Cushie Audio

Adding an Audio Control Button set to your Subaru Wheel

Skot Biner

Quite a few years ago before buying Cushie I fitted a set of audio control buttons to a friends Outback, after fitting a Grom BT3. It only had the Cruise Control set. They’ve since told me with her new Grom, and buttons she now planned to keep the car much longer than what she would have.

It was so easy I decided to pull the wheel off my Forester (which had the full set already) just to show you all that you could be soon answering calls and skipping tracks just like factory BT!

There’s only 1 special tool required which you may already have, a T30 torque bit. Other than that just the willingness to remove an airbag and wheel, and you’ll soon see it’s not that scary. Now I should say I doubt this will work on a Sooby which has no buttons at all, or paddles, as they plug in to what is called a clock spring and I’m betting a buttonless one would be different. It should only take about 1 hour

So here are the tools needed.

A 17mm socket with extension
Phlippits head screw driver( I convinced my daughter that’s what they’re called)

pick or something with a point
and as mentioned a T30 with a way to drive it

The torque screws are in here on both sides.
It’s time now to get the wheel as centred as possible so it goes back on straight.

Take your key out and put them somewhere away from the car, for if you turn the ignition on while the bag is out you’re off to the dealer to get them to reset the warning light.
Some will tell you to disconnect the battery and it’s a good idea. I didn’t.

Once these are loose (they stay in there) the airbag separates. Just lift it off, there’s enough wire to tilt the top down and get it in a good spot
Compare the white plug you can now see, it should be the same size as your new ones but fewer wires. You can see the one I mean a few pics down.
Alternatively you could unplug the CC buttons now and try the new set before disconnecting the airbag. If you do this remember to get the keys away if you’re going ahead removing the air bag.

Get your pointy thing under the clip and gently lift it a little.
Swap sides and work it up
You wont break it BUT YOU CAN!
Only lift it this far. You’ll feel when to stop. I hope
Then the whole connector will unplug.
There’s a trigger on this one too.

Undo the 17mm nut, back it off lots but dont remove it until the wheel is loose!
If you tug and tug without the nut to stop it, it will smash you in the face when it lets go!
I have had this happen with very hard old fashion steering wheels. Twice!
If it wont budge you’re going to need a wheel puller. It will.
You can get a marking pen about now and mark the column and wheel to be sure of the alignment when refitting.
Now unplug the buttons from the clock spring, remove the nut and we have separation!
The airbag one in yellow stays
unscrew the rear cowl and flip the wheel to remove the button set and blank. 1 screw each
The Sooby wreckers near here (currumbin wreckers, (07) 5534 2413 great blokes too!) wanted $60 That’s pretty fair. Dont be surprised if you have to buy a whole wheel. It makes a million dollar difference and it’s worth it.
Screw them on and admire it all!
Since I already have the buttons you have to pretend this bit.
Put the cowl back on and seat the wires back in their little holders.
Time to put it all back together!


Now I should say around here somewhere that if this goes pear shaped or doesn’t work, that it all worked for me, my friend and wifey. She even drove the car to work the next day without the wheel falling off, the bag going off in her face or anything!
So plug it all back in carefully, dont over-tighten things and enjoy your (like) new car!

Leave a comment too so I can tell if anyone has even looked at this.
Cheers, Skot
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