Under closer inspection I think you can install these without removing the wheel. To remove the original cover you can turn your wheel to the left to get access to the left screw cover and right for the right screw cover. There is one screw below. Unless the cover bumps the wheel while removing you can probably install without removing the steering wheel, saving the cost of buying a set of torx wrenches (still glad I bought them). Can anyone confirm this?

These paddles are fun. It makes passing another car easier by manually selecting the right gear rather than letting the car decide for you.

 

oooh alright
yeah i was wonderin where all the stickies went oO

 

Well, I just installed the paddles and tried removing the cover first before removing the wheel. I was able to get all three screws out easily enough, but try as I might, I couldn't seem to get the cover off. It fits within a surrounding plastic piece and I couldn't move it far enough forward to get it to clear the surrounding plastic piece without removing the wheel. I suppose if someone had put a gun to my head I could have done it without removing the wheel, but I think I would have scratched the larger surrounding plastic piece. In post #61, Nik said that he couldn't remove one of the airbag bolts and ended up leaving the wheel on for his install. He was clearly more aggressive with the cover than I was willing to be, but then again, he didn't have any other option.

 

I suppose one could do it with the steering wheel in place, but it was not that much more work to remove it. And as you discovered, there is a possibility of damaging the surrounding finishes. I assume you had to use open box wrench to fastened the bolts.

Re: post #61, one of his screw was of a different size and pattern; as far as I know that was the only case...very odd though.

Congrats on the install. You will enjoy them. I had a loaner recently and missed the paddles.

 

Didn't we determine that he had an Anti-Theft Airbag Bolt installed, which only the dealer has a tool for?

The steering wheel removal is probably the easiet part of this whole process. Skipping the step actually makes more work than what it saves.

I drive the wife's MDX and when I wanna downshift, I highbeam oncoming traffic.

 

I agree. Taking off the steering wheel was really easy. The part that took the longest was figuring out how to pop the clips on the airbag connectors. Even with the great writeup, I was very hesitant to do anything that might damage those connectors. Additionally, I'm guessing that most people don't own a torque wrench and thus would have to guess at what 25 ft/lbs of pressure really means when putting the steering wheel nut back on.

Of all the mods that I've ever done to a car, this one was clearly the easiest. Having done it once, I could probably now do it in ten minutes.

 

I agree taking the wheel off was relatively easy, but if you can easily change it without removing the airbag/wheel/etc, all the better. The tamper proof torx wrenchs I bought in 1/4 drive sockets were a set of 6 and cost $40 or $45 bucks. You could cut off the lower plastic panel and throw it away, that things just going to take up space in your garage anyway. I'll never remove these even if to sell my car. If I could sell the parts for $100, I would not bother, it will make your car more desirable anyway when selling.

I did it the hard way but for others I think leaving the wheel on will work. Just FYI.

 

OK, so I just installed the paddle shifters but now I have a small problem. The steering wheel is not straight and the VDC and SLIP lights are both on. What do I do?!?!?!

 

Well, step one would be to unhook the battery and to then remove the wheel. Align the notch and put it back on so it's straight.
Leave the battery off for anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours, allowing the ECU to reset and then hook it back up. See how things are then.

You did something somewhere. This should not cause the VDC and Slip lights to come on.
Unless maybe this is happening as a complete coincidence. What's you brake fluid level at? ( I ask cause that's a known cause as well)

 

I agree, I would take the wheel off and check all your connections before centering the center spring mechanism. Don't foget the cent that part since it is independant of the steering wheel shaft. As for the VDC and Slip, this mod should not affect it directly, however, you may have changed your driving habit to have caused this

BTW, I paid around $2 for a single Torx bit for this job.

 

To straighten the steering wheel you are going to have to take it off again and set it in the right position. Park the car with the wheels set straight ahead take off the wheel and replace it in the right position.

For the lights you could try resetting the ecm which I listed how to do in this post when I had a problem with the airbag light after installing my paddles.

Good luck
Brad

 

To straighten the steering wheel you are going to have to take it off again and set it in the right position. Park the car with the wheels set straight ahead take off the wheel and replace it in the right position.

For the lights you could try resetting the ecm which I listed how to do in this post when I had a problem with the airbag light after installing my paddles. Ok I went back and found it. Wont hurt to give it a try.

Turn the key to the on position and watch the airbag light. It should stay solid for 5-7 secs, and then turn off, and then start to flash.

To reset the light, you must turn the key to on, watch the airbag light stay solid for 5-7 secs and as soon as the airbag light turns off, turn the key to the off position (you have to turn the key to off before the airbag light starts to flash, or you must start over). You need to repeat this 5 times. Try to start the car, and hopefully the light will be reset


Good luck
Brad

 

To straighten the steering wheel you are going to have to take it off again and set it in the right position. Park the car with the wheels set straight ahead take off the wheel and replace it in the right position.

For the lights you could try resetting the trouble lights which I listed how to do in this post when I had a problem with the airbag light after installing my paddles. Ok I went back and found it. Wont hurt to give it a try.

Turn the key to the on position and watch the airbag light. It should stay solid for 5-7 secs, and then turn off, and then start to flash.

To reset the light, you must turn the key to on, watch the airbag light stay solid for 5-7 secs and as soon as the airbag light turns off, turn the key to the off position (you have to turn the key to off before the airbag light starts to flash, or you must start over). You need to repeat this 5 times. Try to start the car, and hopefully the light will be reset


Good luck
Brad

 

So I'm an idiot and I installed the paddle shifters in the dark so when i put the steering wheel back on I didn't see the alignment notches... All is good now!

 

This is exactly why I was scared to do this!!! :S lol

but im glad u figured it out! whew!!!!