Help with airbag cover

[Audi007]

i'm thinking of repacing my airbag cover on my steering wheel because of a little scratch. i found one on ebay http://cgi.ebay.de/Audi-A3-A4-A6-A8-...0#ht_841wt_909

my question is... how would you install it?

thanks for your help

[Audi007]

bump
anyone?

[astrobill]

Actually, I have the official shop eBahn service manual on DVD for the Audis. It doesn't specifically say anything about removing the cover, but it describes removing the assembly in detail.

Based on my own spare cover (photos) and photos from a VW version online (see below), it looks like you actually have to remove the entire airbag assembly from the steering wheel to properly remove the cover without ripping out the little rubber/plastic tabs that hold it into the metal rear frame of the assembly.

I little dicey, maybe, but it can be done if you're careful.

Two alternatives to removing the entire assembly to replace the cover MIGHT be:

1. Carefully push in at each location around the cover where there are tabs and pull out gently until you've gotten all of the tabs out. But again, working around the airbag seems dicey to me.

2. Pry out the metal parts alone and plug back in ones pried out of a spare cover? Looks like they're not too well secured in the cover, and may pry out easily. My spare one only had glue in two places

3. Carefully tape the cover and paint over the scratched painted plastic inserts with spray chrome paint?

See the VW photos HERE to understand what we're dealing with...Audi is very similar.

[MentisImperium]

lol damn this post was old.

i am assuming that you need to find this out from the airbag manufacturer rather than Audi itself. Audi probably outsources to have its airbags made as most other vehicle manufacturers do, they may send the cover to the airbag manufacturer and once all is said and done the complete unit it shipped to Audi to be installed in the vehicle. I doubt Audi would have any information on removing or replacing the cover but i may be wrong

[astrobill]

See my updated post...if one removes the assembly, one can push the tabs out very easily and replace the cover. The issue is who wants to take a chance messing with removing and re-installing the airbag assembly. Looks easy, but is it worth the risk?

[MentisImperium]

i guess it would come down to how much the old cover bothers you... I'm sure if you are patient and careful you should have no issues, but to each their own

[Audi007]

See my updated post...if one removes the assembly, one can push the tabs out very easily and replace the cover. The issue is who wants to take a chance messing with removing and re-installing the airbag assembly. Looks easy, but is it worth the risk?

Thank you for providing the instructions on how to replace it but I have become ok with it because it is not that bad & I don't want to risk messing up something that can potentially save my life.