Look for the one that looks EXACTLY like yours. You want to keep your airbag b/c any other year airbags may be incompatible with others. You can get any steering wheels from '95'-01 Explorers and '97-'01 Mountaineers without the audio controls. I prefer the '98 or newer b/c the grip is a whole lot fatter than ours.
Here's how to take the steering wheel out.
Removal
WARNING:
THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS POWERED DIRECTLY FROM THE BATTERY (10655) AND BACKUP POWER SUPPLY. TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY, THE BATTERY POSITIVE CABLE MUST BE DISCONNECTED FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE MINUTE TO DE-ENERGIZE THE BACKUP POWER SUPPLY PRIOR TO SERVICING OR REPLACING ANY AIR BAG SYSTEM COMPONENTS.
1. Center front wheels (1007) to the straight-ahead position.
2. Disconnect battery to starter relay cable (14300) and wait at least one minute to let the air bag backup power supply discharge. Refer to «Section 01-20B».
3. Pry out two plugs covering driver side air bag module screws on sides of steering wheel.
4. Remove two driver side air bag module retaining screws on side of steering wheel from driver side air bag module, and lift driver side air bag module away from steering wheel.
5. Disconnect driver side air bag wire harness connector at the air bag sliding contact, horn control wire harness connector, and, if equipped, speed control harness connector.
6. Loosen, but do not remove, steering wheel retaining bolt approximately 2 to 3 turns.
7. Install Differential Side Bearing Puller T77F-4220-B1 at the areas marked PULL near the loosened steering wheel retaining bolt.
8. CAUTION: Be sure air bag sliding contact assembly wire harness does not get caught on steering wheel assembly when lifting steering wheel off steering shaft.
Pull steering wheel loose and remove Differential Side Bearing Puller T77F-4220-B1.
9. Remove and discard original steering wheel bolt.
10. Remove steering wheel while routing wires from air bag sliding contact through steering wheel.
Installation
Note:
If a new air bag sliding contact is being installed, remove the plastic lock tool after intermediate shaft is connected to steering gear.
1. Make sure the vehicle's front wheels are in the straight-ahead position.
2. CAUTION: Be sure wiring does not get trapped between steering wheel and air bag sliding contact.
Route air bag sliding contact wire harnesses through steering wheel opening at the three o'clock position. Position steering wheel on steering shaft so the alignment marks on wheel and shaft are aligned. Be sure air bag contact wire is not pinched.
3. Install new steering wheel retaining bolt and tighten to 34-46 N-m (25-34 lb-ft).
4. Connect horn/speed control wire harness to air bag sliding contact wire harness. Connector is located on right side of steering wheel retaining bolt.
5. Connect air bag sliding contact wire harness to driver side air bag module and position air bag into steering wheel. Install driver side air bag module retaining bolts.
6. Hold driver side air bag module in position in steering wheel while bolts are being torqued to ensure proper fit. Tighten bolts to 7.6-10.4 N-m (5.4-7.6 lb-ft).
7. Install two cover plugs by snapping into holes on sides of steering wheel.
8. Note: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal driving symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) (12A650) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16 km (10 miles) or more for the powertrain control module to relearn the strategy.
Connect battery to starter relay cable. Verify air bag warning indicator.
Steering Wheel with Air Bag
