Replacing steering wheel?
07-08-2011, 06:44 PM
#1
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Replacing steering wheel? Hey guys, I was wondering if any one has replaced the factory steering wheel and if so with what? I think its just for large and would like something a little more sporty. Does anyone know if you can use a C6 vette wheel, or GTO or maybe even CTS-V wheel? I don't care if I have the radio controls. Thanks
07-09-2011, 02:24 PM
#3
I'm pretty sure I saw 6litereater post somewhere on the site about working on a kit to make the C6 wheels work with our fbodies.
For me, I just pulled the stock wheel, and threw on my grant wheel. I still need to paint the center piece of the wheel though. It's silver which was the least riciest of the choices I had at the time.
For me, I just pulled the stock wheel, and threw on my grant wheel. I still need to paint the center piece of the wheel though. It's silver which was the least riciest of the choices I had at the time.
07-09-2011, 03:22 PM
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Oh ok, I'll see if I can find this post about making a kit to work with the C6. I personally don't care if the airbag is there or not but i guess you dont have a ton of options
07-09-2011, 03:32 PM
#5
I didn't care about the bag myself. Had a pretty bad accident with the same wheel actually and came out fine. Probably just luck though so I can't say for sure. They did say it would have been worse if the bag had deployed though.
Pull out the bulb for the airbag light, or throw a resistor in to the harness to turn off the light that way.
Pull out the bulb for the airbag light, or throw a resistor in to the harness to turn off the light that way.
07-09-2011, 03:47 PM
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Ya, I've actually heard the air bag can cause more damage becuase of the speed it opens at, people very easily get broken facial bones, I'll try and contact 6LE and see what they have to say, thanks for the idea of removing the air bag fuse, thats easy enough
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07-09-2011, 10:10 PM
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So why can't you hook the airbags up on say a C5 or C6 steering wheel? Isn't the wiring for them all essentially the same? Maybe just swap the connectors if they are different?
07-10-2011, 12:01 AM
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twice.
It did burn the inside of my arms, though.
If you daily drive, you might want to keep it.
Insurance companies might give you a bad time about paying out if you ARE hurt.
Not trying to be Sammy Safety here, but really, worse things can happen to your face without it.
07-10-2011, 01:22 PM
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Not a daily driver, just weekends and nice summer days, so if loosing the airbag was the case not a big deal, I'm not out street racing the vehicle against everyone I can find. Like one of the earlier post said I would think it would just be rewiring the harness from the new C6 wheel to the original harness, but I obviously don't know that for sure.
07-11-2011, 12:52 PM
#13
- You can't just splice in airbags from different cars. Airbags have evolved over time, are parts of different "generations," (with different powers, levels, and electronic characteristics), and are shaped differently for different cockpits. I'm sure there are cross references that could be made but doubt that the auto makers would ever support such an effort with the needed engineering. I would also expect that the liability of such a thing would be to the point that it would keep aftermarket companies out.
- I am also looking to mod my steering wheel in the future but plan to take a stock one apart, keep the center section, change the outer wheel, and then put it all back together. There are companies out there that do this for hot rod cars and guess its the same method Grant uses for their new airbag line: http://www.grantproducts.com/product...bag-solutions/
- For folks worried about airbag crash costs -> you are either in one of two categories: Insured and uninsured.
If you are insured, your costs for repairing airbag damage are LOWER!!! Yes, airbags that go off do more damage to the physical car. But taken as a whole, the costs to insurance companies for people getting hurt in crashes far outweigh the cost of airbag damage to the car. In the end, as an insurance consumer, you see the result of this in your insurance premiums - which is where you pay the expense for any crash you might get in to. If you want to see how much, call your insurance company and ask them what your premium will be if you remove the airbags! (Then add up your premiums over the life of the car and see where it puts you.)
If you are not insured, please do everyone a favor and stop driving on all public roads.
- For folks who remove the airbag, you might want to consider some other stuff:
If you haven't informed your insurance company, you could be putting yourself in a bad spot. If you get in a wreck and they find that your airbag was removed they may not have to pay your claim. Likewise, if someone other than the owner gets hurt, the insurance company may not honor your liability coverage. (Even if that person had an airbag on their side.)
Airbags and seat belts on modern cars are designed to work together as a pair. When you remove one, the other may not work as designed. So, if you do remove the airbag, you are best to install a seat belt system (like a 5 or 6 point harness) that is designed to work without an airbag. These seat belts are pretty good but may not be as effective as an airbag in normal driving. In a racing scenario, they are superior because an airbag is a one-shot deal and a harness protects you from multiple collisions.
- I am also looking to mod my steering wheel in the future but plan to take a stock one apart, keep the center section, change the outer wheel, and then put it all back together. There are companies out there that do this for hot rod cars and guess its the same method Grant uses for their new airbag line: http://www.grantproducts.com/product...bag-solutions/
- For folks worried about airbag crash costs -> you are either in one of two categories: Insured and uninsured.
If you are insured, your costs for repairing airbag damage are LOWER!!! Yes, airbags that go off do more damage to the physical car. But taken as a whole, the costs to insurance companies for people getting hurt in crashes far outweigh the cost of airbag damage to the car. In the end, as an insurance consumer, you see the result of this in your insurance premiums - which is where you pay the expense for any crash you might get in to. If you want to see how much, call your insurance company and ask them what your premium will be if you remove the airbags! (Then add up your premiums over the life of the car and see where it puts you.)
