(DISCLAIMER - I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR AIRBAG SYSTEM OR CAR IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS WELL. ALSO, THE ENTIRE POST IS IN CAPS SO IT'S NOT YOUR EYES.)

Difficulty = Beginner

STEP 1.

GATHER TOOLS:
ALL TOOLS CAN BE PURCHASED AT YOUR LOCAL AUTOPART STORE. PEPBOYS, AUTOZONE etc



STEP 2.

DISCONNECT NEGATIVE TERMINAL ON BATTERY. IF YOU NEED HELP ON THIS THEN YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T PUMP YOUR OWN GAS.



STEP 3.

REMOVE WHEEL COVER AND DISCONNECT AIRBAG & HORN CONNECTORS. YELLOW CONNECTOR PUSH TAB AND PULL OUT, EASY. TAKE TIME ON OTHER CONNECTOR AND PULL APART MAY TAKE A LITTLE FORCE. EASY AGAIN.



STEP 4.

REMOVING ACTUAL WHEEL. ONCE THE IMPORTANT CONNECTORS ARE OFF TIME TO GET THE WHEEL OFF. SUGGEST LOCKING THE WHEEL WITH THE KEY "OUT" THE IGNITION. WITH YOUR 8MM ALLEN WRENCH AND PLIERS OR SOMETHING TO GIVE YOU A GOOD GRIP ON THE WRENCH.
FIND THE HOLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IF IT'S FACING YOU IN THE NORMAL ORIENTATION. IT'S THE LOWER HOLE TAKE A LOOK INSIDE. ALIGN THE ALLEN WRENCH SO YOU GET IT IN FIRM BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO APLLY YOUR PLIERS.
TURN "LEFTY LOOSEY" -"ANTI-CLOCKWISE" GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT. TRUST ME ON THIS, THE FACTORY TORQUE ON THE BOLT IS CRAZY!! YOU MAY THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK THE WHEEL BUT IF YOU LOCKED IT YOU'LL BE FINE.

IF YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE GET LEVERAGE ON THE 8MM ALLEN WRENCH. IT MAY TAKE 5MIN-45MINS DEPENDING ON HOW BIG OR SMALL YOUR GUNS ARE HAHA ...OK, NOT FUNNY.

STEP 5.

SO YOU GOT THE WHEEL OFF, AND NOW YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL RACER? FEEL COOL? YOU'RE NOT ...NOT YET.

LETS GE THE NICE IMPORTANT RING OFF WITHOUT BREAKING ANYTHING. TO DO SO, GET YOUR FLAT HEAD W/ MALLET AND TAP BETWEEN THE RING AND THE METAL PART OF THE WHEEL. A FEW TAPS AND THE RING POPS OUT.
NOTE:I SUGGEST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE METAL WITH YOUR FLAT HEAD ADD PAINTERS TAPE AROUND THE AREA YOU PLAN TO TAP



STEP 6.

REMOVE TORX-30 SCREWS ON BOTH SIDES OF WHEEL. THE T-HANDLE WRENCH COMES IN VERY HANDY FOR THIS.
NOTE: THERE IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF FACTORY TORQUE ON THESE BOLTS. IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE 8MM BOLT.




STEP 7.

OLD WHEEL HAS A RING THAT NEEDS REMOVING. FLIP OVER WHEEL AND REMOVE COVER.




STEP 8.

TAP OUT NEW WHEEL'S RING WITH FLAT HEAD & RUBBER MALLET. FEW TAPS AGAIN, AND IT COMES OUT.




STEP 9.

CLEAN NEW WHEEL IF THERE WAS DIRT AROUND OR UNDER THE RING. I CHOSE MOTHER'S METAL POLISH. ONCE DONE WITH THE CLEANING, MOVE ON TO INSTALL AIR BAG INTO NEW WHEEL.



STEP 10.

RE-INSTALLING AIR BAG IS A BREEZE. PLACE IN NEW WHEEL SECURE WITH TORX T-30 BOLTS. DON'T TIGHTEN THE BOLTS ALL THE WAY UNTIL YOU'VE SNAPPED THE NEW/OLD RING ONTO THE NEW WHEEL. WITH THE RUBBER MALLET AND MAKING SURE THE RING IS ALIGNED WITH THE WHEEL(IT HAS 3 TABS) FEW FIRM TAPS AND THE RING IS ON.
ADJUST THE AIRBAG AND MAKE SURE IT'S CENTERED IN THE RING, THEN TIGHTEN THE T-30 BOLTS.


STEP 11.
REVERSE PROCEDURE TO GET AIRBAG BACK IN NEW WHEEL. PUT NEW WHEEL IN CAR, CONNECT BATTERY AND GO FOR A DRIVE. YOU'RE ALL DONE

 

Nice.. I just got a EVO IX wheel... so this is perfect time.... thanks Jeff

 

Nice write up! But I think you forgot to mention how to remove the actual steering wheel from the column (unless I missed it somewhere) I have removed the steering wheel several times (both 8 and 9's), and in order to remove it you need a long allen wrench key that goes into a hole in the side of the steering wheel, that allen wrech will loosen up the steering wheel from the column and then you can just pull the wheel out.

 

No prob Brad. Someone had to take the time, guess it was me

You're absolutely right. I did in the first write up, however, I went to post it on my girl's comp and it asked me to log in after I was already logged in. Tried to page back and it was ALL gone. So i got pizzed and wrote it up alot quicker...guess a little too quick. I don't think I missed anything else.

 

Well it looks perfect now (instructions) and you are right about the torque on that steering wheel, in my 9 it was REALLY tight (maybe my guns aren't big enough ) Great write up!

 

great information, and write up. Helped me out. THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!

 

Any idea how much weight this saves etc. Sorry if i missed it.

 

^ eh?

 

Great write up, I have had my IX wheel with no airbag sitting in a box for a year now. Now I can transplant it into my VIII and have some fresh leather!

 

I getta try this out this weekend. Good writeup, I gotta search for passenger side now.

 

I've tried so hard to get this thing off and the 8mm lug will not bulge. Is there a specific bit that I am supposed to get? Any help would be great.

 

If it helps anyone, I had to get an allen key cut at the local warehouse store, put it into a 9mm wrench socket, and then removed it.

 

I somehow managed to strip the 8 mm bolt, any suggestions on how to get this thing off now? otherwise I'll have a key's steering wheel up for sale pretty soon...

 

Referenced this howto when I swapped out my Evo 8 steering wheel for an Evo 9 steering wheel. Thanks for posting it!

 

if the airbag blew and your replacing it when you hook it up again it will just blow again as soon as the car gets power unless you reset the ecu right? need help thanks