Steering wheel replacement

[HighMileVibe]

I searched but only found people TALKING about replacing their steering wheel and taking it to the dealer. Well, here's the DIY with the attached PDF found at: http://madstyle1972.com/Repair/i installed a leather steering wheel in about 15 minutes and looks great.Step 1: Make sure you note your steering wheel angle (if any) when you are driving on a flat, level road and no crosswind. You may want to note it after several drives just to be sure you know where dead center is. Note: if you get an alignment, they should center the wheel to start with. THe alignment process to make this dead center.Step 2: Park the car and set the wheel to this dead center positionStep 3: see instructions, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (-) terminalStep 4: remove the TORX screws at 3:30 and 8:30 on the steering wheel shroud. Do NOT turn the steering wheel to get to them, you may lose your dead center setting.Step 5: again see instructions. Remove airbag / horn. You may need to gently lift the shroud with the screws away from the horn. They poke out just slightly (~ 1/8") into the horn mounting threads.Step 6: Remove the wires to the airbag / horn per the instructions.Step 7: Unscrew the steering wheel nut with a 19mm, 1/2" extension (about 6" long) and a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar. You may need someone to hold the wheel as you are doing this.Step 8: Make sure wheel is STILL in known dead center position (not the wheel itself but where the wheel is when you are traveling perfectly straight).Step 9: disconnect the cruise contact inside the hubStep 10: gently pull the wheel while rocking up/down, side to side (NOT TURNING) - you are pulling/pushing on the top/bottom, alternating and same on the sides. You may need to bump the wheel hard with the palm of your hand to break lose the binding. Pull wheel off, feeding the airbag/horn wires out through the back of the wheel.Step 11: NOW, slide on your new steering wheel back on DEAD-CENTER POSITION on the dash - this calibrates your steering wheel position with the true straight driving position.Step 12: reinstall bolt, cruise and wiring. Reconnect airbag/horn and reinstall. Again, you may need to gently bend out the plastic shroud until the bag goes in. Bending out TOO much will result in the mounting screws falling down from their retention position.Step 13: tight torx. cleaning everything up from your greasy hands.Step 14: test drive and check your wheel is straight and true. You may need to repeat some of the steps above to fine tune and get it back on correct. This is also how you would correct your steering if it is off to one side.Note: this is my first real mod, stay tuned for more and my DIY's. I also cleaned and treated the leather with mink oil and leather conditioner before starting. It looks great since the leather has the same perforations the horn has - better than stock.DISCLAIMER: No warranties as to the accuracy, safety of these instructions. You follow them purely of your own choice and risk.

Attached files vibesteeringwheel.pdf (187 KB)