Thread: weird giant weight thing in steering wheel loose

hi i have been getting a weird noise till last week everytime i turned the wheel i would here something clanking. i opened up the steering wheels 2 little doors on the side and i can see a big weight that has freed up and is banging around. anyone else have this happen? can i remove it? how do i get the wheel open enough to get it cause its too big to pull out. fml... this is on a 96 200sx se-r. thanks all. gonna try giant pliers and force right now i cant take the noise.

happen to me! stupid thing keep honkin the horn! just took the air bag off with torx socket and threw that big chunk away and now im a happy camper!

thanks man i actually got it out with a big set of needle nose pliers but good to know i will be ok without it. what is it in there for i swear the wheel feels less sloppy now(or its all in my head lol). but thanks s14det

Same thing happin to my 240, all I heard every time I turned the wheel was something bounging around...

Can you take a picture of what you are talking about. I think this is what is causeing my horn to keep going off. Pisses me off. I would really like to see this.

Is it safe to remove?

BTW... pics in and out if you could. Thanx!

i can get you pics out but not in. no ill effects here so far

Any thing would help. Thanx

Wayne just take your airbag out it will be obvious.Shaped like a "L" made of steel right in the center.
I am guessing it is to damper vibration,but I always remove them,or they just fall apart like stated here.

will get pic as soon as i find my camera but tonight probably.

Magnet on a stick for the win!!!!!!! my car was having this weird noise as well every time i turned the wheel. i popped off the two plastic panels on the side of the steering, looked in and pow! it was loose. was getting real mad because i couldn't get it out with the pliers. (^^^^^^^) so i had a bright idea. MAGNET ON A STICK!

the problem: the large "L" metal piece is to fat to fit between the back of the airbag and the large nut and screw holding the wheel.

solution:
1- easy way- if you have the tools, take out the air bag
2- magnet on a stick and also push up with a long tool on the back part of the "L" piece to get it around the bolt.
take the plug out from the middle so then you can grab the piece and pull it out with your fingers

DONE!