Airbag removal procedure

[justbob]

Anyone have a shop manual for this? Thanks.

[RoyLPita]

What are you trying to do that you need to do this?

[Black_Out]

Disconnect both battery cables, wait 10 minutes for any reserve power to discharge, pop the two plastic caps off the sides of the steering column, remove 2 bolts, air bag slides out.

If you need to remove the wheel, it should be a Torx50 bolt holding it in place, and you'll need a two jaw puller to pop it loose.

[Black_Out]

^ That is from my crown vic, I would assume it's the same setup

[justbob]

I located my steering wheel popping sound to be directly behind the wheel itself. I also found all four column nuts to be loose (3-4 small turns with a 1/4 ratchet:eek:), but that was hopefull thinking...Sound is still there, determined by stethoscope. Thanks again.

[justbob]

Thanks Black out, I have heard of some make/models holding a charge up to 4+ hours. Any more I just assume leave the battery cables off overnight to stay safe.

[BAD MERC]

Airbags are not nearly as delicate as you'd think. Just unplug them and plug them back in. Don't turn the key on or you'll throw a code. In Ford's it will reset automatically. I have taken out 50 airbags and never had issues. When you set them down - do it deployment-side UP just in case.

[RoyLPita]

Airbags are not nearly as delicate as you'd think. Just unplug them and plug them back in. Don't turn the key on or you'll throw a code. In Ford's it will reset automatically. I have taken out 50 airbags and never had issues. When you set them down - do it deployment-side UP just in case.

+1 on this. Plus, I have removed the steering wheel without using a puller kit. Just remove the torx bolt then screw it back in a few turns. Then grab and pull on the wheel toward you. I've had good luck with my hands at 3 and 9.

[justbob]

Same here Brian, many times over on other cars. Battery has been disconnected for about thirty minutes now. Should be good? I hope...I hate working near these bags.

[RoyLPita]

Same here Brian, many times over on other cars. Battery has been disconnected for about thirty minutes now. Should be good? I hope...I hate working near these bags.

Give it a shot. BTW, the noise behind the wheel (or in front of it) could be the clock spring.

[justbob]

Don't be silly Brian, my clock is on the dash?????????????

J/K I was thinking the same thing, but this is an in and out only movement with the top of the wheel. I have had a couple go out on the old F-150's, but first to go were the steering wheel controls. I'll see after dinner. Thanks again.

[guspech750]

So whats the verdict? Did it blow? Did you get the wheel tight?
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YL6aJZeQPEFQSM:ht tp://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Airbags-Can-Leve-You-Deaf-2.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Airbags-Can-Leve-You-Deaf-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Airbags-Can-Leve-You-Deaf-47373.shtml&usg=__aqSoHPw_eEOCl5KscylmqNn7 y_0=&h=251&w=300&sz=17&hl=en&start=7&itbs=1&tbnid=YL6aJZeQPEFQSM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dairbags%2Bin%2Bca rs%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3 Disch:1)
Natural airbags!!

[CBT]

I found divorce to be quite effective at removing an air bag. So effective, it removed it all the way to Florida.

[justbob]

Joe, I can not unsee that picture!

Yes, all fixed, piece of cake. Turned out to be the wheel itself had kinda wore itself ever so slightly on the shaft (Case, that's your cue.) There is two smooth tapered sides of the shaft and two tapered ones on the wheel also. Over time I won't think this set up would last long at all without lossening just a tad to create a noise complaint from the driver and the feel of a small wobble in the wheel. The bolt was very snug, to say the least, but certainatly not the 50 foot pounds called for. When I reinstalled, I gave her a few good loveing taps with a socket and hammer to seat it that extra tiny bit (precisely 2-3 hairs)... She made no noise after that even without the bolt.

That brings up the next issue. I tried to torque it to 50 but I gave up, there was NO WAY that I could see that happening before the aluminum shaft snapped. It should be very very close to spec, time will tell.

This can't possibly be the only panther out there with this issue, I am not what you'd call a big guy by no means, I couldn't imagine how bad it would have gotten if I had another 100 pounds on me after all these years.

Shifter handle finally tightened too! Feels like a new car again!!

[ImpalaSlayer]

can yo describe what your problem was again? i have a small amount of "wiggle" side to side. as in i can turn the wheel a very small amount with out anyhting else moving

[justbob]

Grab the top of the wheel and the bottom of the wheel and push in and out. I was getting a small popping sound and wobble from it wearing into (ever so slightly) the tapers on the shaft. Basically, it never really loosened but more or less wore into the shaft creating a see-saw effect while it popped from on side to the other. But this really only did it when you stopped or took off with your hand at the 12 o'clock position. I had Guspech drive it today, and he noticed as soon as he got in. Hope that helps.

The tapers are on the sides, thats why it only went up and down

[Black_Out]

Glad to hear it's fixed! :D

[Haggis]

...kinda wore itself ever so slightly on the shaft (Case, that's your cue.)

That's what she said.

[guspech750]

Cool dog!! Its fixed. I did notice your gas pedal was higher from the floor than mine. Wierd. Maybe not.