steering wheel please help?!?!

[rello]

So i just bought my mustang a week ago and i love it... except for the steering wheel. I bought the car off of a crackhead(i found coke in car lol) and the steering wheel is just gross and is worn out and is just crap. Im just wondering is there a way to take the wheel off and switch it for a gt wheel. I dont care about airbag or the cruise control. It is a 2000 v6 3.8ltr.
Ryan

[lowflyn]

You will care about the air bag when you go to pull it off....but yes, you can interchange your steering wheel for one out of any 1994-2004 Mustang, GT, or Cobra.

A common upgrade for people is a FR500 steering wheel. It is a ford racing part and a very nice part. You can also use your original air bag on any steering wheel you go with.

[rello]

do u have any idea how it can b done? i have no idea and i dont want to start unscrewing things and have an airbag explode in my face haha

[19Delta]

If you do happen to do that, please, let someone be recording it.

[rello]

Lmfao U got it, so does anyone no how to do it or could show me a website that gives directions on how to? I can't stand having to wash my hands after everytime I drive lol

[19Delta]

Lol, that does suck dude. I'd like to change my wheel out too, but there's so much more that I'd rather spend my hard earned dollars on. I hope you find out how.

[bloodyspirit058]

make sure you disconnect the battery, only thing i know of, haven't done that before, sorry

EDIT: you might try pm'ing RyansQuick6 i think he swapped his steering wheel for the one mentioned above

[lowflyn]

Also pm spectorv, he's done the swap as well. I didn't respond because I figured someone who has done it would respond.

[RyansQuick6]

It was a super easy swap, I've done quite a few for friends now too. It takes maybe 20 minutes. It was totally worth it, it feels great in your hands. The stocker feels like a cheap piece out of a hyundai once you wrap your hands around the FR500

[CrzyBeautiful]

Originally Posted by RyansQuick6

It was a super easy swap, I've done quite a few for friends now too. It takes maybe 20 minutes. It was totally worth it, it feels great in your hands. The stocker feels like a cheap piece out of a hyundai once you wrap your hands around the FR500

I forgot to ask you before from my steering wheel post - did you create a "How To" for the swap since you have done it so many times? I think I am going to venture out and do this myself, so a guide from someone who has done it a few times is an invaluable asset.

[RyansQuick6]

Never did a "How-to" for it, but it's super easy.

You HAVE to disconnect the battery first or you're going to hurt yourself when the irbag pops in your face.
There are two screws on the backside of the steering wheel, they hole the airbag on. Remove them and unplug the connector on the back of the airbag.
You'll then remove the 4 screws that hold down the two horn pads, long metal vertical bars on each side of the area the airbag just came out of.
remove the 4 screws that hold the cruise control switches
Remove the nut that holds the steering wheel on.

Now you'll need to use a puller to remove the steering wheel.
A standard steering wheel puller doesn't work. I've had a few friends actually crack the inside of their stock wheel where the puller threads into it due to the aluminum.

I have a puller with 2 claw arms on it, but the part with the claw that grabs the base of the wheel is very thin so it fits well and takes 20 seconds to remove the wheel. I've been looking but I can't find a pic of one online, it's one I acquired over the years.

After that its just a matter of puting the new one on, it's easier to install the cruise control switches while the steering wheel is out. I've had to modify the casting on the steering wheel a few times with a dremel so the switches sit right but its at a bare minimum.

Be careful reinstalling the horn pads, it's very easy to sheer the little screws that hold them in. A buddy of mine broke one of mine so I had to go to the junk yard and get a replacement.

I can't recall what the torque specs were for the nut on the wheel, so make sure you find that out before you over/under tighten it.

It shouldn't take but maybe 10 minutes to do it.

[SpectorV]

yup, just go to autozone and buy a steering wheel puller (its kinda awkward on the 99-04 cars but it can be done with one) and yank the stock off and put on another one (oem with leather (like gt's had) or upgrade to a ford racing 30% thicker than stock))

ebay has steering wheels all day long just make SURE the interor color matches, back in 00 they had like dark charcoal but in 03 they swaped to medium charcoal~ which differ. Also pre 99 had black which wont match.

[RyansQuick6]

The FR500 is only in Black, a NEW Cobra steering wheel is LITERALLY $700!

[SpectorV]

the 700 dollar steering wheel is for the 10th anniversary version, the cobra wheel isnt much more if any than the GT and not much different. The FR500 is a mix between black and dark charcoal~ it was a bit darker than my dark charcoal in my 01 v6~

[RyansQuick6]

yeah, people don't even notice that mine's black compared to the super dark grey