How to remove a 172 Ph1 Steering Wheel

[knobby]

Hi Gys

I am fittin a new steering wheel tonight. Its a 2001 172 with airbag. any ideas how to remove the steering wheel and fit a new one? Dont wanna accidently set of the air bag.

any advice welcome.

cheers

Knobby.

 

[Djw John]

Disconnect the battery for 10 minutes

Unscrew the airbag from behind the wheel and remove the airbag

Unscrew the main nut that holds it on but not all the way off

Pull!! Once its loose then take the big nut off completly and remove the wheel fully

 

[fUbAr]

hmm... good idea for another guide on my website

 

[knobby]

Great stuff.. thanks for the help.. Im about to fit it so shall let you know how i get on..

Cheers

Knobby!

 

[Jonesy]

did u get it done in the end, i remember changing mine and it took ages becuase i couldnt get the old one off, had the main bolt off but the wheel was so stuck on, i almost broke it trying to pull it off, just had to keep wiggling it left and right to loosen it. Plus i left mine for about an hour with the battery disconnected just in case, quite an easy job apart from the above part, but maybe that was just mine.

 

[knobby]

Peice of p1ss mate... had it done in about 20 minutes.. and ten minutes of that was waiting ten minutes with the battery disconnected. I'm double happy now.. Nice new steering wheel.. Yippee!

 

[M1TCH]

hmm... good idea for another guide on my website

lemme know when thats done fubs, I need to change mine soon...

guessing the screw behind is torx?

 

[Djw John]

Yup of course!

 

[knobby]

Yeah they are... and the main bolt holding the wheel on is too.. I did has EvilJohn said.. Disconnected battery for 20 minutes (safe side)(oh and made sure i still had my stereo code) Also before u disconnect the battery, turn the steering wheel so the torx bolts are one the top and one at the bottom much easier to access and with no power steering while battery is disconnected those wheels are hard to turn. I'll find out the size of the size you need for the torx. Its an easy job though with the right tools. The main bolt holding the wheel on could have been tricky, but with a 1/2 drive ratchet didnt have any problems.

Cheers

Knobby..

 

[Djw John]

No power steering, wuss!!!

Glad it was as easy as taht, what did you replace it with?

 

[knobby]

another standard Ph1 172 steering wheel.. Just this one was in far better condition.

I want to have the knackered on now retrimmed, make it fatter and more sporter.. Know any companies who does this?

Cheers

Knobby.

 

[Djw John]

Na not of the top of my end, maybe contact Transcal, Carisma etc

 

[J9HHY]

Piece of piss for u maybe but it looks like some has tried to take my one off before with the wrong torx bit. Rounded off one of the bolts now I am left to try and get it off! Any ideas anyone??

 

[paulboy247]

Classic thread FTW

 

[cat171]

jnewton_ot - when you say rounded off, you mean the nuts on the rear of it that hold the airbag on the wheel ? Or the big one in the middle of the wheel (after the airbags been removed)

Torx bit needed for the big nut is a T50.

 

[J9HHY]

I mean the ones behind the steering wheel that holds the airbag in place! b*****d hey!

 

[J9HHY]

Drilled bit out! Hope retrim is worth it!

 

[cat171]

I've got a re-trimmed wheel on my car. It's much better than the original wheel (i've still got the original wheel which is mint, just didn't want to pass up one done in leather)