Replacing the stock steering wheel
 

Has anybody replaced the stock steering wheel with an aftermarket? Can you share some pics? Any issues about "disabling" the contact prongs for the audio / cruise control or the airbag?

I will be looking at some steering wheels tonight, I want to put one of those with the flat bottom... :rock:

Other than the fact that I will lose the airbag, does anybody know if it is legal to have a steering wheel with no airbag in Texas?

Comments and or flames... come my way!

you are removing a safty device, so it will make it illegal

Good feedback but I really don't think the parents of a 37 year old would have much saying on this... :)

Damn, I thought it would be illegal, had to ask though :angel:

Lazi has an aftermarket steering wheel, check with him.

psht, who needs airbags anyway... (knock on wood)

I'm actually going to swap out mine for one that is in better shape, never could find where anyone has removed theirs etc., any idea how hard it will be to swap the wheel/bag for a similar one w/o scratches etc.? I know it's a shot in the dark, but I thought I'd ask :)

Hello fellow San Antonian!!! It is against Federal Law but it can be done technically. But you won't pass inspection (if they are paying attention) and your insurance will not cover should you be in an accident.

I swapped out the airbag steering wheel in my old e36 BMW and the insuracne company actually gave me a discount of ~$15. As long as you disclose it then you will be fine.

I've been thinking of doing this simply so I can extend the steering wheel. Would do wonders for my driving position. I know people have done it, I don't know which hub they used for mounting. I don't think anyone makes a hub specifically marketed for the Rx-8.

I wish I could find an airbag specialist to try and work out the math so I might be able to keep the stock steering wheel but extend it.

With a mulitimeter, You should be able to measure the resistance across the terminals of the airbag when it's disconnected. Find that specific resistance and simply put a risistor of that value across the two airbag wires that went to that specific airbag. This would allow you to dissable the drivers side while keeping the pass. side functional.

I bought a used steering shaft to see if I can get a shop to extend it since I want it to look stock.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing. But the customizing shop I talked to said that it ought to work, but they wouldn't do it, without disabling the airbag.

Since, with such a modification, the airbag could kill you, unless you can find someone to move and reconfigure all the sensors and stuff.

Cool. I've been thinking of calling my insurance company about it. Just not sure if I'm ready to spend $500 - $1000 on this.

Nothing is illigal until you get caught! :) I say go for it!

[QUOTE=SmokeyTheBalrog]Since, with such a modification, the airbag could kill you, unless you can find someone to move and reconfigure all the sensors and stuff.

I don't think it will be any more likely to kill me since the wheel will still be further away than it is for most people (I have long arms). Thre real problem is that my legs get jammed up under the steering wheel.

A 90mm dished "D" shaped steering wheel still seems like the easiest solution.

good luck with finding out how to do this. i personally never will make this mod on any street driven car i own after doing the below last october...

http://toshiclark.com/images/miscell...s/DSC03445.jpg