Noisy Airbag. Anyone Got The R33 Airbag Rachet ?

[PuppaDuck]

I am looking for someone in Sydney who has the rachet piece that will fit the star pattern on the bolts that hold the airbag in.

This is to address the noisy clanking in the airbag piece on the steering wheel - an issue I know is very popular on R33s with drivers airbags.

Here's what I am thinking:

- I have a general idea of what needs to be done, but can't buy the piece to get the bolts off.

- If someone out there is willing to lend me that piece, or work with me on it, I would like to document and photograph the outcome to make a nice tutorial for others.

- If I can't get any help on this, I was going to try knocking out the centre piece with a hammer and centre punch so that I can use a variety of other rachet heads to get this off.

It'd be great to hear from someone who has done it before, but it would be nice to just hear from someone with input.

Thanks guys.

[benm]

The 'clunking' will be a 2inch piece of metal that is bolted to the center top part underneath the airbag which is designed to act as a cushion for the steering wheel, it's held in by 2 screws. These tend to snap off and clunk around inside the wheel everytime you turn corners.

I got Unique AutoSports to fix mine about 3yrs ago, if you are doing it yourself remember that you are playing around with an airbag.

[hojak]

Would give u a hand, but from brisbane, haha. Did this fix on my neighbour's 33 steering wheel bout a month back. like benm said, was a 2 inche pice of metal that's rattling around with no bolts in site, so just used couple cable ties and the bugger aint going anywhere. Just becareful muckin around with the airbag unit.

[benm]

The bracket in the middle at the top is where the little metal piece would normally sit, I had it removed completely and noticed no difference in feel of the wheel when driving.

[hojak]

know what it's even for benm? I know u said 'as a cushion for the steering wheel'...but cushioning what? Was thinkin of removing but thought, it's there for a reason...better leave it in.

Edited February 18, 2008 by hojak

[benm]

Check my post above, it absorbs any vibration through the wheel.

Edited February 18, 2008 by benm

[hojak]

o i c

[PuppaDuck]

Thanks for the pic.

I'm trying to get an understanding of what's behind there, between now and when I finally find something that will let me loosen those bolts.

I've been hearing a noise consistent with loose metal like a big bolt for years. Then it sounded like it finally came loose altogether. Now I feel like something on a 2 bolt bracket is loose at one end. It seems to hit the horn cover and go back in its place.

I thought I was looking for a loose bolt that needed tightening.

At first it rattled around in there, which is why I took off the bottom cover - hoping something would drop out while I have it upside down during a turn. Instead, it must have found a place to wedge in and make my horn go off when upside down.

Had to pull the fuse for the horn to stop all of the ugly women looking at me as I involuntarily beeped them at the lights.

That area you speak of is probably also the pivot point to the horn cover, which sits firm at the top and moves in and out at the bottom.

Perhaps a good punch at the top and the piece breaks off like you've mentioned.

I've got the disabling of the airbag sorted. Basically pulling the fuse, unplugging whatever you can get to - then waiting for the capacitors to discharge over a safe 30 minutes, and not sitting in front of the wheel while you work on it. Have I left anything out ?

Can't be any worse than copping a 2-inch piece of metal in the throat because your airbag goes off during use, just because it came loose from somewhere where we aren't able to get to to fix.

Since it came loose, I haven't noticed any change in the feel of the horn cover.

Damn torx rachet pattern. I'd have had it done by now.

[benm]

You sure Kinchrome don't sell the torx bit?

[darkhorse]

take it to nissan workshop.

they fixed mine in less then 2 minutes.

[05YKO_r33]

kinchrome do sell the bit required. it is a t50 tamperproof torx bit. about $25 for the set.

I enquired about a replacement and the guy at nissan service couldn't even help me with it or tell me what it does.

This thread is the most help i have had.

Less than 2 minutes.... impressive.

Cheers.

[jake33]

yeah ive got the same problem too.

i had just the rattle for a year then it must have got more loose and started hitting the horn everytime i did a left turn. people thought i was nuts.

so cut up some spunge and wedged it up there for now with a screw driver. no noise anymore or rattle but still i would like to do it right and get the thing fix.

[SeanO]

First of all i had this problem as well

firstly messing around with airbags is dangerous

what i managed to do was remove the metal piece all together

1. Disconnect battery and drain it remove airbag fuse

2. under steering wheel is a cover and to both sides is little plastic covers remove them all and lay to one side (passenger seat did it for me)

3. have your T50 Security or female Torx bit as there known to be and undo the bolts under each of the removed cover locations

4. airbag piece should now be removable from steering wheel and you should be able to remove the metal piece easily and place back together if not you can remove the whole wheel 19 mm nut in middle of steering wheel to remove wheel and replace with a new or good second hand piece swapping over steering wheel internals if required

if you decide to remove the wheel there is a metal dot on the end of the column from memory that should assist you in setting it straight again

if i have missed anything just let me know and remember do it at your own risk but this is how i did it

[frozenwaffles]

yeah right...well i had this problem too...

now you could mess around with the batterery and all but hey, just like petrol and sparks...you wont get a fire, the airbag will not ever deploy unless you trigger it by crashing!!!

so simply undo the plug on the under side of the airbag and hey presto, no risk of airbag going off! funny that

anyway i just ripped that annoying weight out of my car...does nothing at all really especially not for us hardcore drivers...lol

yay no more rattle!