Thread: Airbag removal and installation

I tried searching with no luck but may have not been using the right words.

Anyway I bought a 98 GTP for cheap. Previous owner hit a deer and damaged the passenger fender and door and also set off the air bags. I will be getting a new fender and replacement door and already have the replacements air bags.

I would like to get the driver side airbag in place. Not to worried about the passenger side since no one rides in the car anyway as its my DD to work. Now I tried getting the air bag off the steering wheel with no luck. I see its held on with 4 metal studs or so it appears by looking at the replacement bag. So essentially I'm stuck here. How do I get the old one off and the new one on?

Also I just unhooked the battery and waited an hour before messing with the car, is their anything else I need to do to safely remove and replace the bag? And do I need to check any sensors in the fenders to make sure they dont redeploy the bag until I get the fender replaced? I'll be waiting until spring for the body repairs since winter seems like a popular season for body damage.

There should be bolts behind the steering wheel. Did you remove those?

It comes out as one, with the horn pad.

I would have to look to be sure, but normally there is a crash sensor in the front.

I didnt see any bolts, guess I may not be looking hard enough. Also The plastic piece behind the wheel is loose and able to be moved if thats the piece with the screws. I'll go check right now though and see if I missed those.

The air bag has 4 studs with nuts that hold it in. You can take the nuts off from the rear of the steering wheel, they are 10mm head.

Sorry to bring this back up but I just got around to getting back to replacing this air bag and I have the cover behing the steering wheel unbolted and I try to pry it back so find these nuts but all I see is a white plastic peice over the studs and I cant get that to move. Also the studs are smooth with no threads but have a peice cut out towards the end like something is to grab it. Sorry I dont know how to explain better. But I have the replacement airbag I can take a picture of to show what I am talking about if necessary. Am I just missing something here?

Did you already replace your front airbag sensor? And i think you also have to replace the module as well.

I took off the two back screws for the air bag and I am having the same problem, the air bag wont come off. Is there something else I have to take off? The manual says take the two screws off then the air bag should come out. But it has the same four bolts that
mach158
was taking about.

They have little springs on them. A piece of plastic then springs.

I found out that there are 4 screws that are held on by a metal bar. If you take a flat head screw driver and seperate it from the screws the one side should come up. Same with the other side.