Andy Tucker

So my mate is scraping his 5dr focus and Has asked me if I want anything from it.my steering wheel is warn bad so I will swap.

But how do I get the steering wheel off?


Thanks,Andy

dojj

iTrader: (3)

Disconnect the battery
Leave for 10 mins
Behind the steering wheel will be 2 bolts holding the air bag in place
Turn the wheel to access them
They won't come out all the way but when they are out you can pull the airbag off
Unclip the wiring
Remove steering wheel as normal
Undo the big but in the middle
Leave it in by a few threads though
Bang wheel from behind with the palms of your hand until its loose
Remove nut fully
Swap wheel

Andy Tucker

Top man dojj.thank you sir.do you happen to know the size of the centre nut and the 2 at the back?

STeve

iTrader: (11)

if it like other steering wheels with airbags it will be a 5.5 bolt on the back and a 15/17 on the steering wheel, also some models require you to turn the key one click to release the steering lock to remove the wheel

dojj

iTrader: (3)

As per steves post, but some cars have normal bolts and some cars had torx head bolts so go prepared

And take a long breaker bar with you as the big nut is sometimes a bit tight

Andy Tucker

Ok cheers guys.will let you know how I get on 

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I just changed our focus steering wheel a few weeks ago. The bolts are defo 5.5mm. you will have to disconnect the air bag from the squib.

I fitted my original air bag to the newer steering wheel and now when pressing the horn you have to really press on the air bag for it to work.

Andy Tucker

Oh don't say that now.

Iain Mac

I'd use the bag that matches the wheel and, if he's scrapping the car, keep both his and your airbags until all is in and working.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

The new steering.wheel come.with an air bag. That air bag fits the old steering wheel ok but the original air bag fits the new steering wheel ok but the horn is a bit hard to push. Stupid thing.

nevsrevs

its a big torx that hold the wheel on

Andy Tucker

i thought it was a 24mm nut

Andy Tucker

gonna swap the boot lids over to as mine has a small bit of rust on the bottom corner and his is mint

dahipster

Hi all,

Picked up this thread as I was changing my steering wheel too. Instructions were perfect, had no problems getting old one off and new one on, cheers for your help.

However, now I've got a problem... as soon as I reconnect the battery, the horn wont shut the f**k up!! I unscrewed the airbag, but left it plugged in, then reconnected the battery, and it didn't go off. Swapped back to the old steering wheel and same result... still goes off.

Can anyone suggest what I've done wrong?! Thanks.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

The horn push is on 2 metal tracks inside the wheel

If the switch hasnt been put back properly they will short out across the tracks causing the horn to constantly sound

user 628729

You do have to be careful seating everything properly or you get problems with the horn as noted above.

I had mine swapped a while back to fit cruise control and the horn was "wrong" until we took it all off and redid it carefully.

But yes, it's just two nuts (5.5mm sounds right) behind to release the airbag, plugs into the clock spring and a great big hexagonal nut in the middle.

dahipster

I've attached links to a couple of pics, one of the steering column without the wheel attached and one of the back of the airbag as I think its in one of these places I'm causing the problem. would you mind just being a little more specific on what needs seating properly?

Thanks again guys

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2017.16.17.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...2017.16.29.jpg

Farmer Giles

make sure you don't turn the ingintion on while the air bag is off or else you'll throw the air bag light on and you'll probably have to get it plugged in to turn it off.

2p

user 628729

I can't really as I was watching and helping someone else do it.
I think it was about the precise seating of the clock spring and how the airbag section then fitted over that. Something needed to click positively into place.
But on my car the clock spring was swapped at the same time, so if yours isn't disturbed at all that may not be it.

IanC

Only advice I can give is make sure your steering lock is on when you take your steering wheel off as the steering columns can drop down and there a pig to get back up again