DAMD Steering Wheel Install Guide

This is a basic DIY guide for installing a DAMD steering wheel. I used our shop car, a 2007 Outback 2.5i, as the car of honor. The wheel of honor is a DAMD D-Type steering wheel with red stitching and a red bottom.

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_013.jpg

 

First, get your tools together. For the most part, they are pretty simple. You'll need a:

philips (plus) head screwdriver

a small flat head screwdriver

a 10mm wrench

a 17mm socket wrench

and finally, a Torx/Torques T30 bit.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_001.jpg

 

Next, you really need to get the wheels and the steering wheel as straight as possible. This is important for getting the new wheel aligned properly, even one tooth off on the install will have it at a large angle to the right or left after installed.

 

 

First, take the 10mm wrench and unbolt the ground from your battery. Once it is off, get in the car and depress the brake 4 times to get any latent electricity out of the system.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_002.jpg

 

 

Get your Torx bit/tool and look for the two holes on the side of your steering wheel enclosure. You loosen off these two bolts, but they won't come out. Leave them where they are.

 

Right side:

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_003.jpg

 

Left side:

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_004.jpg

 

 

Note - the airbag is a dangerous device. If you are unsure about this part, have a professional installer put your steering wheel in.

 

With those loosened fully, the air bag should come out easily. Once you pull it out a bit, you'll notice three sets of wiring to it.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_005.jpg

 

 

The main two wiring clips are held in with the yellow pieces in them. Pop them up carefully with the small screwdriver (or similar).

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_006.jpg

 

 

They will be pulled out straight up afterwards. Finally, there is the grey ground wire next to those. There's a small clip on the back that needs to be pushed in, and it will come up and off.

Note: If you don't want to have to re-solder the ground wire clip back together, don't let the airbag pull against it at an angle. It's not very strong.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_007.jpg

 

 

The white clip needs to be pulled out of the harness here. There is a clip at the top that needs to be depressed to come out.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_008.jpg

 

 

Take the 17mm socket wrench and take the large bolt off the center. This may take some effort, and an extra pair of hands cannot hurt here. Once the bolt is off, this is a good time to mark the steering wheel and the large bolt resides on. This is so you can put the standard wheel in the correct position to help line up the DAMD steering wheel. The steering wheel should come up and off the bolt fairly easy, though you may need to rock it back and forth a bit to loosen it.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_009.jpg

 

 

Now that the steering wheel is off, you can remove the three screws that hold the steering wheel surround backside on to the steering wheel.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_010.jpg

 

 

Simply screw that back piece to the DAMD steering wheel. If you have a car with radio controls, you will need to unscrew those from the sides of the OEM steering wheel, remove the silver pieces on the DAMD steering wheel, and place the OEM controls on the side of the DAMD steering wheel.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_011.jpg

 

 

Installation is a simple reverse of the removal process. At all times, be careful with the air bag, you do not want to drop it! Lining up the steering wheel properly will take a bit of time, especially with D-type wheels, because what looks straight on a standard round wheel doesn't look as straight with a wheel that has a flat bottom. If you have marked the standard wheel, it helps to go back and forth a bit to make sure everything is about right.

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_012.jpg

 

 

Check to make sure that the steering wheel is not loose. After the negative ground to the battery has been re-attached, check to make sure the ABS light does not come on. If it does, there is something wrong with the install, you'll have to take it off and check everything. Don't try and drive it if the ABS light is on!

 

http://www.avoturboworld.com/images/damd_install/damd_install_013.jpg

 

 

Congratulations! All in all, this is a fairly simple installation job. The main complication is making sure that you keep the airbag safe, and that you get the steering wheel lined up properly. It's possible to do this installation in 20 minutes, but don't rush through it, make sure you get everything done right.

 

Regards,

 

Paul Hansen

http://www.avoturboworld.com

http://www.facebook.com/avoturboworld

Fantastic instructions. Just followed these to install my Momo wheel on my 2.5i.

Glad to be of help!

If the steering wheel is reinstalled a little to the left or right, how noticeable would it be?

When removing my old wheel, it locked at the 9:00 position, hard to lign up the new wheel.

thanks for this thread OP. Swapped steering wheel with confidence thanks to it.

Outstanding and to the point without the fluff instructions. Took less then 10 mins. Thank you ApexJapan.

One little hint to add. When you're pulling off the wheel, leave the big nut on so you don't pull the wheel into your face. Sometimes you really need to yank on it, and leaving the bolt on after you've loosened it may prevent a trip to the dentist

One little hint to add. When you're pulling off the wheel, leave the big nut on so you don't pull the wheel into your face. Sometimes you really need to yank on it, and leaving the bolt on after you've loosened it may prevent a trip to the dentist

 

 

Tout à fait FRENCH_FLICK .

I love that wheel!

How would the install differ if you have the steering wheel controls? say like a Spec.B's with the radio, cruise, etc.

I love that wheel!

How would the install differ if you have the steering wheel controls? say like a Spec.B's with the radio, cruise, etc.

 

Easy, once you get the wheel off you can unscrew the two plastic pieces with the controls on either one or both sides of the wheel, unplug the connector, then screw them to the new wheel and plug it back in.

Man I can not for the life of me get that 17mm center bolt to break free

Breaker bar?

I'm gonna try something. That bastard is on there!

 

Thanks to the op for the write up btw. I'm not putting on a new wheel but I need some info on getting the old one off. Much appreciated!

if you have a breaker bar, there should not be any issue taking that bolt off.