jacksonking

This is probably very straight forward, but would someone mind typing up the procedures and tools required to change out an OEM steering wheel with airbag. I saw a thread that cautioned to disconnect the battery to avoid an airbag idiot light, so I thought I'd check to see if there are any other tips.

TIA,

<img src="graemlins/r.gif" border="0" alt="[king]" />

GratefulJED

Jack -
Very simple DYI - disconnect battery for say 30 minutes - get proper size allen wrench (don't remember the size) for the two screws on back side of steering wheel. When these come off you will be able to take off the airbag. The connector for the airbag PULLS off and I don't think it matters which side goes to which pin. If it does then I got lucky upon reinstallation, cuz I had no CE light. Then unscrew the bolt holding the steering wheel on and you are good to go. Be sure to have the wheel centered before you start so that you can replace straight. I did this to replace a tip wheel with a non tip wheel, I believe there might be some concerns about centering if you put on a different wheel. It seems I remember reading that some wheels go back on one notch off on way or the other. Good Luck

JohnM

As I recall the screws on the back of the wheel that retain the airbag are T6 Torx, you need longish Torx bits to get in to them.

Fens

All of the above words are appropriate although the connections need to be made correctly rather than the luck approach. I took pictures of the replacement of my stock 993 change to a Gemballa wheel if some pictures would be helpful. You can see them at <a href="http://p-car.com/porsche/garycable/" target="_blank">http://p-car.com/porsche/garycable/</a> under the steering wheel upgrade. BTW I understand that disconnection of the battery is also important because an inadvertant shorting of the post terminals can cause the bad to deploy. Not good!

LAURIER

This previous post should help. The most difficult part of removing the steering wheel is finding the proper Torx T30 bit that will fit through the access holes in the back wheel to remove the air bag. I found a screwdriver is to long and if not straight in you will strip the torx head. You also need a 24mm socket for the nut that holds the wheel on.

Good luck.

<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=003920" target="_blank">3 Spoke Steering Wheel Install</a>

KINGSRULE

Rich,

Looking at your pictures, it sure looks like you used a allen key to remove the airbag and not a Torx key. Could you recheck what you used and its size for the board?

GJ

Ben in Plano, TX

GJ,

Don't remember the exact size but I used a metric allen that was part of a large but standard set of allens. It's not an unusual tool.

Ben

LAURIER

No question about it, the air bag screws are Torx T30. Also used on most VW,Audi and MB cars. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

GratefulJED

I guess the PO took out my TORX T30 and replaced with allen screws!