VE Steering Wheel Removal - How To Take Off The Airbag

[Troy711]

I can't see why they wouldn't I swapped the ones on the GTS wheel that I bought to the ones in my Statesman and they fit. I don't see why the Omega would be different.

 

[dingdong555]

So, to confirm, basically -

Pull out the fuse (SRS Airbag) which is in the footwell.
Start the car and turn the wheel 90*
Disconnect the -ve battery terminal (This will just reset the radio etc... it won't screw anything else up will it?)
Wait 15min
Undo one side of the airbag
Connect the battery
Turn the wheel 180*
Disconnect the battery and wait 15min
Undo the second side of the airbag
etc...

And do bunnings have the T45 socket? Or is it pretty hard to find?

 

[BigBoss]

Bunnings will have T45 i didnt reconnect battery before turning 180* just used force, it is just like not having power steering, that takes me back

 

[Jarp]

Sounds about right...I didn't pull fuse just disconnected the battery. Re-connected and started to turn 180 then disconnected again. The issue I had was getting a screwdriver that was long enough to apply a decent leverage but not to long that the handle hit the instrument cluster and therefore not enogh leverage to disengage the catch. I ended up putting a nearly 90 degree bend in the shaft of a crappy old flathead screwdriver which made it much easier. Be careful not to rotate the clockspring once the wheel is off. Is a bit nerveracking (but easy)....felt like defusing a bomb or something....have fun

 

[dingdong555]

Thanks Boss! Sounds much easier than reconnecting the battery.

Sounds about right...I didn't pull fuse just disconnected the battery. Re-connected and started to turn 180 then disconnected again. The issue I had was getting a screwdriver that was long enough to apply a decent leverage but not to long that the handle hit the instrument cluster and therefore not enogh leverage to disengage the catch. I ended up putting a nearly 90 degree bend in the shaft of a crappy old flathead screwdriver which made it much easier. Be careful not to rotate the clockspring once the wheel is off. Is a bit nerveracking (but easy)....felt like defusing a bomb or something....have fun

Sounds like I may need to go searching for a tool the right length before I start. Cheers mate

Wish me luck!

 

[BigBoss]

Good luck mate, just remember when you get the airbag off it will be still attached by two cables in my case i think they were blue and orange. to unplug them you must squeeze them in from the sides, Have fun and jarp is correct it is like defusing a bomb

 

[dingdong555]

All done

Only remove the steering column shroud if you can't get the airbag off, as the shroud is a huge PITA to get back on (I only just found that out! Took a good 15min to get back on)

I tried to leaver out the airbag but couldn't leaver up enough as the screw driver was hitting the shroud, after the shroud was removed, it took 5 seconds per each clip. Easy as.

Remove the strip (all clipped in)

Remove shroud (Clipped in)

Insert flat head screw driver as per first page

Leaver up

Step away from the airbag......

The airbag cables don't have much give in them, so don't pull the airbag away from the wheel too quick, otherwise things will break, these pieces came off the airbag plugs (but the still plug in fine.)

Also, a picture of the T45 bit, just for reference.

All done!

 

[RUF-60L]

ok now come do mine! lol (just bought one off ebay)

 

[dingdong555]

ok now come do mine! lol (just bought one off ebay)

I'm in Perth haha. If you take out the fuse and disconnect the battery, you should be fine Just gotta take that first step (which is what i was scared of!)

 

[Jarp]

Bummer u broke the clips...had to laugh at "step away from the airbag"