How to get 4-gen LGT steering wheel to work in 3-gen LGT?

[LibertyFLS]

So does anyone know, or has this been done? I've done lots of searching, but not come up with much. I did see a pic of one in an 00-04, but he said he didn't have the airbag connected. I would only do it if the airbag works. We tried to swap it on Saturday, which according to a thread somewhere (not sure forum) we were supposed to be able to just swap the explosive device, but it does not fit the hole in the 06 and the 4 bolts are in different locations too. Then I thought, well, there is a black and a red connector on the 06, and if you take out the little plastic thing, the plug from my 00 fits perfectly, but I'm not sure if each color is for 1 of the 2 stages, or not, and didn't want to take a chance of it blowing up in my face. If anyone could confirm that either the red or black is an individual stage, I'd be willing to try putting my plug into one and then start the car from outside to see if it blows up since I do have remote start.

Thanks for any suggestinos!

Replacing this wheel

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/02/1B79EBA68A5148D390E04D7E4F96BD8557610000-1.jpg

with this wheel

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/02/211E6CA6E0484F3390F8805A9F465CFB57610000-1.jpg

[Huffer]

I'd check with the dealer on the specifics regarding the airbag deployments - 1stage vs 2stage - if the plug physically fits then you can use it. All the post-98 airbags are depowered to meet NHTSA safety regs.

[heli-mech]

Any more info on this swap yet? I am picking up the same style wheel next week, with a deployed bag for cheap.

[LibertyFLS]

No luck yet. Huffer said "if the plug physically fits you can use it" and it does fit, but there are 2 connectors. I guess we need to figure which is the best option of the 2 to connect to. I hope to get this info soon, would love to be using my new wheel.

[rkrenicki]

There are two connectors on the Airbag, or just in total?

Can you get a picture of the backside and of the connectors?

[heli-mech]

I believe its a two stage air bag with dual connectors, similar to this STI airbag.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr113/Heli-mech/f_348632884-871209553.jpg

[LibertyFLS]

^that is exactly what it looks like. If you pop out the red or black plastic pieces you can see in the pic (you squeeze the two sides and they come right out leaving a round plug with 2 pins), then the plug in the 3rd gen fits exactly like it does on the stock single connector charge device. Would be easy if the existing charge device fit the new bag, but it doesn't fit the hole and the bolts are spaced differently.

So the question I need to know is: which of the two connectors should I use with my single stage, the red one or the black one? I assume one is for lower speed and one for higher speed accidents, where our single stage would be basically all for the high speed accident....

[heli-mech]

I just picked up a bag/cover for mine from the LGT forum. I would say run it on the high speed side, I just DL'd a LGT/XT service manual to take a look at.

[LibertyFLS]

that's what I'm thinking too, I just don't know which side is the high speed side....

look forward to what you find out!

[heli-mech]

Here is a pic of the two seperate style bombs side by side. The cooked bomb on the left is from the + '05 LGT, you can see the two stage (damaged) connectors on it.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr113/Heli-mech/20130305_170819.jpg

My opinion is that running a single stage on a dual stage bag is not safe. The systems may be compatible, but the idea of it blowing up in my face .... or worse not blowing up when required is scary.

The best way to make this work would be to install the BE/BH larger bomb into the new style wheel center, but there is quite the difference in the diameter and the pitch of the bolt holes. If one could source a small single stage bomb it should be plug and play, but that would be pretty hard to find I believe.

Once I get my hands on a blown '00-'04 bag I will start messing around with my '05 LGT wheel center and see if I can make the two work together.

[heli-mech]

Here are a few quick measurements of the items & some general theory on how it may work.

Dual stage small bomb (DSB) ...... 2.750" OD
Single stage bomb (SSB) ...... 3.125" OD
Dual Stage bag mount ..... 2.888" ID

So in theory if you were to clearance the DSB mount location by 0.119" around the the inner diameter the SSB would fit, then you would just need to plug the old stud holes and reposition the studs to match the new bolt pattern. I going to run it by a friend at work tommorow (aircraft structral engineer) get his take on it. If this works I will pick up a few more old SSB's and run some tests in the parts car to see how it all reacts & holds up.

[LibertyFLS]

:smt023

[Guig'z]

Have you gotten to work yet? Have you received my PM?

[LibertyFLS]

I did get your PM, thank you. I have not tried to see if it will work with the existing charge though. I know someone did the same thing on a Lexus GS from 1 to 2 stage and only put 1 plug, they had an accident later and the airbag did deploy.

I think one of these days I'm going to give it a shot and see if it works or not. Otherwise from your PM it sounds like I need the JDM Momo charge for the 3rd gen?

[ecoflame]

Has any headway been made on this?

[LibertyFLS]

nothing, although I check this forum all the time hoping to see a definitive answer on what I need to do. I might just take a chance on it blowing up this Friday and put it in there, plugging in only 1 plug into the 2 plug explosive device, then use the remote start to see if it explodes, but I'd rather not do that......

[ecoflame]

If it does come to trial and error, maybe you could find a couple off spare charges for cheap.

[LibertyFLS]

Well it seems to boil down to getting the charge out of a 2004-05 STI steering wheel which is single stage, but fits the physical structure of this wheel. Should have one by next week, will update.

[ecoflame]

Sweet! If this pans out I'm definitely doing it too.

[LibertyFLS]

So I got a 2005 Impreza charge device and it fit perfectly! The wheel is in the car now and I love it! I'm kinda loling at myself how much a steering wheel can change the driving experience. Not like it's the first time I've changed a wheel, but it is the first time I've changed one on an airbag equipped car (Ghia, RX7, old ass F150, not quite the same thing).

It's very straightforward. The ONLY thing you need to make this work is the airbag from an 05 Impreza. Then you need this thread (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1706769) to see how to wire the cruise control so you don't have to use your old one!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2013/04/null_zpse7114d4f-1.jpg

[rkrenicki]

What about cruise, is that all set?

[ecoflame]

Sweet baby Jesus! That looks good!!!

[rkrenicki]

Also, do you have a picture of the 04-05 STI charge before you put it in?

[LibertyFLS]

Still haven't done the cruise, will deal with it this weekend.

Here is the actual charge I got, so these are the only pics of it prior to putting it in the car http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... age+airbag (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2318552&highlight=dual+stage+airbag)

[elislider]

The 05 WRX charge looks the same except it just has 1 of the small round 2-pin plugs on the back, instead of 2.

I have an 05 Saab 92x aero (basically an 05 wrx) and I swapped the steering wheel for an 07 STi one (to get red stitch) but kept the Saab airbag.