Hello all. A week or so ago I swapped from my stock 997.1 triangle steering wheel to a 997.2 GT3 RS steering wheel. All went very easily and have really been loving the new wheel. When driving it seems 'very' slightly off center though so I figured I would pop it off again and reattach it one spline to the right. The problem is, I can't seem to get the airbag to come out...

I inserted a flathead screw driver into the hole at 6 o'clock and pushed up on the retaining bar which disengaged from the spring and now feels 'loose'. Having rear the DIY's it seems this is how it should work and then the airbag release but it never popped out like it did on my original wheel. It just stays inside just as if it's still latched in like normal.

Have I done something incorrectly? Should I be prying the airbag out? (I'd rather not) Can I remove the plastic wheel trim and assist the airbag out that way?

I was hoping someone might be able to help out here. Thanks in advance!

 

Okay all, please disregard my calamity...

The 997.2 airbag simply took a little more pressure than the .1 unit to unlatch. It was simply a case of me having 'thought' I released it when in fact I hadn't.

Carry on with your regularly scheduled programming.

 

Glad it is fixed and thanks for the cliff hanger.

 

Here's a photo so this isn't an entirely worthless thread.

 

Nice wheel, me like. Do you have red instrument dials or is that just a wierd reflection in the picture?

 

beautiful wheel man!

i love the yellow center ring!

 

Sometimes despite completely releasing the airbag, it will not lunge forward enough to grab it and pull it out. When and if that ever happens, turn the steering wheel to the left, revealing an opening at the rear right side of the wheel (as you face it). You can place a long screwdriver into this opening and nudge the airbag forward from the rear.

Now it's even less worthless. Glad it worked out.

 

Looking into this, but I will DD the 997 so not totally sold on the alcantara. I know myself, too lazy to put gloves on each time I get in. Any thoughts on that?

 

Thanks all, I do really like the wheel. And yes, factory red gauges.

I can't comment on the wear/tear of using it as a daily. It's solely a fair weather 'fun' car for me. Honestly, I'd probably choose leather if I were using it in the all elements daily grind.

 

If you wan't an OEM leather wheel, my favorite would be the 997 GTS wheel also used in the 991.



Aftermarket options exist as well.

To the OP, I had a very tough time getting my original 997.1 wheel's airbag to release. Tried several times over and over, I was about to give up and take the car to the dealer. Finally gave it enough force and it popped out.

I also devised a marking system using a tape template and marsh pen, marking the tape and spline. Since my new DCT wheel was also a 997.1 sport wheel, I moved the tape template to the new wheel, lined it up with the spline marking and the new wheel was spot on dead center from the first try.

Here's my DCT wheel.

 

You have the same exact steering wheel as the one I put on my 997.1 turbo.
Have you checked the horn?

On mine it would not work and ended up having to buy an extra part ($ 300 or so) to make it work