chabo3

I hear that the later year GS started to use a two stage airbag design and that swapping to an 2002+ RX or SC steering wheel is a direct swap.

I have a 2000 GS with steering wheel and airbag intact. Considering price, ease, and simplicity: what is the best way for me to swap out my steering wheel for one of the cool wood grain ones?

Is there any way to keep my airbag and use 2003 SC or RX steering wheels with some sort of adapter? What do I need if so? Or is there some better option that I don't know about?

Thanks for all your help. I love cars even though they are scary.

chabo3

So after some research, for anyone else who might be reading this:

If you want wood wheel and chrome emblem, your only really practical option is to get a 2001 RX steering wheel and airbag. The 2000 GS airbag will not fit into the RX wheel properly, even though it will connect, as both are single stage airbags.

sbagdon

Do the interior colors match closely enough... the part of the wheel that isn't wood?

And if you don't care about chrome, any idea what other years of RX will work?

And is this for '98-'00?

TrueGS300

I researched this in the past. Came to the same conclusion. 01 RX300 only. This makes it very difficult to find both a wheel and airbag together that will work. Other problem being. If you look for one online, they sell them as fitment for 99-04 RX300. The sellers don't know. So you don't know what you'd receive even if you ordered one that said 01.

S-SEE300

I have a 2000 es 300 steering wheel and airbag.
Also have a manufacturing date 10/01 (2000 rx300 black wheel with wood + Airbag.
and a (11/98) 99 rx300 grey wheel + Airbag

dwoods801

The chrome emblem is only found on the 2nd gen SRS airbags. So if it’s got the chrome emblem, it’s not compatible with any 98-00 GS. There really isn’t any good swaps that I am familiar with on the 98-00 cars. You can add an IS250/350 or IS-F wheel with the nice stereo controls and paddle shifters and carbon fiber trim.
But unfortunately that can’t be retrofitted to the original SRS airbag. About your only option to upgrade and keep the airbag is to add wood to your current wheel. It’s not very difficult or expensive and it’s a great way to deal with ugly worn out leather without having to spend much money.