I have a 91 t/a w/ airbag and it looks like____. I would like to replace it with the 70's style wheel (see picture). Has anyone done this? any help would be appreciated. I know that the horn part is missing.

 

nobodies done this? ok it will fit but, will the air bag light stay on or maybe a fuse, I hope.

 

u can unplug or maybe remove the airbag, and remove the light. that's been done. they scare the hell out of my family anyway. lol.

 

And in some states it is Illegal to disable or remove the Airbag system..Like In Mass, U will not pass the yearly safety check if the SAS or Airbag are missing on car/truck equipped with them..

 

I dont care much for air bags but thats just my .02 cents worth. I always invision the airbag going on at the wrong time in an accident and they have proven that if it goes off at the wrong time it can break a neck like a twig. When I worked at Chevrolet a while back there was a tech working on the far side of the shop and he was removing the interior on a pontiac bonniville and he began unplugging different connectors and BAM! an airbag went off when he was leaning over it and it shot him to the rear of that car and he had to be taken to the hosital. Guess he should have disarmed the airbags!

 

That looks like a Grant wheel, and chances are you'll need an adapter kit to mount it in place of your current wheel. A horn button is a must, as well.

 

Well, its not a grant wheel, its a 2nd t/a wheel. But I could see why you would think that. I've attached what I feel is the complete assembly for making this work. Just one question does anyone know if the srs light will stay on? and if so how can I disable it I guess that two questions!!

 

You may want to find out what your insurance company's policy is with respect to disabling safety equipment too. If you wreck your car, they might try to stiff you on the medical bills.

 

I've done this on the 91 that I had. Just disconnect the battery before you take the airbag out. Once you have it out you'll see a disk with the wires that connect to the airbag ( I can't remember what it's called) take that out. Cut the wires and put it back in. Now you might have to get a few washers to space it so it don't rub on the sterring column. You might want to check the laws in your state but I'm sure you will be safe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but airbags were not mandatory until 1993.
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And yes the srs light will stay on you can either have it removed out of the computer or just pull the light. The check engine light will NOT come on.

 

Jim is correct do check with your insurance about this they might frown on it. mine didn't but when I got mine(insurance) I did not check the box that had airbags on the app and I was fine

 

In PA you have to have the original equipment installed in the vehicle. I would just hang onto the wheel at the very least and if you need swap it back in for inspection every year. Steering wheels are fairly simple to swap over.

 

If I may ask a question in your thread, it might answer a question you have as well:

If going from a 1991 / 1992 wheel to a 1984-ish wheel (the one that looks similar to above), would it be a direct swap or would you need a horn cam.

Search turned up nothing about needing a horn cam, so thats why I asked.


And maybe to lessen the anger you might have at me ( ), in order to disable the inf rest light on your dash, you can pull the bulb in the back. Im not 100% sure if the fuse will do it too, but once you remove the airbag, the light WILL stay on.

/edit: And if you are unlucky enough to have to have your car inspected (in the state of Ohio, they will sometimes have random car checks), and you bought your car used, the line "It was like that when I bought it" plays nicely to get you out of there without a ticket. You will, of course, have to put it back on and show them though.

 

I also had the Airbag light problem when I pulled the bulb but swapping my 88 dash in there changed that I have also noticed the only difference between the 88 and 91/92 column is the wires on the turn signal assembly, otherwise the they are the same in regards to the cancelling cam, not sure if the 84 would be the same but I dont think they chaged a whole lot there

 

...however! it is not illegal to install an airbag control circuit, and keep it in the off setting is it! loopholes are my specialty, i could be a lawyer if it werent for the whole 'selling my soul' bit. lol.

if the steering wheel was subject to recall, then they would have little claim to prosecute on the grounds of the airbags removal. however, of the pontiac brands only certain years of the grand am, grand prix, catalina, tempest, sunfire, and transport were subject to such recalls. damn trans am quality. lol

also if you somehow get the airbag deployed is it deemed necessary for you to pay for a professional to reinstall it, otherwise it's only good once, lol.

if ur a crooked individual though...which i am not!!! remove the airbag and inflator charge and fill the compartment with rags and beer cans, this is what is done by numerous crooked auto shops the charge a person for an expensive bag. the courts would actually take pity on u, lol. u see, i could be a criminal master mind if i werent so moral, lol.

 

Ok I talk with my insurance company, no problem, as state above air bags were not mandated until 1993, there for if you have one installed in your car before 1/1/93 its a bonus , unless they look like . The state inspection issue is not a issue, I live in the GREAT STATE OF INDIANA, we have NO inspection in Fulton County

So, remove the bulb huh? Can I just put a switch in? Like Lawyer boy was talking If the computer reads no signage what happens. Maybe I'm getting to the point that I need to post this on the DYI board?

One more thing, I have the gray inter. So, I'm thinking black leather silver spokes, At the end of the day I guess what I'm asking is "what do you'll think of the 70's t/a wheels on
3rd gen's?

Rich

 

I dont think the Computer has any functionality with the SRS system at all. I would have to check the factory manual to be sure but I dont think it would. They are seperate systems, I believe the airbag will still go off even if the battery is unhooked

 

I have replaced my fugly, bloated looking factory Air Bag steering wheel (on 90-92 cars) with one form a 87 Firebird.

It was a direct swap, other than having to splice the wires for the 2 horn buttons found on the Air Bag wheel, to the 1 wire on the 87 wheel.

As for the SIR light, I happened to have the dash apart for other reasons, and just removed the bulb for the light.

Stock 90-92 Airbag Wheel:


87 Firebird 3 spoke wheel:


cooltc2004 - the 84 wheel, should be a direct swap as well.

 

That wheel looks good

 

Hi, I was wondering if there is a certain way to put on a different steering wheel. I have a '91 TA that had the lame air bag wheel. I bought a Formula wheel to put in, and when I did it, the wheel was too tight, so I tried to loosen it a little, and now it's too loose. Is there a certain way to install a wheel?

 

Can anyone help me with this? I bought a Formula wheel from an '89, and it won't fit right. Is there a way to make it?

 

what did you loosen and tighten on the wheel? The wheel is interference fit on the shaft. It should be VERY tight on the shaft and then a nut gets installed after.

 

For those interested in getting rid of their fugly wheel, but maintaining the airbag, the 4th gen wheels work great - a direct swap with one minor detail - the wire for the airbag in the 4th gen column has a smaller connector on it for the 4th gen wheel - simply splice in your old connector on the 4th gen wheel, or splice in the 4th gen connector in your car. Otherwise, an easy swap that makes for a pretty new wheel.

 

well guys i have a 92 rs i am redoing and i took my wheel apart(cut it up) and made a night rider wheel out of it. welded 3/4 tubes on the side put thumb buttons on the tops for the horn and i am putting lasered out of stainless flames in the center. can i use the air bag wire for the horn instead of trying to figure away to use the spring one? of course rewire it to the horn dah lol i just have to cover it with leather and then will post a pic