Stripped head of Torx airbag screw in side of steering wheel, how to remove?
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Stripped head of Torx airbag screw in side of steering wheel, how to remove?
Yup, as the title says, I have a stripped head in one of the Torx screws that reside in the side of my steering wheel and hold the airbag on. No, I didn't do it, I swear!
Any advice on how to remove it?
This is one of the two screws that you must remove to get the airbag off to get the steering wheel off to get the instrument cluster out to replace the trashed odometer gear!
I've never had good luck with "Easy-Outs," they often break off in the screw and then you're really...screwed!
And because the screw is surrounded/imbedded in the foam of the steering wheel, I can't get a dremel or propane torch or anything on it.
Any ideas? JBWeld a Torx 30 into the stripped head?
I really don't want to mess this up any worse than it is already!
Any advice on how to remove it?
This is one of the two screws that you must remove to get the airbag off to get the steering wheel off to get the instrument cluster out to replace the trashed odometer gear!
I've never had good luck with "Easy-Outs," they often break off in the screw and then you're really...screwed!
And because the screw is surrounded/imbedded in the foam of the steering wheel, I can't get a dremel or propane torch or anything on it.
Any ideas? JBWeld a Torx 30 into the stripped head?
I really don't want to mess this up any worse than it is already!
#6
Racer
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#9
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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FYI I have taken my cluster out more than once without removing the wheel.
It is better with the wheel off but is not all that difficult the other way.
It is better with the wheel off but is not all that difficult the other way.
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks mhr. I have the cluster 1/2 way out, but some of the connectors are really tight, it's hard to see them, and since I've never pulled the cluster before, I don't know the ins an outs of all the connectors, so I'm afraid of breaking something. I can see there's already a broken tab on one of the connectors, probably by the same PO that stripped out the Torx.
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks Doug, I just heated the screw up with a soldering iron hoping that will loosen things up, and when it cools I'll try to jam something inside the head and unscrew it. If that doesn't work, I'll drill the head off.
#12
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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you should be able to twist the right side enough to visualize the two connectors on the right. Once you see them it is obvious how they work. But you are correct in saying that they are easy to break.
#15
Racer
Thread Starter