Sonic & Cruze Steering Wheel

[Clayjn]

From the pictures and my own eye balling these look like the same thing air bag shape and all.

The Cruze

The Sonic

Because I found this on ebay and I am really thinking about buying one.

Brand New Cruze Black Leather Wrapped Silver Steering Wheel with Buttons | eBay

Any experts out there for a opinion on this?

 

[Stew]

A lot of GM models have this steering wheel, someone here has put a Camaro steering wheel in their Sonic.

 

[Clayjn]

Well I am going to jump off the deep end and get it. Worst case I resell it on ebay. "Get my water wings on.":banana:

 

[ColonelPanic]

A lot of GM models have this steering wheel, someone here has put a Camaro steering wheel in their Sonic.

I remember seeing that thread...

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...26-camaro-zl1-suede-steering-wheel-sonic.html

 

[Clayjn]

ORDERED! Rubs hands and lets out a E-ville laugh. I can't wait.opcorn:

 

[fallingforever]

Cruze cruise control buttons can't work on Sonic, if you bought Cruze steering wheel, you need to replace cruise control buttons as well
CRUZE buttons
SONIC buttons

 

[Clayjn]

I figured that would need to be done. I will just take the whole trim piece and controls in one lump and replace the Cruze controls when it is being placed back on the car.

 

[barch88]

Can I buy that Camaro wheel and just swap my buttons from my original, or do I have to buy new buttons? I'm confused on what "buttons" you mean, the actual plastic piece? Also - what if I don't even bother with it and just not have Cruise Control, will I get a CEL?

 

[Clayjn]

I am getting this leather steering wheel switched out Friday. I do not trust myself but a buddy who is a GM certified tech said he can do it for $68 and he he blows the air bag he has to pay for the new bag and reset. The controls on the wheel are specific to the model of your car Sonic to Sonic, Cruze to Cruze. Since the S/W is the same shape and everything i will just take the mounting bracket with the wiring harness for the sonic and the control clusters and the grey V section and swap it for the Cruze bits. POOF all the stuff work and have a leather steering wheel rather then the plastic thing that came on it. ( I hate the steering wheel that came on it. So I got the leather one shown. )

 

[Clayjn]

And.. Here it is, the new leather steering wheel. Installed and working like a champ. Now I did pay a GM certified guy to put it on, I didn't feel comfortable messing with the air bad. Took about and 1 hour and 20 minutes, I watched TV and dipped around on my phone while I waited. So if anyone wants a leather steering wheel get it fast off the link at the start of the post above before they are gone. I took the Cruze control clusters off and the airbag retention bracket off and they reused the cluster and bracket off the original wheel. Works perfectly..

 

[Stew]

Right on, looking good!

 

[Italianjoe1]

Pulled the trigger on one of these tonight. She doesn't mind the plasticky wheel but I can't stand it, also the seam on the outer edge I find very pronounced and it bothers my OCD a little bit. Looking forward to it getting here.

 

[barch88]

How much is the RS wheel? I want to buy a flat-bottomed one and install it. Will my cruise controls work on an RS since it's a Sonic?

*edit* - called the dealer. It's $275 for the RS steering wheel with the Cruise buttons and everything. I'm assuming I don't need those though, right? Anyways, $150 for install too.

 

[Italianjoe1]

Mine showed up today, some scratches and scuffs on the plastic but the leather is perfect, guess i'll just swap the pieces over from the sonic one. Excited to put this on.

 

[Clayjn]

Yeah just take the whole control clusters and V off the old one it fits right on this one but you will also have to use the old airbag bracket as well. the wires and everything need to all be sonic wires or you might not have everything working when your done.. i gutted my leather steering wheel off all its Cruze parts. Good luck don;t forget to post a pic!

 

[Italianjoe1]

Did mine today, not a bad swap at all if you are somewhat mechanically inclined.

-Turn the wheel upside down, two pins to release the airbag module, unplug and set aside.
-T50 Torx for the main bolt, it has blue loc-tite on it so it's sticky, air tools help here.
-Unplug the wiring harness, pay attention to your alignment marks and pull the wheel off, airbag wires stay on the column. Don't turn the clock spring after removing the wheel.
-I swapped the entire trim/buttons/horn piece, remove the three (T40 IIRC) fasteners and the center comes up, the rest just pops free by hand.
-Line it up and re-install. Very straight-forward.

Took me longer to figure out how to release the airbag, looking at the new wheel made it make sense. Very happy with the end result:

 

[barch88]

Yeah I'm going with a Camaro Zl1 wheel.

 

[Italianjoe1]

I'd love the flat-bottomed and suede wheels, but not for that money. Can't beat $60 for a factory leather wheel. I also don't drive the car much.

 

[barch88]

where did you get it for $60? GM dealer? if I could save close to $150 i may do the regular leather one for $60 too lol, didn't know it was so cheap. I was told they are all the same price (RS, LTZ, and ZL1)

 

[Italianjoe1]

The ebay link, first post in this thread