Removing steering wheel in 01

My dad just bought a wrecked 01 for very cheap. The bags deployed. Anyone have pics on removing and replacing the steering wheel? Since the bags have already popped, the bolts were removed, but something about the spring and yada yada. Sorry if this is no help. I in oregon and he is in Minnesota so i have no idea what im looking at since mine is a 90. Any input would be great. thanks.

the clockspring is really not as bad as everyone says - center the wheel and the clockspring module will "latch" to keep itself from spinning when you take the wheel off with the puller. Just make sure you don't screw around with it and be careful putting the new wheel on, also, make sure you follow the disarming procedure TO THE LETTER when preparing to install the new bag module.

I got a new wheel (used my old airbag module) at the junkyard for ten bucks as the leather on mine was getting pretty worn out, it took me about fifteen minutes combined to pull the old wheel off and put the new wheel on.

EDIT: the clockspring is really a very thin ribbon cable wrapped in a spiral in a plastic housing mounted behind the steering wheel. It's used to allow for perfect electrical connections between the wheel and the steering column for the cruise control, horn, and airbag module wiring. The paranoia surrounding it stems from the fact that if you tweak it out of alignment or turn the steering shaft or clockspring at all while the wheel is off, you may miscount the number of turns and end up with the clockspring rotated a different amount from the wheels, which will result in it running out of slack and either tangling or tearing in half when you peg the wheel the first time. Since it's a $100+ part at the stealership, this gets fairly painful pretty fast.

To restore the airbag system you need a new clock spring, airbag controller, and new airbags. The steering wheel is held on by the big nut in the center. You will need a steering wheel puller to get steering wheel off.

Airbag clock spring

SYSTEM OPERATION
The clock spring is mounted on the steering column behind the steering wheel. This assembly consists of a plastic housing which contains a flat, ribbon-like, electrically conductive tape that winds and unwinds with the steering wheel rotation.

The clock spring is used to maintain a continuous electrical circuit between the instrument panel wire harness and the driver side airbag module, the horn switch, and the vehicle speed control switches on vehicles that are so equipped.

The clock spring must be properly centered when it is installed on the steering column following any service removal, or it will be damaged. See the Clock spring Centering procedure for more information.

The clock spring cannot be repaired. If the clock spring is faulty, damaged, or if the airbag has been deployed, the clock spring must be replaced.

WARNING: THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS A SENSITIVE, COMPLEX ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE OR SERVICE ANY AIR-BAG SYSTEM OR RELATED STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENTS YOU MUST FIRST DISCONNECT AND ISOLATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE. THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE FURTHER SYSTEM SERVICE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. FAILURE TO DO THIS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY .


Turn the steering wheel until the front wheels are in the straight-ahead position before starting the procedure.

Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. If the airbag has not been deployed, wait two minutes for the system capacitor to discharge before further service.
Remove the driver side airbag module from the steering wheel.
If the vehicle is equipped with the optional vehicle speed control, unplug the speed control switch wire harness connector in the steering wheel.
Remove the nut that secures the steering wheel to the steering column upper shaft.
Remove the steering wheel with a steering wheel puller (Special Tool C-3428-B).
Remove the steering column, opening cover from the instrument panel.
If the vehicle is so equipped, move the tilt steering column to the fully raised position.

(Optional step)
Insert the key in the ignition lock cylinder and turn the ignition switch to the On position.
Insert a small screwdriver or pin punch through the access hole in the lower steering column shroud and depress the ignition lock cylinder retaining tumbler.
While holding the retaining tumbler depressed, pull the ignition lock cylinder and key out of the ignition lock housing.

Remove the three screws that secure the lower steering column shroud to the upper shroud.
If the vehicle is equipped with a standard non-tilt steering column, loosen the two upper steering column mounting nuts. If the vehicle is equipped with the optional tilt steering column, move the tilt steering column to the fully lowered position.
Remove both the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column.

Clockspring Remove/Install

Unplug the two wire harness connectors from the instrument panel side of the clockspring.
To remove the clockspring, carefully lift the locating fingers of the clockspring assembly from the steering column as necessary. If the clockspring locating fingers are broken, be certain to remove the broken pieces from the upper steering column housing. The clockspring cannot be repaired. It must be replaced if faulty or damaged, or if the airbag has been deployed.
When installing the clockspring, snap the clockspring onto the steering column. If the clockspring is not positioned properly in relation to the steering wheel, see Clockspring Centering before installing the steering wheel.
Plug the two clockspring wire harness connectors into the instrument panel side of the clockspring. Be certain that the wire harness connector latches are fully engaged.
Reinstall the steering column shrouds and ignition lock cylinder. Tighten the shroud mounting screws to 2 N.m (18 in. lbs.) .
Reinstall the steering column opening cover to the instrument panel.
The front wheels should still be in the straight-ahead position. Install the steering wheel being certain to index the flats on the hub of the steering wheel with the formations on the inside of the clockspring. Pull the wire harness, through the lower hole in the steering wheel hut. Tighten the steering wheel nut to 61 N.m (45 ft. lbs.) . Be certain not to pinch the wiring between the steering wheel and the nut.
Install the driver side airbag module onto the steering wheel.