your putting on a different steering wheel you'll want to keep your (clock spring) horn spring.

before you remove the steering whell you need to disconect the airbag stuff under the dash and remove the blub for it on the cluster.

after that you can put any other wheel you want on there!!!!


later

 

how did u make the steering control work.

 

Well fine

All I have to add is that I wouldn't get a colored one like red or blue I would go silver or black or both

 

I am still here, more of a lurker now.

I still have the Red/Black "D" shaped wheel in my car and I LOVE IT. I get alot of compliments from alot of differnet people, men & women alike.

The best advice I can give you is this,

Dont overtighten the two bolts you will be using with the steering wheel puller as this can cause the wheel to separate and leave a small piece of metal on the splines that without the proper tools can be a bitch to get off.

I unhooked the yellow connectors under the dash, removed the airbag, removed the factory wheel and the airbag clock spring (doesnt affect the horn as it has its own) and then I installed my aftermarket adapter, wheel and wired the horn buttons. Although the little airbag light isnt that annoying, I did remove the cluster and jerk the bulb.

I had to dremmel the inside top portion of the steering column (easy to do, its plastic and I used a dremmel) so that the black metal adapter cover would stop rubbing, this method is fully reversible.

It really is as simple as it would be in any other pre-airbag car. Dont let these lamers deter you by giving you the typical jargon. If you wreck one of these cars bad enough, airbags wont help, lets face it, these cars were not designed to save lives, they were meant to go fast and be fun.. lets let them do just that.



I would be more than happy to assist you with any specific questions you might have aswell as take you some more pics.

 

MOMO Competition wheel here. Took a little effort to get the adapter to work, but it was well worth it. Nice and thick wheel, and isn't nearly as stiff and plastic-like as the Grants. A little pricey, but I don't regret it in the least.

 

Since my car is not really street driven any more, mostly just "track".... I wanted the cheapest, lightest but half-way decent steering wheel I could find. I picked up a Grant #710 Formula GT wheel, in gray false leather finish. It comes with a horn button that said "GT" on it, so I also picked up a red Pontiac arrowhead button. Throw in an install kit #3196 (its for a 3rd Gen.... they don't sell a kit for the 4th Gen, because of the air bag issue). Picked up the Grant steering wheel puller for about $5. And finally, the install kit includes a sort of rubbery filler piece to fill the gap between the column and the base of the wheel.... looked sort of cheapo, so I opted for the #4001 1" "billet" spacer.

I simply followed the instructions in my Chilton's manual for the install. Obviously the first thing is to disconeect the battery. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes before you touch anything related to the air bag. That is how long it takes to bleed off the reserve power stored in the DERM air bag activation unit.

Then disconnect the yellow connector at the base of the steering column. By the time you get everything apart, the entire wire/plug can be pulled up through the steering column to remove it. I found it got all tangled up, and just cut the yellow connector off the wire.... not a good idea if you plan to sell the air bag assembly.

You will get the "AIR BAG" light shining in your face, and will need to remove the bulb to get rid of it.

The Grant install is straight forward. I found that I had to file the edge off the sheet metal collar at the top of the steering column, so the billet spacer would not rub on it. and the spacer is just very slightly smaller in diameter than the collar, so that might be a little irritating to the "show" guys.

Photo #1

Photo #2

Photo #3

 

After replacing the steering wheel, is the passenger side airbag still operational?

 

Man - I was trying to avoid from saying "Archie - stay out of this thread!" - but I guess my subtilty it didn't work.

Thanks for posting up everyone - here's a question that needs to be clarified - cause nowhere you look on the net can you find a hub adpater that is for a '93+ Camaro.

You are all using (with the MOMO or Sparco wheels) Momo Hub adapter PN#2401 - correct?

Jim - good to see you - thanks for being willing to help.

 

I dunno about the MOMO's but I used the same kit as Injuneer:

Grant Standard Installation/Horn Kit 3196 which not only worked on my Grant, but my Pilot "D" Wheel aswell.