Steering Wheel Dissection - 2011 HHR
09-01-2012, 04:22 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-24-2012
Location: State of Confusion, U.S.A.
Posts: 177
Steering Wheel Dissection - 2011 HHR
Howdy Folks!
Just swapped my stock 20011 HHR steering wheel for a 2008 Cobalt wheel w/ radio buttons. (Leather,$40.00 OEM surplus on eBay). Since this has been well documented on here, not gonna talk 'bout dat. Some one asked about pictures of the HHR air bag release mechanism, (took a little bit of wiggling myself to get it to pop)Some of the pics good if you'd like to add radio buttons to stock HHR wheel and wish to keep the old harness intact (not PITA, but the wheel's gotta come off!
So decided to operate on the wheel to see what I could see!
this is what you see when the air bag is removed
close up of one of the airbag mounting hole. it is the top hole.
next few pics show a/b plate removed. Don't need to do this, just did it to take pictures
this is the opposite side of the airbag plate, showing the a/b retention springs
closeup of a/b spring.
looking at spring from the "hole in the steering cover" view. can see spring "inside" the plastic loop.
Allen key on spring. this is slightly misleading as the hole in the wheel cover actually directs the key to make contact with the plastic piece first. need to keep pushing till you can slightly raise the air bag, and put something under it to keep it from snapping back into place when you work on the other side.
end view of Allen key & spring. do not pull the end of the key in your hand toward you or it will go under the spring, as shown below.
Allen key engaging the spring looking up from "under" the wheel
Allen key engaging the spring looking down from "top" of the wheel
Allen key on spring with a/b plate mounted in wheel. Notice that the key is guided slightly up. this causes it to hit plastic first before the spring. when looking down in the non-a/b post hole you don't see the key ,as shown in the earlier shot from the other side. push key, lift bag, and you got it!!!
these pics are for getting the stock button harness out without cutting it .
first remove wheel. flip it over, remove (4) phillips head screws. remove wheel cover & see this!
can't get any easier than this, unless you get somebody else to do it!
Go to JerseyJames' Gallery
If you're not sure of what you're looking at, or which ways up ... STOP!! ask a stupid question(s)!!! , They are DEFINITELY easier to handle than STUPID MISTAKES !!!
Hope this helps peeps with steering wheel questions.
will sell old wheel (cruise buttons only). Will upgrade the HHR wheel to have radio buttons & send the blank spoke cover & NON-CUT cruise button harness as well if buyer requests .
Just swapped my stock 20011 HHR steering wheel for a 2008 Cobalt wheel w/ radio buttons. (Leather,$40.00 OEM surplus on eBay). Since this has been well documented on here, not gonna talk 'bout dat. Some one asked about pictures of the HHR air bag release mechanism, (took a little bit of wiggling myself to get it to pop)Some of the pics good if you'd like to add radio buttons to stock HHR wheel and wish to keep the old harness intact (not PITA, but the wheel's gotta come off!
So decided to operate on the wheel to see what I could see!
this is what you see when the air bag is removed
close up of one of the airbag mounting hole. it is the top hole.
next few pics show a/b plate removed. Don't need to do this, just did it to take pictures
this is the opposite side of the airbag plate, showing the a/b retention springs
closeup of a/b spring.
looking at spring from the "hole in the steering cover" view. can see spring "inside" the plastic loop.
Allen key on spring. this is slightly misleading as the hole in the wheel cover actually directs the key to make contact with the plastic piece first. need to keep pushing till you can slightly raise the air bag, and put something under it to keep it from snapping back into place when you work on the other side.
end view of Allen key & spring. do not pull the end of the key in your hand toward you or it will go under the spring, as shown below.
Allen key engaging the spring looking up from "under" the wheel
Allen key engaging the spring looking down from "top" of the wheel
Allen key on spring with a/b plate mounted in wheel. Notice that the key is guided slightly up. this causes it to hit plastic first before the spring. when looking down in the non-a/b post hole you don't see the key ,as shown in the earlier shot from the other side. push key, lift bag, and you got it!!!
these pics are for getting the stock button harness out without cutting it .
first remove wheel. flip it over, remove (4) phillips head screws. remove wheel cover & see this!
can't get any easier than this, unless you get somebody else to do it!
Go to JerseyJames' Gallery
If you're not sure of what you're looking at, or which ways up ... STOP!! ask a stupid question(s)!!! , They are DEFINITELY easier to handle than STUPID MISTAKES !!!
Hope this helps peeps with steering wheel questions.
will sell old wheel (cruise buttons only). Will upgrade the HHR wheel to have radio buttons & send the blank spoke cover & NON-CUT cruise button harness as well if buyer requests .
Last edited by JerseyJames; 09-01-2012 at 07:46 PM. Reason: adding pics & captions
09-01-2012, 04:49 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-24-2012
Location: State of Confusion, U.S.A.
Posts: 177
Swap was piece o' cake! didn't even use a wheel puller, just a little WD-40 , pull & wiggle. Used instructions on here for the swap. Haven't really wrung it out on my favorite "twisty-turny" road but still too busy with " volume up ,volume down, station next, station previous" thing ... found out when you reach the end of displayed presets, going up with station button automatically brings up the next bank of presets! next upgrade will be a I-Pod / HD radio adapter ... when the change jar gets filled again!
09-01-2012, 05:33 PM
#5
Founding Member
Join Date: 11-23-2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 8,210
I think you can post the pics. Just bring up the pic, highlight the BB CODE copy it and then paste that address into your post. Try it. If it doesn't work then I will post them, but you will have to tell me what order they go in.
09-01-2012, 07:55 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 08-24-2012
Location: State of Confusion, U.S.A.
Posts: 177
Cobalt Steering wheel
09-04-2012, 04:53 PM
#9
Administrator
Join Date: 10-13-2011
Location: Welland,Ont Canada
Posts: 36,519
I did this swap a month ago, more comfortable , but no change on steering effort or input while canyon craving the 441 heading north into Pigeon Forge Tn and there were alot of twists and turns. I have noticed the comfort of the leather,more though
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