Here's a little DIY steering wheel removal with a few pics, hope this helps

VERY IMPORTANT BEFORE YOU START....DISCONNECT THE BATTERY

On each side of the steering wheel there is a little tiny hole.Use a small allen wrench or screwdriver and push and feel for a tab that has some type of spring feel to it.At the same time pull on the airbag gently on the side your are pushing in......Now shove a wrench or some type of a smooth object, between the airbag and the wheel.... so it will not attach itself back in place.Repeat the same step on the other side of the wheel.








With a flat head screwdriver gently pry out the little plastic locking tabs.then you squeez the connectors and remove them.





Unplug this Black connector



With a 21mm socket remove the nut on the steering wheel



Notice that the wheel and shaft have alignment markes, make sure that they are aligned when removed and installed. VERY IMPORTANT



Gently pull on steering wheel left to right and it will free itself loose



This next step is on how to remove the clock spring

Revove the bottom panel underneath your Steering wheel,there 2 torx screws that need to be removed after that then gently pop out the panel there are 2 plastic tabs that will snap out.



Remove this stainless bracket out the way, (4) 7mm bolts that need to be removed.





Remove Steering Column Cover a couple srews underneath the cover







A pic of the Clock spring.... There are 4 connections on the clock spring 2 small conectors that go to the airbag and 2 big connectors that go to your dash harness



Unplug this Big Yellow connector



Unplug This black connector



Sorry guys I dont have my C-clip tool to Remove the Copper C-Clip but you will get the idea... very easy.



Again Hopes this helps alot of you guys that want to tackle this job in your garage.

 

Well done!

 

Phillip, I owe you one!

 

Thanks Glad I can help

 

Wish I'd had this last year. I did not remove as much stuff
but then again the job may have been a lot easier had I.

Did get it right the first time without fuggin it up. My steering wheel controls decided to work again too after the replacement.

 

Phillip one quick question. Is the clock spring held by just one C-clip?

 

Yes just the C-clip holds it in place

 

I believe there is no such thing as a dumb question....

So what is a clock spring?? :o


vetfever

 

I have an 05 is it possible to upgrade to 06+ steering wheel?

Thanks

 

It's the device that connects the electrical from the steering wheel to down the column. It get's its name from the type of spring called a "clock spring". In that a clock spring is the type of spring one would use for a drill press. It's a flat steel strip that is rolled up and placed inside a narrow cylinder so that when it's rotated in one direction it winds the strip to a tension and then when released the tension releases and forces back the other way. So on a drill press you rotate the bit down, let go and it returns by itself.

In the steering wheel instead of a steel strip there is a strip of flat wire with multiple conducters that allow the electrical signals to go from the steering wheel to the column without having any wires get tangled up.

Jay

 

For what actions do you need to remove the clock spring?

 

Sorry guys but I forgot to mention that my car is a 2005 and I switched to a 06+ steering wheel. The clockspring needs to be swapped out if you change your 05 wheel to the 06+ wheel and vise versa.

No need to remove clockspring if your just removing your steering wheel.

 

Great expalnation

 

Great write up and pictures.

 

I was under the impression you would need a puller to remove the steering wheel? Is this not the case in the C6, or is this one of things that sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not?

 

Thanks you

Last 3 vettes I worked on did not need a puller

 

Thanks

vetfever

 

I swapped my 2005 steering wheel to a 2012 and when I turn the wheel the new clockspring is rubbing on the steering wheel column trim. Whats up with this?

 

when you swapped for the 2012 steering wheel, were you able to make the electronics functional? If so what other parts were required/
Bick

 

Great thread. Helpful when I installed my new wheel.




To be different...