Steering Wheel Replacement
 

Has anyone ever switched out their steering wheel for a newer one? Mine in my 04 LS430 is getting a little worn, and am thinking of getting one from eBay as replacement. Anyone ever done a switch-over?

Sounds like a bad idea. Have a shop that deals with air bags give you some advice before doing this yourself. You would NOT want to have an air bag pop in your face trying to take the steering wheel out.

Not deploy
 

Yes, or worse, not deploy when you need it during an accident. Unless you're a mechanic and know how to do it, but this isn't a typical DIY job for even above average DIY folks.

Thats why you unplug the battery before taking out any airbag.

And you should wait at least 90 seconds after disconnecting the "negative" battery terminal.

10 min
 

I'm not sure about the 90-second rule... reading on air-bag accidents, it seems the system has a backup "battery" for storing enough power to deploy the airbags even if the battery is "destroyed" in an accident somehow before impact. I've read where you need to disconnect the battery for 10-20 minutes, so the backup battery can also be depleted.

Again, not knowing the specifics of the LS430's system, I would not tackle it myself, but then again, I'm just a regular DIY joe...

I really like this one. I know they go for like $1000-$1500. Will they fit US models?

Yeah they fit,i was thinking about doing this mod..i've seen so many different ones in VIPCAR magazine it's definetly a nice subtle mod.

The news media and the legal system have scared the public to death concerning airbags! You will have no problem at all changing the steering wheel out, there is virtually zero risk of an inadvertent deployment. ALL airbags have shorting bars built into their connectors to stop static electricity from causing deployments. CPA (connector position assurance) type connectors are the norm also, it requires a complete seating of the connector followed by installation of a secondary lock onto the connector. The shorting bars will engage across the terminals even before the connector is totally unseated. This will stop any voltage from reaching the squib segment of the airbag. I've had hundreds off in the past 20 years with zero issues, I did use the precautions of disconnecting batteries and removing fuses and leaving it for 30 mins for some time after SRS systems came out, for the past 15 years it's just remove the airbag and carry on. I do them even with the vehicle running in some situations. The issue to be concerned with is keeping the key off when it's disconnected to avoid setting SRS codes (BMW certainly requires a special clearing tool, and older Toyota and Lexus models required one too unless you knew what terminals to ground in the right combination),

Bump for an old thread. Any other lexus models steering wheels fit?

Any Lexus steering wheel would fit but I don't think the LS430 shares any airbags with other cars so you would have to get a matching airbag too.

will the controls match up with the ls also?

Steering Wheel Replacement
 

OK folks, I too want to replace or recover the existing leather. It is worn out and looks bad. I have a friend who can get me a new steering wheel but he is does not install them. From all these post it appears a DIY should not do this except for one tread and that person even has the car running.

There has to be someone who has done this or at leas have the procedures published.

Let me know please.

2004 LS 430 UL, Black with parchment interior.

Bobbyg49

Seeing the price of new steering wheels and the labor involved, I'd take it to an upholstery shop and see if they can restitch the leather and maybe replace the wood before I'd go this route. My guess is they could make it look like new for under $200 vs $1,500 or so to replace the steering wheel with a new one.

I've removed steering wheels on older cars (pre-airbag) and it wasn't a big deal, but on newer cars, I'd be wary feeling my way through it.

theres a company in texas that specialize in reconditioning the steering wheel to new for less than $500. this includes the leather and any cracks or discoloration of the wood. they even have a diy vid on how to take ur steering wheel apart.

theres a thread about it with a link.

*edit*
found it...
http://www.craftcustoms.com/index.htm