i want to upgrade my steering wheel and i wasn't sure how to remove the stock steering wheel off of a 99 integ with air bags... anybody know how to do it without the bag blowing up in my face...thanks in advance

 

You'll need to disconnect the battery first to be on the safe side. Then you'll need to take off the little plastic covers on the sides and bottom of the steering wheel. One of the plastic covers is on the cruise control. ( 3 total )

The side plastic covers conceal access to the torx screws (T27 I think and they should be gold in color) that hold the airbag in place. The bottom allows access to the airbag plug so you can disconnect it. Once you remove the airbag you have to disconnect the horn and cruise control plugs.

There is a big 19 mm bolt in the center that has to come off in order to get the steering wheel off. If you have an impact it helps in removing this bolt. Once removed you should be able to pull the wheel off. Be careful when takin the wheel out, you have to make sure the plugs come out through the hole on the back of the wheel.

Next you should remove the steering column cover ( Three screws under the column ). With this removed it allows access to the srs reel harness plugs. There are 2, a yellow and a gray i think. Now back to the srs reel thats right behind the steering wheel. Take the three screws out and gently remove the reel. You have to feed the harness up and out of the steering column.

If you need more info i'll see if i can post pics later tonight.

 

also, to be safe, don't touch anything for like 5 minutes after disconnecting the battery. most airbag systems have a capacitor that stores power for a little bit even after the battery is disco'd. waiting 5 minutes makes sure that the capacitor drains the stored charge.

 

The torx screws are T30

 

^Thanx for clarification. I think i used a 27 though cuz it wuz all i had.

 

cool thanks for the advice... if possible can you post the pics

 

i've heard of waiting upwards of 30 minutes after disconnecting the battery before playing with the airbag. probably overkill, but i'd rather not have that thing go off in my face. had to replace the heater core in my dad's '97 expedition recently. took the dash all apart to get to the thing. had to take out the passenger airbag. i was carrying that thing like dynamite. i almost crapped my pants when i set it on the workbench a little harder than i was meaning to.