leolufse

For those interested in swapping their 2005 steering wheel to a 2006 steering wheel, I figured out how to get the airbag to work. Besides purchasing the 2006 steering wheel (P.N. 15806311) and the 2006 airbag (P.N. 15782157), you also need to purchase the 2006 clockspring coil kit (P.N. 19133742)

The clockspring pictured here:

has the correct connectors that plug into the back of the 2006 airbag.

Do not attempt to simply swap the connectors by snapping the plugs apart. The shape and type of pin is not compatable with the 2005 plugs. It is a simple task to replace the entire clock spring coil. It plugs into the steering column harness pictured here:

You will need to slightly dremel the lip of the steering consol trim to prevent the 2006 steering wheel from rubbing. You can't see this part of the trim with the steering wheel installed. Another pic:


Futher questions please post.

gilly6993

how much were thoe parts?

leolufse

The wheel is about $135, the airbag is about $600, the clockspring is about $80.

cerino2000

Hmmm interesting. Was it you that was getting all the hell over replacing it and not reconnecting your air bag?

leolufse

Indy-hp

Yep, that was him. Longest thread in months just to rag the guy for disabling the airbag in his own car, then to rag on airbags generally. Hillarious!

Glad you got it hooked up though.

1955 BelAir

Hippiehead025

do you still have your 05 wheel and stuff? With the parts you removed form your 05, would they swap onto my 06??? I cant stand tht wheel.... I drove an 05, and never noticed the 06 had a different wheel...... When my car comes in 6 weeks, think we could maybe swap wheels n such? or could i buy your wheel airbag and clockspring?

dark_phantom

burtonbl103

Doy you have any pointers on how to take the wheel and airbag out and put back in
I have to swap out my 05 wheel ! with a new 05 wheel

Hippiehead025

from past experience, there should be 2 allen bolts holdingthe airbag in, from the backside of the wheel. remvoe those, and unplug the air bag, carefully. make sure battery is disconnected.

then unboltthe nut on thewheel ,and remvoe it with asteering wheel puller, nd itll slide off.

Then just reinstal lthe new one, and tighten the nut, the nut will press the new wheel on, carefully reinstall the airbag, and then reconnect the battery.

make sure u keep batt. disconnected, cause if you dont, and u plug in the bag, you may trigger it.

burtonbl103

Thanks !!!!

Hippiehead025

no problem

SMJBA

Good job...you've upgraded form 05 to o6 for 800$....The rumor is that the 07 will have radio controls on the steering wheels...another challenge for you..

Salsero1962

Sir, I can't thank you enough for publising the part numbers I need to order to get the three spoke wheel installed on my 05 six speed Z51 Coupe. I thought I was the only one in the world when I asked my dealer this question six weeks ago after I saw the 06 Coupe at the Chicago Auto Show. He looked at me like I was crazy and has done very little to give me any info. Please let me know where you ordered your parts from. My Vette is stored for the winter and I plan to have it on the road by May 1st, hopefully, with my three spoke steering wheel installed. Thanks again. Eddie.

leolufse

I purchased all parts from "Corvette Parts Bob" at Fitchner Chevrolet. Ask for TOM, he did a lot of research for me to make this happen.


As far as removing the airbag. The 2005 has 4 pins on the back. The wheel itself has 2 springs that need to be slid inwards towards the center of the wheel to release the pins. If you look carefully on the 2005 wheel, there are 2 small holes on the left hand side and 2 holes on the right hand side. Use an allan wrench as a pushrod to push the top springs (at the same time) towards the center of the wheel. Gently pull the airbag towards you. Then repeat on the two bottom springs. The airbag will come right out. This is a very simple task once you understand how it works. You do not need to remove any trim or take the screws out of the back of the steering wheel.

The 2006 wheel removes exacly the same way, exept there are only 2 pins that hold it in, rather than 4.

You can disconnect the battery, but that won't prevent the airbag from deploying. It actually triggers from a capacitor. This would allow the bag to deploy in an accident even if the battery connections failed.

I just removed the horn fuse from the passenger and disconnected the airbag connection from under the steering column. Its the huge yellow plug just above the brake pedal. You need to remove the drivers knee bolster trim to get at it.

Here are some pics that might help:

http://peachstateposse.com/ipw-web/gallery/album272

Hippiehead025

I was told always to keep battery disconnected just for saftey to make sure itdoesnt happen, never knowwhat sudden electrical spikes "may" do....


anyway do oyu still have your 05 stuff?

leolufse

Yes I still have it. I have not decided yet if I want to keep it just in case I return the car to stock when I sell it.

Bill120

Fantastic description and pictures! This one thread has made up for all the time I've wasted on the internet in the last 5 years.
Congratulations on a great job, and thanks for sweating the details.

Bill

Bill120

Hi Again,

In looking at your photo album I note two very similar plugs going to the back of the 2006 air bag. It looks as if the one on the right is purple, leaving the one on the left to be the gray on coming from the clockspring assembly.
Am I correct about that?
Is there any other indicator of how they should be connected?
How come you show so many pictures of the plugs being disassembled? Do you have to trade off any pieces from the 05 to the 06 units?

Thanks again,
Bill