Would swapping my 98 impreza (non-rs) steering wheel with a 02-03 WRX steering wheel (w/no airbag) be fairly simple? I don't care about the momo logo, I just want to have a leather-wrapped wheel. The part I'm worried about, of course, is getting the airbag out of my wheel and putting it into the new wheel. Again, the new wheel does not have an airbag, but it looks to be the identical shape as the one from my wheel. Are the harnesses and everything the same (airbag and cruise)? The wrx wheel does have the stock cruise lever on it still, and it also looks identical. Could I just use the one already on the wheel?

Am I worrying too much? What are the risks of the airbag deploying or not working afterwards? Don't worry, I am competent and would be able to do this correctly (if there was a way with no or very low risk); airbags just frighten me... and they're spendy.

If anyone has done this with success or can impart any knoledge, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

Just my 2 cents, but I wouldn't mess around with an airbag-equipped steering wheel. Too much stuff that can go wrong. Non-airbag equipped steering wheels are a cinch, but I'd take it to the pro's for this one.

 

You should disconnect the battery, and/or pull the airbag fuse. I think the harnesses are different though. The toughest part seems to be pulling the old wheel off, apparently it is a major PITA. There is a WRX steering wheel swap on scoobymods.com, of course now you have to be a subscriber to view it.

 

It's not all that hard to swap but can be potentially dangerous. It's a little more complicated than just pulling the fuse, You must disconnect the negative terminal of the battery and wait at least 10 -15 minutes before removing the air bag. That info is from the service manual. For good measure I step on the brake a few times too to discharge any capacitor that may have some juice stored.

The hardest part is getting that clip undone to remove the airbag from the roll over harness. It's a bugger.

Peaty


Sad but true about being a subscriber but we are almost half way to our save scoobymods goal to opening it back up again for all. Details here:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=573648


If you are a subscriber the install is here:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127

 

I am going to be doing this too, but into an 03 RS.

my RS already comes with a nice wheel(leather-like material, not plastic) but it doesn't have the thumb nubs or the perforated leather that the WRX's momo has... and I want that momo feel!

just to make sure though, the airbag assembly will transplant from the old wheel into the wrx wheel, right? i've seen the scooby mods and it looks like it should work out.

 

AFAIK...

BTW, good timing on this bump - I just sourced a wrx wheel and will be installing it in my 98 OBS shortly...

 

some info here too:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4876

 

you sir, are correct.

How do you get that damn wheel off the column? How careful do I have to be to pull straight? Since part of the airbag system is right there, would it be okay to spray lubricant in that joint?

TIA for any advise... I'm working on it right now.

PS: I already got the airbag clip undone- that was a *****