Swapping steering wheel

[Scott Myles]

I searched this post and couldn't find anything related to this question. Has anyone swapped out there stock steering wheel (the one without the radio controls) on their 4th gen for the leather steering wheel with the radio controls? Or, alternatively does anyone know what would be involved with this? Are the wires for the controls already in the steering column? Thanks for any assistance you might be able to provide.

[CamAroFaNaTic]

I dont really kno anything about this, but im sure it would be a pain due to the airbag and stuff.

[camaro_speedemon]

I have thought about the same thing. I don't think it would be hard, just move the airbag to the new steering wheel. I would get a steering wheel without the airbag. Probably much cheeper. But I don't know what's involved for it to work.

[Blue Flame V6]

I think I am the only one on the board who has done this so far. It is a little more than just swapping the wheel and airbag. The colum also has to have the airbag wires pulled out of it and new ones ran, major pain in the *** . It took me just under 3 hours to do it. All you will need is the wheel and wiring harness. I did mine for $50 from a wrecked 2000 on my old camaro. Just make sure you have a wheel puller and a coat hanger before you start and a metric ratchet set and you will be set to go. If you need any help I can walk you through it just e-mail me.

Edit: also you don't need another airbag your old one will work fine just make sure you have a grounding strap on before you take it out.

[ January 31, 2003: Message edited by: Blue Flame V6 ]</p>

[navigatorbob]

Blue Flame,

You're post peaked my own interest in swapping steering wheels, and I've got a few questions for you.

1) What's a wheel puller? (I'm guessing it's a specialty tool for steering wheels?)

2) I've never heard of a grounding strap. Is it something so that the airbag is always grounded and won't deploy?

3) Aside for running the wires for the controls, why do you have to run new wires for the airbag? Won't the old ones work?

[Blue Flame V6]

Wheel puller you use it to pull the wheel duh [img]tongue.gif[/img] you can get one from autozone for $15

grounding strap isn't neccessary just a little extra safety precaution airbags can go off from static electricity, just go to a electronics store like radio shack there around $2

you have to run new wires because they are integrated with the wheel control wires there is a cam in there that rotates with the wheel. Other than that there is no extra wires that you will need the plug is already under the dash.