- First Name
- Chris
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2025
- Threads
- 7
- Messages
- 44
- Reaction score
- 94
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2023 Ford Bronco
- Your Bronco Model
- Badlands
- Thread starter
- #1
I swapped out my Badlands wheel for a Raptor wheel. I had a tough time getting the airbag off, so I took some pics to hopefully help people doing the same thing - either swapping wheels, upgrading to leather, or installing an aftermarket wheel.
The inside of the wheel without the airbag looks like this:
I have two allen keys stuck into two holes on the side of the steering wheel. You can see the holes when the wheel is installed. If you push the allen key, it will bend the wire spring, and move the wire enough for one corner of the airbag to pop out:
Theoretically, if you press both at the same time, all three corners of the airbag will pop out, and it will be detached from the wheel. I hope this happens the first time you try!
What actually happens, is the allen key will slip either over, or under, the wire, it won't compress enough, and you will sit there stabbing at your wheel for 30 minutes until you get lucky. Or, the wire will get nudged slightly up or down, and you won't be able to squarely engage it with your allen key.
The second method of pushing the wire to the side is from the back, rather than through the holes. You can slide an allen key between the steering column and the back of the wheel, and use it to directly push the wire. With the airbag installed, you have to catch the wire just under the rectangular area because the rectangular area has the tab from the airbag in it. Here's a video showing where to push:
That's the hard part! Once the airbag is popped off, the only thing holding the steering wheel on is a single T50 bolt torqued to 46 ft-lb, and the wiring harnesses, which unclip by hand.
The inside of the wheel without the airbag looks like this:
I have two allen keys stuck into two holes on the side of the steering wheel. You can see the holes when the wheel is installed. If you push the allen key, it will bend the wire spring, and move the wire enough for one corner of the airbag to pop out:
Theoretically, if you press both at the same time, all three corners of the airbag will pop out, and it will be detached from the wheel. I hope this happens the first time you try!
What actually happens, is the allen key will slip either over, or under, the wire, it won't compress enough, and you will sit there stabbing at your wheel for 30 minutes until you get lucky. Or, the wire will get nudged slightly up or down, and you won't be able to squarely engage it with your allen key.
The second method of pushing the wire to the side is from the back, rather than through the holes. You can slide an allen key between the steering column and the back of the wheel, and use it to directly push the wire. With the airbag installed, you have to catch the wire just under the rectangular area because the rectangular area has the tab from the airbag in it. Here's a video showing where to push:
That's the hard part! Once the airbag is popped off, the only thing holding the steering wheel on is a single T50 bolt torqued to 46 ft-lb, and the wiring harnesses, which unclip by hand.
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