I need a custom steering wheel to house my nitrous and brake buttons,how do I remove the factory wheel? Does front bag cover come off to give access to the bag? also I am paronoid about the bag deploying,if I dissconnect the batt will that help?

 

Disconnect the batt for 15 minuets at least. There are four bolts on the backside of the steering wheel that hold it on. Take them out, bag comes off, wheel can be pulled off.

 

You also need to disconnect the yellow airbag harness connector at the bottom of the steering column. When you remove the airbag unit, as noted above, there's a connector that allows it to be disconnected from the "coil" that is on the column, and allows the wires to rotate. You will also have to disconnect a similar connector for your steering wheel radio controls. There is a spring clip to release the coil from on top os the column, then the usual nut to hold the wheel. Pulling the coil off can be a problem, since the yellow harness wire goes all the way to the bottom of the steering column, and you have to pull the wire up through the column, with the big plug on the end getting caught on everything. I finally cut the plug off the end of the wire to get the wire out.

This is one area where a cheap manual like a Chilton's will help a lot. They recommend at least 20 minutes to discharge the DERM module.

You will require a cheap "steering wheel puller" with 2-bolts to get the wheel off the column.

 

Thanks alot guys,im looking forward to getting a little more consistant e/t's and this should help.

 

beware of cheep pullers. some wheels that have never been off before are very very very tight. you usualy end up breaking the puller or bending the bolts before you ever get the wheel off. I also recomend that you use an impact one the puller (carefully) so that your not pulling on the bolts alowing them to bend. An impact will turn the bolt without aplying downword pressure like pulling on a ratchet would.

and yes, the "book" says to unhook the battery, remove the airbag/SIR fuse and then unhook the connector at the botom of the colum and alow let it sit for 10 minutes. However it's very unlikely that you will set it off. your more likely to set it off from a static discharge but better safe then sorry.

If you can get the clockspring off one peice you could always sell it to someone that had an airbag deployed. But yes it is a pain to pull it through the cloum in one peice but not impossible. I take it that the clock spring needs to be tossed for the new wheel. and when it;s gone your going to have an air bag light in your face that you need to deal with.

Trust me it's hard to mess up an airbag. I was very scared the first time I delt with one. but now I have done countless and never had an issue. I don;t even unhook the battery anymore but I do not advise you do that

also. after you get the airbag off reposition the wheel so that the tires are pointing streight ahead before you remove the wheel...