Steering Wheel Emblem Removal for Painting

Steering Wheel Emblem Removal for Painting

I, perhaps like many others, prefer less chromed accessories, if any, in my vehicles. One such item is the steering wheel Toyota emblem. I realize that there are various options available on how to de-chrome this particular item. In fact, there is now an overlay option that is sure to become a favorite. However, my preference still lies in the good ole fashioned paint route. To accomplish this, the horn/airbag must be removed to separate the emblem for paint.

While this task, for me and others, may appear straight forward and not too complex, only you can be assertive and know your skill set, thus are responsible for your tear-down/reinstall.

So go from this...



to this...



Items used for task:

1. 10 mm wrench

2. 30 torx screwdriver

3. phillips screwdriver

4. various pry tools, preferably plastic

5. microfiber towel

6. micro-set flat-head screw driver

7. needle nose pliers

8. 8 mm socket and ratchet

9. chisel

10. model/craft sanding sticks

11. Primer, paint, clear

12. Isopropyl alcohol

13. Adhesive for plastics

Horn/Airbag Assembly Removal from Steering Wheel

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable and allow at least 5 minutes for systems to discharge before starting the horn/airbag removal process.

2. Take a pry tool and remove the trapezoid type shape cover plate on each side of the steering wheel. The cruise control stalk sits inside the one on the right side.

3. Use the torx screwdriver to loosen completely (but not remove) on each side of the steering wheel.







4. Gently pull up and maneuver the horn/airbag assembly to its underside exposing three wires and connectors. A microfiber towel may be used to place the assembly on the “flat” surface between the steering wheel and instrument cluster.

5. Use the micro flat-head screwdriver or dental pick to “pop” up the yellow clamp fastener on each of orange and black wire connectors.



6. Carefully apply pressure to “pop” up the wire connectors.

7. Take pliers to remove the black wire with the blade connection.



8. Assembly unit is now free from the steering wheel and can be taken to your favorite work area.

Horn/Airbag Components Separation from Plastic Shell

1. You will see three torx head screws (housing for horn depress and airbag mount) and four 8 mm nuts.

2. Using the ratchet and 8mm socket, remove ONLY the 4 nuts.



3. Gently separate the housing (horn depress) from the horn/airbag unit.

4. The gas inflator unit (the round shaped item where the wires were connected to) was removed for ease of handling and set aside for safe keeping.



5. Now what remains is the modular box that contains the airbag. This is held in by 6 metal prongs, tabs. Using a pry tool, start to loosen the top two tabs. More than one pry tool was used.



6. While the plastic is very forgiving, it is best to do one prong, at a time each with a different pry tool as to “place hold” the modular box from snapping back in place and to stress the plastic unnecessarily.

7. Once the left, top, and right sides prongs, tabs have been cleared, the bottom two can be freed by tilting the airbag modular box downward.






Emblem Separation from Horn/Airbag Plastic Shell

1. Now there is backside access to the Toyota emblem. There are 11 small plastic button welds that hold the emblem onto the plastic shell. To remove these, a freshly sharpened chisel (bench grinder – provided heat and sharpness) was used to slowly, carefully “pop” off the plastic welds.







2. Using a pry tool, the emblem is now able to snap out freely without incident.

Emblem Paint Preparation

1. While there are various methods for paint prep of plastic chromed pieces, a sanding approach was used. Bleaching was considered, however, this can be a process of days, which meant an extended vehicle downtime.

2. Several hobby/model sanding sticks were used to dull out the chrome.

3. Once sanding is complete, rinse emblem with water.

4. Dry and use some rubbing alcohol to ensure all debris is removed.

5. Prime, paint, & clear accordingly.




Reinstall Emblem to Horn/Airbag Plastic Shell

1. Replace painted emblem pegs carefully back into the holes of the Horn/Airbag plastic shell.





2. Once seated, use a medium-high strength adhesive to secure the emblem. JB Kwick Weld was used.



3. Follow the adhesive of choice instructions for application. I mixed the JB Kwick Weld accordingly.

4. Wood mixing stick was used to generously place material over the same areas of the previous factory plastic welds.

5. While not meant to be pretty, the purposes of the plastic weld “blobs” are to ensure that the emblem is well secured and that the “blobs” highs are not sharp protrusions to the airbag itself.



6. The chisel was used to soften the few “highs” that remained.

7. In all honesty, both my plastic welds and factory’s fared equal in the ugly department and both have/will serve(d) purpose of full function ability.


Reassembly of Horn/Airbag Components into Plastic Shell

Now comes the reinstall, follow the steps now in reverse order to complete your install. This mod was especially satisfying for me because there was absolutely NO COST involved and during this quarantine, time has surely been more available. All materials were already available on hand in the craft room or garage.

Hope this helps someone who may be on the fence to opt for this route, enjoy!

 

That is the route I would like to go instead of the AJT overlay. Thanks for sharing the "the how to".

 

Nice write up. Thanks for sharing also

 

I appreciate you chiming in and it is obvious that I agree too!

Thank you for looking kind sir!

 

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!

This is great timing, too. As a dyed in the wool scaredycat not wanting to mess around with my airbag, I had given up on the idea of removing the emblem and purchased an ebay overlay, which is on a slow boat from China as I write. As soon as it arrives it can be payed forward to anyone who doesn't want to go through the trouble of removing the emblem.

 

You're welcome and thanks for looking!

 

Nice Job OP.

yeah, a lot of vendors had to stop making the T overlay due to TOYOTA CORP cease and desist. I'm sure there are some still around.

I’ve gone through a few different options on my Tacoma

 

where did you get the TRD emblem overlay from?

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JimmyRigged88?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=780379077

Doesn’t look like he makes them anymore.

 

nice write up, Subd

 

Very nice write up OP! I’m not brave enough for this one.

 

Thanks!

 

Going to do this today and my interior chrome delete will be complete. Thanks to the OP and I'll post pics after it's completed!

 

Noice! I’m already looking forward to your completed pics and best of luck!

 

Here it is and the rest of what I’ve done to the interior so far and now just need to save for them Katzskins

 

Based on the last picture, either you have very long arms and legs or you need some seats! Beautiful work!! Are all of the dash/door pieces painted?

 

I gutted the whole interior to run speaker wires and sound deaden the interior and yes all are painted minus the AJT Designs accent pieces.

 

Great work. Soon you may reach the status of the great @ElNopal!

 

Fantastic work and write up! Very thorough!

 

Ordered the eBay special matte black overlay and it had correct curvature and fit great, not AJT but fit like a glove and was $15.00 free shipping

 

I did this today on a 2010. The difference is on 2010 and below, is the cover itself is riveted on to the bag and inflator carrier. It is not snapped on.

All you have to do additional is:

1. Remove inflator.

2. Tape over the inflator and bag with masking tape.

3. Drill 4 pop rivets out of the cover.

4. Mark orientation of the bag to carrier and cover to carrier

5. Pull the cover off. Remove the bag.

6. Use a carbide bit on a die grinder to remove remainder of the super sized factory rivets.

7. Replacement of of emblem is the same as the OP. My ebay sourced emblem had 2 extra legs that the cover. I removed them and it fit fine.

8. Make sure there is no debris or shavings on any part during reasembly.

9. Use four 5/16" pop rivets and secure the cover.