Steering Wheel - Removal With SIR or Redundant

90pontiac13
Bulletin Number: 90-9-8
Reference Number: 019002R
Publish Date: 4/90
Subject: STEERING WHEEL REMOVAL - VEHICLES WITH SIR OR REDUNDANT STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROLS

Models
Affected: 1988 - 1990 FIREBIRD AND GRAND PRIX MODELS
When removing the steering wheel from an automobile equipped with a Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system or redundant steering wheel radio controls, the two wheel-puller bolts from J-1859-03 may penetrate the SIR coil assembly or redundant control components located below it if they are inserted too far into the steering wheel hub. This may result in SIR system or redundant control component damage and unnecessary repair.

The steering wheel hub design has been changed to permit penetration of only four to six threads of the wheel-puller bolts into the steering wheel hub holes of SIR and redundant radio control equipped automobiles. This will aid in preventing the wheel-puller bolts from hitting the coil assembly or control component, however, you must be careful not to apply excessive torque to these bolts. On vehicles built before this change was implemented, you must be careful to insert the wheel-puller bolts only four to six threads deep to prevent the bolts from going all the way through the hub.

Tool J-38720 (steering wheel puller bolts) is designed with only enough threads to give adequate retention and avoid unnecessary damage as listed above. Tool J-38720 has been classified essential and is scheduled for shipment May, 1990.