Help with removing steering wheel!
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Joined: Aug 2018
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From: PM me if you must know that badly
2015 Lariat here, but I imagine all the 2015+ models are the same for steering wheel removal. I just got a Raptor steering wheel yesterday and went to remove my current steering wheel to put the new one on, but couldn't get the airbag off.... Anybody who has taken it off before have any tips or tricks to help get it off? Maybe even what tools you used and pictures of the inside of the airbag assembly so I can see exactly what it is I'm trying to push?
I used a screwdriver to insert into the holes on either side of the wheel and was able to jiggle the airbag and was pretty sure I was pushing on the rods to release them from the hooks of the steering wheel, but even with pushing with all my might I couldn't get what I thought were the rods to budge at all... Help please!!
I used a screwdriver to insert into the holes on either side of the wheel and was able to jiggle the airbag and was pretty sure I was pushing on the rods to release them from the hooks of the steering wheel, but even with pushing with all my might I couldn't get what I thought were the rods to budge at all... Help please!!
I used a (metal) barbecue skewer. You really need something long and thin to get through the hole and to the releases. I’m betting your screwdriver is too fat.
Last edited by grimslade; Aug 9, 2018 at 07:44 AM. Reason: Clarification
Just did the raptor wheel upgrade myself and used a small allen key to release the air bag assembly. You should not have to push really hard at all on the "release tabs", just firm pressure and you should be able to wiggle the airbag assembly right out.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 311
Likes: 33
From: PM me if you must know that badly
UPDATE: I'm officially an idiot LOL in my excitement to get the wheel installed yesterday, I grabbed a 4mm allen key by mistake (I knew from watching videos that it had to be 3.5 or smaller)... then when it wasn't working I grabbed a screwdriver that was also 4mm but I thought would work because it was longer and the allen key just wasn't reaching.... long story short I realized my mistake, grabbed the 3mm allen key and voila! it popped off in literally 30 seconds. When I pulled it off, the little receiver holes on the airbag guiding to the rods were all scratched and mangled from me bombarding them with the larger tools yesterday. Oh well, no harm no foul!
Switched over my trim and put it back on, whole thing took about 10 minutes max! Thanks for your help guys!! Moral of the story is this: I got some quotes from dealerships and auto body places; they said it was an hour job and quoted me $100. Scheisters!! I did the whole thing in 10 minutes and I've never done it before. I'm sure those guys could do it in 5 minutes max.... guess that's how they make their money right???
Switched over my trim and put it back on, whole thing took about 10 minutes max! Thanks for your help guys!! Moral of the story is this: I got some quotes from dealerships and auto body places; they said it was an hour job and quoted me $100. Scheisters!! I did the whole thing in 10 minutes and I've never done it before. I'm sure those guys could do it in 5 minutes max.... guess that's how they make their money right???





