DIY: Steering Wheel Removal and Clock Spring Install

• Small Screwdriver
• Medium Sized Screwdriver
• M12 Triple Square (XZN)
• Torque Wrench
• Rachet
• T25 Torx
• T8 Torx
• 10mm Socket
• Patience

1. First, Unhook the battery. Since you dont want the air bag deploying in your face, this step is a definite necessity for safety. Start with the Negative terminal first then followed by the Positive
   
   
   
   
2. Wait about 10-20minutes to ensure all capacitors and electronics have been de-energized. Normally you should be able to go straight to it, but this step is more of a precautionary measure.
   
3. Place Key in the ignition. This will prevent the steering wheel from locking up
   
   
   
   
4. Turn the Wheel 90* in either direction
   
   
   
   
5. You can see from this picture that there is a metal spring you must push down on to release the aig bag unit. Using a mirror, you can easily take a screwdriver and pop it downward towards the column.
   
   
   
   
6. Turn wheel 180* the other way and repeat for the other side
   
7. Once the Air bag unit is loose, pull it straight outand be mindful of the electrical connections.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Disconnect the black connector. Should be easy enough to do by hand
   
9. Disconnect the air bag igniter connector. There is a white tab that you must pull up on to remove it. I place a flathead behind it to get some leverage to pull up on it.
   
10. Place unit to the side
    
    
    
    
11. Now, take note of the general surroundings.
    
12. Using a M12 Triple Square remove the center bolt
    
    
    
    
13. Take note of the markings for steering wheel alignment.
    
    
    
    
14. Remove Steering Wheel and place out of the way
    
    
    
    
15. Using a flat head pop the upper column garnish upwards. Be careful not to scratch this area.
    
    
    
    
16. Now, Remove the two exposed Torx bolts. There is a Third underneath. You will have to pull down on the column adjustment handle to expose it well enough to get a tool in there.
    
    
    
    
17. Remove the Lower Column garnish
    
18. Now, take note of your surroundings.
    
    
    
    
19. Unhook steering wheel module
20. Remove T8 Torx that connects the clock spring to the steering wheel module
21. Un do the clips that mount the clock spring and using some dexterity and light effort, remove the clock spring.
22. Now reinstall new clock spring.
23. Install steering wheel module connectors and T8 torx
24. Install Column garnishes
25. Install Steering wheel. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROPERLY ALIGNED THE MARKINGS!
26. Torque Steering wheel bolt down to 50NM (~37.5ft-lbs)
27. Install Air Bag connector and Lower Steering wheel connector ( I beleive this is for the horn)
28. Push until the rear springs clip in
29. DONE!

nik said:

to discharge the capacitors faster I've pumped the brakes until lockup after disconnecting the battery and flicked some of the light switches on as well (map/parking)..I don't know if that's advisable, but had read that on another forum years back and I'm still alive.

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DBESTGTI said:

Couple things to add...

First, you NEVER store a live airbag like that (face down), place it VW emblem up in the trunk or under the car itself so it deploys it's not going to launch itself metal side first and it won't be an area that will cause physical harm.

Second, the proper way to get the steering wheel module off is not dexterity and effort, it's a small allen key. You slide it in the little square gap and push it in about 1-1.5 inches and it will hit a release tab, wiggle it around to get the release tab to let go. If your doing the clock spring you can use just the front, anything else though and you need to release the tab you get to from the passenger side the same way.

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littleazn248 said:

Random but that little hub in picture 18 looks like the iron man arc-generator lol.

Did you end up installing the newer style mfsw?

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towerofboom said:

Quick question. How do you unlock the steering wheel with keyless start with the battery disconnected?

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towerofboom said:

Quick question. How do you unlock the steering wheel with keyless start with the battery disconnected?

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towerofboom said:

Quick question. How do you unlock the steering wheel with keyless start with the battery disconnected?

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thedude4bides said:

If I remember correctly, I pressed the on button without firing up the engine so the wheel could move and then disconnected the battery.

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