acorad

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!

Dougs951

I had to drill one on a parts car once.

Pain in the ****.

Campbelljj

I have the same dilemna. I was thinking of drilling and then Ezout. I also have had Ezout break so I am reluctant. Any good ideas appreciated.

arthropraxis

I did the same thing and used and easy out.

pettybird

can you drill the head off, remove the bag, and deal with it in plain sight with a pair of pliers?

acorad

That's an interesting idea! Does anyone know if drilling the Torx head off will allow the airbag to be pulled off?

Hollywood D

Left hand drill bit.

Dougs951

Yes just getting the head off will allow the airbag to come off.

mhr

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.

acorad

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.

acorad

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.

mhr

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.

acorad

Thanks guys, it just came out, the soldering iron worked.

mhr

don't forget to mark the wheel. Mine is currently one notch off to the right and it is annoying.

acorad

Thanks for the reminder, my paint pen is in hand!