ARCHIVE HOW TO: remove the steering wheel and replace with a pretty one

[NLXTACY]

Unfortunately I am VERY late in doing this write up but well...I've been busy. So here goes...

First thing first is comparing the old steering wheel with 364k miles on it and the new one. The color is a great match for new leather but you can see how age has altered the color on my wheel. Everything else looked right, matched, from what I could tell so off to the races.

Obviously the very first step is shutting off all power to the truck and letting it sit for about five minutes because you do NOT want to risk the airbag going off. Although the potentiometer is under the center console, I've heard that odd power surges could somehow trigger it. Not taking any chances

 

[NLXTACY]

There are two plastic covers that are on the sides of the steering wheel. I just used a plastic panel knife to pop them off without marring the plastic.

Once you get the plastic pieces off you will have access to the Torx T27 bolts that are captive. This means that you will loosen them but they will not fall out. These two screws are just there to hold on the airbag and horn cover.

 

[NLXTACY]

I happened to have a special tool holder for the T27 Torx bit

Once the Torx screws were loose, the airbag will come right off IF the screw are not inward of their holders. Meaning, once loose you need to make sure the screws are on the outside edges of the holders so that the airbag isn't held up on the screws.

 

[NLXTACY]

Once the airbag is loose from the steering wheel, you only need to worry about the yellow plug. Admittedly I was a little nervous about this because I had visions of what my skull would look like if this exploded in my face

Removal of the plug wasn't totally straight forward. I actually removed the plug housing from the airbag first so that I had more room to inspect what I was doing. This isn't really necessary.

All that needs to happen is the white gate on the connector needs to swing up. This is done after the sides are compressed to release the tabs. Once the white gate is open you can then pull the plug from the connector. I just used a little screwdriver to GENTLY lift the tabbed ends to allow the clips to pull free.

 

[NLXTACY]

Here is what the airbag itself looks like. Once it was off I placed it in the driveway out of the way.

 

[NLXTACY]

On the steering wheel there us only one connector to worry about, the white on tab. One little tab on the bottom and out it comes.

Taking off the steering was funny...

I gave the task to my 5'4" 18 yo brother to remove. I told him to take the 19mm and just loosen it but DON'T remove it. He asked what the two threaded holes were on the sides of the nut. I told him those were for a steering wheel puller. He asks if I have a steering wheel puller.

"Of course I do! You!", I replied.

Huh?

I explained he just needed to man up and yank on it and it'll pop off. Since he's single and 18 this should be natural to him

Meanwhile I went to grab a drink, take a piss and eat a sandwich. 30 mins goes by and my brother comes in frustrated. It wouldn't budge.

I walked out, sat down, put my feet on the floor, pulled the on the steering wheel once and it came right off. My brother was pisssssed. Leverage bro. Leverage.

So anyway, this what the steering column looks like once the wheel is off.

 

[NLXTACY]

Make sure to put the steering wheel back EXACTLY in the same position you took it off. The easy way would be to keep the steering wheel straight. I didn't but I marked where it was. Putting the new steering wheel on is literally doing everything you did in reverse now. The center bolt gets torqued to 25ft lbs and if you really want to test your gear box play per the FSM, now is the time.

Viola! New steering wheel.

I gotta say that I REALLY like having new leather on the steering wheel. It makes it feel like I'm driving a new truck. If I have any feedback at all, other than I think its an awesome product and a great upgrade, I'd say that the wheel's padding overall feels SLIGHTLY thinner than the old wheel. The muscle memory in my hands can definitely feel the difference. It could easily be because the old wheel's leather has swollen from age. I don't know. The only other nit I suppose is how the stitching feels on the inside webbing between my thumb. The thread feels slightly rough. Like it needs to be compressed down or something. I am seriously considering grabbing some Mr. Zogg's Sex Wax and rubbing it on all the stitching just to smooth it out. Its subtle but its there. Yeah I know, nit picky. Regardless I'm still very excited to have a new steering wheel!

 

[midfat]

Saved

 

[scottryana]

saved

 

[NLXTACY]

Saved

saved

 

[midfat]

Saved that too.

 

[shocktower]

Dayuuuuumm the padding was to thin the stitching was to rough JFC who are you chromylockless because we know you have no golden hair

 

[LS1FJ40]

Great, overkill, anal retentive write up. Exactly what we’ve come to expect from you.

As well as the notes about how your delicate hands couldn’t handle the rough texture of the stitching. I would figure your hands would be plenty calloused from the 6-4-6...

 

[azcrackshot]

Thanks for the info. Saved.

 

[bajaphile]

Nice. Thanks.

 

[Malleus]

I'm replacing my Factory Service Manuals with Joey Service Manuals.

 

[nukegoat]

Why not race car steering wheel

 

[ewillis]

Mine came properly equipped from the factory with the lifetime guarantee model...just sayin!

 

[cbpeck]

Is it just me or does the leather look a little lighter than the old wheels and the airbag/horn cover?

 

[pgmatt]

My steering wheel is absolutely trashed and it’s probably the thing that bothers me most on my LX450. I may have to bite the bullet and order one of these. That looks fantastic! Nice write up