steering wheel removal, how to? Options

[LoneGunman]

I want to put a steering wheel off the 7th generation celicas on my 95 gt and was wondering if this is possible or if anyone has done it. Also how do you remove the wheel without deploying the airbag when unhooking it?

[pflau]

ok.. lve swapped steering wheel myself..

tools:

small socket wrench with torx bits (you do know what they are right??)

steering wheel puller (you can find them in sears or autozone or whatever)

socket for the center nut of the steering wheel

big ass socket wrench with and extension

steps:

1) remove airbag

right behind the steering wheel are TWO HOLES on either side of the steering wheel housing at about 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock

there is one torx screw in each of them, unscrew them using the torx wrench, unscrew them until you hear a click. the screws do not come out but got "snapped" into place at the upper-end of their travel.

now without the screwing hold the bag in place, you can lift the bag right out.. there is a connector from the bag going into the steering column, disconnect the connector.

when you put the airbag aside.. always put it FACE DOWN!!!

2) remove wheel

now you see there are two big screw holes on either side of the steering wheel nut.. wheel nut is big so you need a big ass wrench with the right socket to loosen that. but its not bad at all. just make sure to use decent tools that dont slip cus you dont wanna hurt yourself. and remember to LOOSEN THE NUT a few turns AND NOT TAKING THE NUT OFF..

now with the wheel nut loose.. all you need to do is to loosen the steering wheel from the steering shaft. here's where you need the steering wheel puller

a steering wheel puller is a block of metal with three long screws. the outter two screws go into the screw holes on either side of the steering shaft. and you then turn the center screw using a socket wrench to apply fource to the shaft life the wheel out.

now this is the hardest part because the freaking wheel is on really really tight. but with a little resolve you will eventually POP the wheel out.. since the nut is still in place the wheel would fly out and hit your face or anything..

now you can disconnect the cruise control cable if you had one that THAT'S IT!!!

oh, btw, when you put the wheel nut back in .. the torque is 25 ft-lbf.. that's why its so tight.. might wanna barrow a torque wrench cus I dont want your wheel comes loose while you drive!



This post has been edited by pflau: Jun 22, 2003 - 12:50 PM