Steering Wheel Replacement

I have a 1997 Lumina and I need to replace the steering wheel (a drunk friend bent it and basically broke it :screwy:). Can anyone give me some advice on how to properly replace the steering wheel without deploying the airbag. Will disconnecting the battery ensure that the air bad will not deploy? Do I really need to rent a "steering wheel puller" that is mentioned in the Haynes manual proceedure? Thanks.

Disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes disables the SIRS, care in handling is still required, you need a wheel puller and torx sockets too remove the air bag, this may not be a job for a " dyer".

Don't slide that airbag module around on the seat or anything once it's free...static discharge can deploy it.

Treat it like you were holding a claymore mine...gently, away from your body, facing away from you.