Steering Wheel Removal

[JimX]

Does anyone know how to remove the series 2 R33 airbag wheel? I only need to remove it to put it on straight. I would normally just get a wheel alignment place to do it along with an alignment, but it steers very straight and I have crap tyres so if it's out of alignment I will use that as a method to wear them out quicker So far I have discovered 2 large security style star bolts under 2 small plastic covers, do these hold the horn button on or are there other bolts behind the steering cowl or elsewhere? If I need to remove the 2 security bolts, where would I buy the socket for it?

[wrxhoon]

They are torqs bolts ( number 50 from memmory), any auto shop will sell them, you have to undo then in order to remove the airbag then you will see thenut you have to undo , you may need a gear puller to remove the wheel .

[R.C]

They are torqs bolts ( number 50 from memmory), any auto shop will sell them, you have to undo then in order to remove the airbag then you will see thenut you have to undo , you may need a gear puller to remove the wheel .

Make sure you buy the "tamper proof" torx driver (ie it has a recess in the centre corresponding to the pin on the bolt head). Should be about $20 for a set of 3 as I recall.

[Haxorz]

Are there any special tricks to remove the airbag and replace it other than the security screw?

For example, I think I would want to disconnect the battery for at least one minute first and unplug that little plug I can see that goes into the yellow wire. I’m also guessing that I do not want to start the car whilst the airbag is disconnected as I don’t want the car to go into a ‘limp home’ mode or something similar. I understand newer Fords will emit a warning beep sequence for the next 250 starts if you ever do that!

[JimX]

I can only speak for the R33 GTR's airbag wheel, because that's the only one I've done. But there was no issue driving the car with the airbag removed. I had to do this because once I had the airbag out, I realised I couldn't find my steering wheel puller and so had to drive to my local spare parts shop to get another one.

Oh yeah, something I should add. Once you remove the airbag there are 4 more security torx bolts which are 2 sizes smaller than the size 50 one used to remove the side bolts. I can't for the life of me remember what it was though, I think the mounting for the horn? I'm pretty sure you need to remove them to get to the steering column and threaded puller holes. I remember disassembling the horn to re-tension the springs a bit so now it doesn't rattle, but I forget the details because it was all so straightforward. I'm now glad that the shop only had the kit available and not a single size 50, because it would have meant an extra trip to the parts shop.

[ferni]

ummm if you remove the steering wheel and dont put it back on straight i think that will cause some shit with your HICAS..... that was one thing i was always worried about when removing mine, putting it back on straight. Maybe i'm wrong though

Don't be a tight ass, go get an alignment - alignments aren't just for steering wheels going straight, theres other stuff to it as well

[JimX]

Yes it will cause some shit with the HICAS if the wheel isn't straight, and now it steers better since I put it back on straight Before it seemed to be a bit weird before because the HICAS would do something different depending on which direction I was steering. It wasn't too bad before but it's definitely better now. The alignment is good enough for now, I will get an alignment when I replace the tyres.