Hey guys, I was thinking of replacing the airbag steering wheel in my 91 T/A with a non airbag wheel kinda like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-Tr...item563499b50b
Mainly cause the airbag part in my car is kinda warped and I just prefer the look of the older ones. Is it bolt on? what are the safe ways of disconnecting the airbag?

 

Anon-airbag steering wheel will be a direct swap, with the correct adapter, if you use an aftermarket steering wheel. Just tape off the wire to the bag, to prevent any possible short from ever occuring.

Or check out the Grant air bag steering wheels. http://64.60.165.189/c-60-Air-Bag-Solutions.aspx

 

oops double post sorry

 

Thanks! That airbag solutions website looks pretty cool..... too bad they don't offer airbag steering wheels for my car though!
But should I disconnect the battery when I'm disconnecting the airbag? I'm afraid of it (airbag) blowing up in my face. lol

 

You definately should disconnect the battery & wait a few minutes for the "launcher" to discharge. They are designed to hold a charge & "activate" when the power has been killed, for bit.

As for not offered for your car...I SUSPECT the only difference is the difference between 1st generation air bags & newer generations, when they changed the rate at which they inflate, for better safety. I'd think they'd still work, just dunno how it all actually works, as far as if the changes were to the bags themselves or the activation system. For all I know, later bags would go off as soon as they were connected to a 1st generation system!

 

Yeah I heard that somewhere (about the thing holding a charge), I just wanted to double check. Thanks for the info... eh screw the airbag all together, people didn't have airbags in their cars for decades and my 1994 Jimmy doesn't have one either. I'll do the swap when I find a cheap wheel.

 

you wanna wait atleast 30 min to be safe for disconnecting the airbag or it will go off

 

Yes correct adapter is right. I bolt mine on ('87 wheel into a '91) but I have no horn now.

 

I have an early 80's wheel in mine, and all I had to do was cut 1/4" off the collar, and rig a piece up to connect the horn. So worth it though, love the look.

 

look!...heres the deal ,just remove the 10 amp fuse and wait ten minutes and and pull the friggin air bag and wheel ,this way you can avoid resetting your E.C.M.!....I gotta 85' trans am wheel for my direct swap!...going old school ...ohh yeah!

 

i never disconnect the battery lol, i just carefully unplug them, not one deployment yet! (knock on wood)

 

Will the 80s 3 spoke fit directly onto a 91 GTA? With no cutting or anything? Adapters, direct fit? What am I getting myself into? Any knowledge or detailed on uinstalling the air bag?

 

Try reading the previous posts?

 

I'm considering this swap as well, I think what rayres88 is questioning is the adapter, which I'm also curious about. Is the adapter something thats on a stock column from the older car? If I pull the wheel from an 83 Firebird, will I be able to grab all the parts right there and then that I'll need to instal into my 91' or is the adapter an after market piece?

 

NO Adpaters needed!!!...just the wheel and horn and it all goes together!
even my K.R. gullwing lines up and goes in easy and mounts down fast and the horn switches make a perfect connection!

the only mod I made was leaving over 3 " of wire and sealing the airbag wires just incase ,but since the cars are only tested for emissions ,I'm just gonna end up selling my airbag wheel!...the stupid *** horn switch does not work ,so I'll stick with both my gullwing and 85' wheel, atleast the horn switches on those work!

 

Ever since I got burned by my airbag when I was 16 I've hated airbags, my 92 camaro will also be getting an old school wheel, it just looks cleaner

 

Ok so I bought an 80s black firebird steering wheel 3 spoke. Now I am hearing that is will cause the air bag light to come on when the original airbag wheel is taken out.. Anyone seem to miss telling me this? This is what I meant by asking what am I to expect? Obviously this was not mentioned in the "above" posts. Is this true? Any works arounds without pulling the bulb?

 

just pull the bulb. Im planing on the swap myself and im prepared to pull the bulb out of the dash.

 

I have a feeling there is another way by placing a resistor or plug to put an electronic load on the air bag wires. Will let the computer think its still there. I'll figure it out, seems I always do with everything else...