Steering Wheel Removal / Replacement

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
As I have just received my new paddles and steering wheel, I thought I would do a short how to on changing them both out. There has been some discussion on whether you can change the paddles with the steering wheel in place, from my perspective, this is a bit tricky, removing the screws with a ball headed allen key is more than possible, however getting the upper screw back in with the position of the steering wheel gives a big risk of cross threading the screw, so I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and did the hard way.

To do this you will need:

2.5mm ball headed hex key

3mm ball head hex key

4mm hex key or ratchet

8mm socket

Pick tools

Trim tools

Carbon Steering Wheel - Optional - substitute for your preferred version.


Step 1 - Remove steering column shroud

Disconnect the battery by removing the negative clamp - this will save time later. Do not fully close the bottled or you will be hunting for the manual release.

Using the 4mm hex key remove the two allen screws in the indents toward the front of the lower shroud. Then loosen the steering wheel height adjuster, revealing the 8mm nut and remove this.

Moving to the top of the shroud pry the vinyl cover between the instruments and the should upwards at the corner, it will unclip and lift out of the way.


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Separate the upper and lower parts of the shroud by releasing the clips holding this together. Start at the joint in front of the indicator stalks, pressing the lower shroud, you will feel the clip release then work back toward the dash.

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This will then separate so you can drop the lower part down and forward to remove. The upper part lifts out. Note the locating pin at in the centre.

Step 2 - Remove Airbag and Disconnect Wheel

To remove the airbag, make sure the battery is disconnected and left off for 15 mins, this will stop any static discharge causing the bag to go off in your face.

There are two holes in the back of the steering wheel. Thought these you can use a tool to release the spring clips retaining the airbag. Insert the key to disable the steering lock and turn the wheel to align the first of the holes with the top of the steering column, slightly toward the centre of the car. Use a suitable length tool (I used a 3mm hex as it was the right length and the ball end would locate on the spring. This needs to go into the wheel angled slightly upward to find the spring. Then, with your finger on top of the tool, lever downward to release the spring. It might take some wiggling to find the right place, but don’t apply too much pressure as this might damage the bit of the wheel you can’t see.

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Once one side releases, turn the wheel to align the other hole and repeat, your airbag will then be loose.

The airbag is connected by two plugs, one yellow and one green (they are colour coded so you won’t get them the wrong way round unless you are colour blind). They are secured by a clip in the centre which needs to be removed to allow them to unplug. Using a pick tool, lift the clip away from the plug until it releases. You can then unplug the airbag and put it somewhere safe.

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If you are just doing the paddles, you don’t need to unplug anything else as it the other loom has enough slack to pull the wheel off the column slightly allowing you to get to the screws. If you are replacing the wheel, carry on and unplug the black plug from the white socket. To do this depress the tiny retaining clip with a pick tool and it pulls out.

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Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Step 3 - Remove steering wheel

To remove the steering wheel is to remove the nut (the one on the wheel, not the one behind the wheel).

The nut is behind a plastic cover, so use your pick tool to pull it off the nut.

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This reveals the nut itself, not the indent in the upper part of the column and the strike mark on the nut showing it has been tightened at the factory. You can use this to tighten it the correct amount when refitting.

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If you haven’t already, remove the key and engage the steering lock. The nut isn’t very tight so this will help undo it. Using a 24mm socket and a suitable extension loosen the nut and then remove. Then remove the washer underneath, revealing an indent in the casting of the wheel boss which should light up with the indent in the top of the column. This will allow you to put the wheel back where you found it.

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Now you can pull gently on the wheel, it should release with no real force. If it is tight on the splines, refit the nut a few turns to prevent the wheel hitting you in the face (or don’t and post the video) then pull sharply and evenly on the wheel and it should pop off.

If you are just replacing the paddles you don’t need to fully remove the wheel, just move it forward enough to get to the screws. If you are replacing the wheel, feed the wires through the hole in the wheel and then set it to one side.

To replace the paddles you now just undo the 2.5mm hex screws, remove the old ones and then fit the new ones. This is pretty self explanatory, if you made it this far with your head and fingers still attached, it will be easy.

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Refitting is the reverse of removal. Do not rotate the clock spring (the bit in the middle with the wires) so it goes back in the same position. Align the indent in the wheel to the indent in the steering column. Tighten the nut until it is in the same position using the paint strike mark. Reconnect the airbag align the pins with the middle in the springs and then push it home. When refitting the shroud the hex screws can be a pain, align them carefully and make sure the are vertical when screwing the in. Reconnect the battery, test the horn and you are done.

If all has gone to plan, you should end up with something that looks a bit like this

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Bebs

Member
Messages
3,271
Yep, good effort.
My advice, pay someone to do it. It’s much much easier.. ;)
 
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mowlas

Member
Messages
1,728
Thank you so much Zep for documenting this. This is something that quite a number will want to do, me included at some stage.

The end result looks absolutely fantastic- many congratulations!
 

Maseratlee

Junior Member
Messages
86
Very informative Zep.
I'll be changing mine soon... (fingers crossed) so was going to ask this very question
 
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