Steering Wheel

R

RBBailey

Well-known member
Jul 26, 2004
6,758
3
Oregon
www.flickr.com
So, I've never like the light tan leather steering wheel anyway. And the leather is getting all old and nasty on it, so I need to do something.

Find a replacement? How hard is it to pull one off and swap it out for a new/used item?

Find someone to recover it? Anyone do this? I would want to get it done in a dark charcoal to match the black trim.
 
R

RBBailey

Well-known member
Jul 26, 2004
6,758
3
Oregon
www.flickr.com
Yeah... kind of nice timing! I'm going to have to check the upholster down the road because it's not like Land Rover really uses the best leather. But that is a good price from Will.
 
C

Corprin

Well-known member
Aug 20, 2012
260
0
MLPS
I just did the steering wheel on the '00. So here it is from memory, I may have missed something, but it's VERY straight forward.

1. Disconnect (-) battery pole and center steering wheel/front wheels.
2. Find a way to discharge the Airbag Capacitors without discharging them. (I omit this step)
3. Turn the wheel 90* left or right.
4. Using a T-30 loosen the airbag screw from the rear of the steering wheel in the "down" position.
5. Turn the wheel back, then 90* to the direction opposite #3.
6. Repeat #4, and recenter steering wheel.
7. Pull the airbag module off the steering wheel and while pointing the airbag in a safe direction gently pull the red squib off the back of the unit. Set airbag aside.
8. Unplug wide black plug and free wiring that feeds horn buttons and airbag module from steering wheel. (Plastic clips).
9. Using 17mm socket, grab the steering wheel, and crack the center lock nut loose, and recenter steering wheel.
10. Remove center lock nut and set aside.
11. While sitting in the driver seat, wiggle and yank the steering wheel at opposite sides (L/R, T/B) until it pops loose.
12. Making sure your wheel is centered, remove it while guiding the black and yellow cables from the clockspring free of the steering wheel.
13. Set new and old steering wheels next to each other.
14. Unplug both horn buttons from harness.
15. Using Phillips screw driver, move over all the cruise control and stereo buttons, brackets, etc. (Make new look like old)
16. There are two tabs holding each horn button to the steering wheel assembly, thin top, thick bottom (as you see the button). Using a thin flat head screw driver to clear the bottom/thick tab free of the steering wheel (pry the foam out of the way) rotate the horn button out a bit. Holding it there, remove the screw driver and use it to open the jaw of the thin tab, horn button will pop out. Place horn buttons into new wheel.
17. Make sure all wires are plugged in, and wiring is routed through appropriate tabs/clips.
18. Reassemble in reverse order, making sure the clockspring and steering wheel are centered.
19. Have a beer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom