Help! Removing steering wheel

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:44 am

I just got my leather steering wheel from David Hawkins (thank you!) and I can't get the original steering wheel off.I've taken the 2 torx bolts out of either side, and the center nut off the steering shaft under the airbag module. Is there anything else holding the steering wheel on?Also, does anybody know how to disconnect the airbag module so I can get the steering wheel off and the new one on?

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:11 am

the attached PDF is for an 03 matrix, I'd expect it to be the same. Be sure to do step #2Looks like they use a puller on the wheel. You could try just yanking on it reallyhard, and if not, you can probably borrow a puller (for a healthy security deposit) from advance auto, autozone, etc). Don't forget to do step #2Not sure about the airbag connectors, having never seen them in real life. From the picture in the PDF, it looks like there might be some locking thing that you pry up a little bit. The PDF shows two pics of the connector, the one on the left has a little arrow pointing to what I think looks like the edge of the part that needs to be pried up. Probably only need to pry it up 1/16 - 1/8 inch or so, but that's just a guess from the pic. Step # 2 looks pretty important

Attached files w040001.pdf (187 KB)

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:24 am

Awesome! Thank you!The airbag connectors make sense to me since I have seen them in person.

BadBrew · Post by **BadBrew** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:42 pm

Is the grip bigger with the leather wheel? I remember a great difference in the grip between the plastic and leather wheels in my Grand Prix back then...

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:51 pm

How well will the leather wheel be in the dead of winter vs. the stock wheel?

djkeev · Post by **djkeev** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:08 am

If you are going to tug and pull and bump the wheel from behind.Leave the nut on the shaft a few turns.If you take it completely off and the wheel suddenly pops loose while you are pulling with all of your might it comes flying up, bangs you in the nose and bends your glasses and leaves a mark!Been there, did that many years ago!Dave

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:14 am

Quote, originally posted by djkeev Â»If you are going to tug and pull and bump the wheel from behind.Leave the nut on the shaft a few turns.If you take it completely off and the wheel suddenly pops loose while you are pulling with all of your might it comes flying up, bangs you in the nose and bends your glasses and leaves a mark!Been there, did that many years ago!DaveLOLThanks, it sounds like experience talking. I didn't think about that. I will definitely keep the nut on.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:23 am

Quote, originally posted by djkeev Â»If you are going to tug and pull and bump the wheel from behind.Leave the nut on the shaft a few turns.If you take it completely off and the wheel suddenly pops loose while you are pulling with all of your might it comes flying up, bangs you in the nose and bends your glasses and leaves a mark!Been there, did that many years ago!Dave been there done that too! probably 30 years ago. you bring back memories. haha

Help! Removing steering wheel

Help! Removing steering wheel

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