Hi folks -- my 91 camaro's steering wheel (with airbag) is cracked and warped, and I figure I have a better chance at finding a nice-condition 4th gen steering wheel than a new 3rd gen steering wheel with airbag.

I know I could easily find an older 3rd-gen steering wheel without the airbag, but let's assume I want to stick with having an airbag.

Will a 4th-gen steering wheel with airbag fit on a 91 camaro steering column?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Cheers

 

dont wanna sound like a **** but https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...-exterior.html

 

quick answer is yes. It will fit. It would be ill advised to even attempt to use the airbag.

 

Why ill-advised? I'm no expert, but it seems like it just be a simple matter of pulling out the airbag fuse, removing the old steering wheel while unhooking the wires to the airbag, hooking the wires up the the airbag in the new steering wheel and then securing the new wheel on the steering column and replacing the fuse?

Or is there some other incompatibility I'm not figuring on? Will the airbag explode when I hook it up?

(Not trying to sound like a smart-a$$, just honestly trying to get info.)

And thanks for the replies.

__Cheers

 

Okay, airbags have explosive devices called "squibs" even static electricity can trigger them if not careful. What that in mind, there is a set amount of resistance, and voltage that is required to keep the squibs from prematurely firing.

I am not saying it hasn't been done. I am not saying you cannot do it. I am saying that it can be dangerous if it prematurely fires or does not fire when you want.

 

Old thread...but I was successful swapping a 4th gen wheel into a third gen 1991. You'll need to get the connector coming out of the column on the 4th gen because they connection is different on the 3rd gen. Other than that is just bolts right in there. Obviously you should pull the air bag fuse and disconnect the battery before you attempt this.

 

Hey greenyone...im fixing to do the same in a few weeks. So you mean that you have to take off the shaft attached to the end of the 3rd gen column and attach it to the fourth genone? Im doing a complete swap so I using the complete 4th gen harness. Any pics of you changing out the shafts?

 

No. I just swapped the wheel and bag assembly. Not the shaft or column. The actual bag connector on the bag itself is different from 3rd to 4th gen. If I remember correctly the 3rd gen plastic connector is a bit larger but the wires to it are the same gauge. All you have to do is clip the connector plus a few inches of wire from the 4th gen column. Then clip off the connector on your third gen column at the same spot and solder the two wires and heat shrink them. Now your 4th gen bag should plug right in. There are only two wires so it's easy. They were the same color on both columns too. The wheel itself just bolts right up to your third gen column.

 

AND FOR PETE'S SAKE...DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY BEFORE MESSING WITH THE AIR BAG!!!!

 

Here is where I snipped it from the 4th gen column.

 

Any trouble with the horn? About to do the same. Havent torn into it yet.

 

Do you like the 4th gen steering wheel over the 3rd?? I'm thinking of doing the same if it's worth it. Does it feel better??

 

FWIW, I own an '02 T/A, '91 T/A, and a '91 RS. I *much* prefer the third gen steering wheels -- the rims are considerably thicker, and easier to grip. Plus they look "right" in the cars.

 

Thanks for the heads up I'll try to find a clean stock one or have mine rewrapped professionally as long as it looks like the original I'm cool with a rewrap. I'm fully restoring a 91 Z28 convertible and want it to be as original as possible.

 

Re-wrap might be your best bet, if you want it to look new/nice. I would think most upholstery shops could handle it.

 

It will fit. It would be ill advised to even attempt to use the airbag.

 

in my build thread there is a picture of my third gen wheel after its rewrap albeit the picture isn't great. Once the car is back in my possession I'll be taking lots of pictures because the car has gotten numerous upgrades and or changes.

I selected the options for "extra padding" and orange stitching so it matched the orange IROC emblem on the dash area