Steering Wheel Removal

[MaximusB]

Is there any way to remove the steering wheel without poking the holes through the leather?

My steering wheel squeaks when I turn in either direction. I am sure it is the steering wheel itself because the noise will go away if I change the steering wheel position slighty but it’ll come back after a few days. I’ve also sprayed some lubricant through the crack behind steering wheel and that got rid of squeak for about a month. So now I want to take the wheel off and see what’s going on.

Or does anyone know how to remove the shroud (the plastic cover) around the steering wheel column?

[Solo_M_Tech]

Nope gotta poke some holes.

[monterey]

i wonder if you can just remove the panel under the wheel instead. i can't think of anything you can lube by removing rhe airbag. the only thing there is the spline.

[Spun Crankhub]

What is your objection to removing the airbag? I can find the metal tabs that release the airbag in about 2 seconds each side. As long as you understand that there is no need to wiggle the screwdriver around you will do no damage to the back of the steering wheel. Also have your flat blade screwdriver with the flat side parallel to the ground.
No need to remove negative battery cable in my experience, but to avoid causing srs light to come on, do not hit the start button until airbag is re-connected.

[deansbimmer]

-The holes are already there to remove the airbag, you're not supposed to be 'poking' new ones.

-You have to remove the steering wheel to properly remove the column surround without breaking its tabs.

-The squeak is usually the plastic bearing inside the column switchgear that houses the slipring coil. The column itself rotates on heavy duty greased ball bearings. However, hosing the thing down with an oily spray is one of the worst things you can do. Clean it properly with alcohol and you can use some proper dielectric grease on the contact points.

[MaximusB]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

-The holes are already there to remove the airbag, you're not supposed to be 'poking' new ones.

-You have to remove the steering wheel to properly remove the column surround without breaking its tabs.

-The squeak is usually the plastic bearing inside the column switchgear that houses the slipring coil. The column itself rotates on heavy duty greased ball bearings. However, hosing the thing down with an oily spray is one of the worst things you can do. Clean it properly with alcohol and you can use some proper dielectric grease on the contact points.

Thanks!
Behind my steering wheel I can see the two holes, but it is covered by the leather. So I will have to poke through the leather to release the airbag unit. I’m trying not to puncture the leather even though I’m sure when the dealer replace the airbag under recall they will puncture it anyways.

Any idea how I can fix the squeak without taking the airbag unit out?

[deansbimmer]

You can't. You have to remove the airbag and likely the steering wheel to fix the squeek.

The back of the wheel is vinyl not leather. It stretches. The hole is a small slit that allows you to pass a tool through to release the airbag clips. As long as you don't hamfist it with a giant screwdriver, the vinyl will self heal once you're done.

[Munichm3]

Holy smokes man, those holes are there for a reason, use them! Don’t try to make a job harder than it needs to be. Use two flat head screw drivers or even philips and stick them in and the airbag will pop off. German engineering, isn’t it great?