If you are not insured, please do everyone a favor and stop driving on all public roads.
- For folks who remove the airbag, you might want to consider some other stuff:
If you haven't informed your insurance company, you could be putting yourself in a bad spot. If you get in a wreck and they find that your airbag was removed they may not have to pay your claim. Likewise, if someone other than the owner gets hurt, the insurance company may not honor your liability coverage. (Even if that person had an airbag on their side.)
Airbags and seat belts on modern cars are designed to work together as a pair. When you remove one, the other may not work as designed. So, if you do remove the airbag, you are best to install a seat belt system (like a 5 or 6 point harness) that is designed to work without an airbag. These seat belts are pretty good but may not be as effective as an airbag in normal driving. In a racing scenario, they are superior because an airbag is a one-shot deal and a harness protects you from multiple collisions.
07-11-2011, 10:20 PM
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Hmm, good idea but I dislike the entire steering wheel! I dont like that big sticking out air bag look. I like the look of the newer C6, GTO, and G8 steering wheels and if to get one like that means no air bag, I'll risk it, I don't even drive 2,000 miles a year in the car! Does Grant make steering wheel replacements with airbags for F-bodies? I didn't see any on the website
07-11-2011, 11:18 PM
#15
Hmm, good idea but I dislike the entire steering wheel! I dont like that big sticking out air bag look. I like the look of the newer C6, GTO, and G8 steering wheels and if to get one like that means no air bag, I'll risk it, I don't even drive 2,000 miles a year in the car! Does Grant make steering wheel replacements with airbags for F-bodies? I didn't see any on the website
Your logic may be a bit off because your air bag is most important within 5 miles of your home. (Where most accidents happen.) If a car is driven 1000 miles or 100,000 miles, the odds of getting in an accident are the same every time you turn the key.
07-12-2011, 04:40 PM
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Yes play the odds card!! Really!! And how would that be true! You still have odds of getting in an accident when your not within 5 miles of your house! So if your driving more miles specially 100,000 vs 1000 your odds are much higher of getting in an accident, cuz you start the car that many more times! Plus if its the car you care about I think your prone to drive more caustiously and pay more attention to the road. At least that's true for me i've never been in an accident.
07-12-2011, 05:32 PM
#19
Yes play the odds card!! Really!! And how would that be true! You still have odds of getting in an accident when your not within 5 miles of your house! So if your driving more miles specially 100,000 vs 1000 your odds are much higher of getting in an accident, cuz you start the car that many more times! Plus if its the car you care about I think your prone to drive more caustiously and pay more attention to the road. At least that's true for me i've never been in an accident.
07-12-2011, 06:40 PM
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- You can't just splice in airbags from different cars. Airbags have evolved over time, are parts of different "generations," (with different powers, levels, and electronic characteristics), and are shaped differently for different cockpits. I'm sure there are cross references that could be made but doubt that the auto makers would ever support such an effort with the needed engineering. I would also expect that the liability of such a thing would be to the point that it would
If you are insured, your costs for repairing airbag damage are LOWER!!! Yes, airbags that go off do more damage to the physical car. But taken as a whole, the costs to insurance companies for people getting hurt in crashes far outweigh the cost of airbag damage to the car. In the end, as an insurance consumer, you see the result of this in your insurance premiums - which is where you pay the expense for any crash you might get in to. If you want to see how much, call your insurance company and ask them what your premium will be if you remove the airbags! (Then add up your premiums over the life of the car and see where it puts you.)
If you are not insured, please do everyone a favor and stop driving on all public roads.
- For folks who remove the airbag, you might want to consider some other stuff:
Airbags and seat belts on modern cars are designed to work together as a pair. When you remove one, the other may not work as designed. So, if you do remove the airbag, you are best to install a seat belt system (like a 5 or 6 point harness) that is designed to work without an airbag. These seat belts are pretty good but may not be as effective as an airbag in normal driving. In a racing scenario, they are superior because an airbag is a one-shot deal and a harness protects you from multiple collisions.
If you are insured, your costs for repairing airbag damage are LOWER!!! Yes, airbags that go off do more damage to the physical car. But taken as a whole, the costs to insurance companies for people getting hurt in crashes far outweigh the cost of airbag damage to the car. In the end, as an insurance consumer, you see the result of this in your insurance premiums - which is where you pay the expense for any crash you might get in to. If you want to see how much, call your insurance company and ask them what your premium will be if you remove the airbags! (Then add up your premiums over the life of the car and see where it puts you.)
If you are not insured, please do everyone a favor and stop driving on all public roads.
- For folks who remove the airbag, you might want to consider some other stuff:
Airbags and seat belts on modern cars are designed to work together as a pair. When you remove one, the other may not work as designed. So, if you do remove the airbag, you are best to install a seat belt system (like a 5 or 6 point harness) that is designed to work without an airbag. These seat belts are pretty good but may not be as effective as an airbag in normal driving. In a racing scenario, they are superior because an airbag is a one-shot deal and a harness protects you from multiple collisions.
^^TRUE SO TRUE
