Finally yanked that bus steering wheel for something that should've been in the car from the factory.



(Sorry for the crappy pic. Didn't have the camera with me at the shop. I will take better pics sometime soon if ya want me to.)

Here is what I think of our stock USDM steering wheels.



Now, on to the short review.

It rocks. The End.

No really. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between the stock and aftermarket/smaller diameter wheel. Steering effort is increased somewhat and feedback is up several notches. Definitely not a mod for the faint of heart who has total faith in airbags but I can live without it. And I'm so glad that I made that decision. I can't see myself ever driving a "sport" oriented car with a wheel bigger than 360mm now (my wheel is 350mm).

The bad part about this mod? It compounds my #2 complaint about USDM ITRs. The seating. I totally feel way too high up since the steering wheel blocks the gauge cluster. I seriously need to look into maybe renting JDM Recaros or something till winter when the rollbar goes in and race shells go in.

Many thanks to BlueR for sourcing the steering wheel + hub and just being a cool guy. That and having some JDM knicknacks laying around to install on my car.

Many thanks to WhosITR who probably hates the USDM ITR steering wheel more than I do. I think he truly enjoyed yanking the bus wheel from my car. Installing the horn on the other hand ...

And a thanks to Mr Soup for hanging around late to watch the bubbles rise up from the radiator after a coolant flush.


Modified by thk at 10:42 PM 6/1/2003

 

Did you have a problem getting your hub to fit correctly?

Mine is still a little to the right. Get on my nerves.

 

wow. you post quick.

I barely had time to fly home.

damned morons going 30 mph in the fast lane

btw, i know how important it was for me to watch the bubblies so...your welcomed! god knows what would have blown up if i wasnt watching

on a side note: blue R's shop was able to shut the ice skater up in my transmission! (thank you especially simon! ).... but poor pressure plate.

 

The hub (HKB) is centered perfectly. Pain in the *** to get the horn working but I'm sure WhosITR will comment about that when he sees the post.

 

in addition, please note that the SRS light that comes on after removing the SRS....

two ways of "fixing" it to stay off.

1) rip out cluster. take out pcboard that the yellow connector plugs into. take soder gun and unsoder the SRS LED. Yes, i said LED. its not a simple removable bulb after the 98 spec clusters... but was once a time ago.. (prior to 98 i believe)

2) get a resistor to "emulate" the srs bag. this will allow the passenger bag to still deploy.

 

When I installed my aftermarket steering wheel, I was too lazy to hook up the horn. I haven't had any problems with not having a horn other than honking someone who has fallen asleep at the wheel at the light. Sometimes it does scare me to not have a horn but I've been too lazy to hook up the horn. I totally agree with you guys though, an aftermarket steering wheel rocks...

 

No airbag

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by typer193 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I installed my aftermarket steering wheel, I was too lazy to hook up the horn. I haven't had any problems with not having a horn other than honking someone who has fallen asleep at the wheel at the light. Sometimes it does scare me to not have a horn but I've been too lazy to hook up the horn. I totally agree with you guys though, an aftermarket steering wheel rocks...</TD></TR></TABLE>

believe it or not, it will cause more hazardous driving conditions.

carry a portable airhorn with you...this way you can grab the can and point it out the window temporarily

 

I like what you said on the "topic"

 

glad you like kyle

watching bubbling coolant ranks right up there with paint drying

 

nice but no airbag.....
that's one of the reason i'll leave my stock one on

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GettaluvR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nice but no airbag.....
that's one of the reason i'll leave my stock one on</TD></TR></TABLE>

his R is not daily driven...it sees a few track events and weekend spirited drive here and there

besides once the rollbar/race buckets/harnesses go on...the airbag won't even reach him if deployed

 

Want two Race buckets now for your stock seats?

 

damn nice wheel

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Smitdog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Want to Race buckets now for your stock seats? </TD></TR></TABLE>

kyle and evo2s= no no

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

kyle and evo2s= no no </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dunno. My McDonalds grown hindquarters might be more comfortable in Evo2s than regular Evos.

And like I mentioned originally ... this mod ain't for the ones who cherish their airbags. If you like your SRS steering wheel, keep it.

Remember, this isn't a post stating that everyone should ditch their SRS steering wheels. It's just a post about how much of a difference there is in the driving "experience" with a smaller diameter steering wheel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BlueR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

kyle and evo2s= no no </TD></TR></TABLE>
Hey Marc,
where is your NSX-R mom steering wheel u told me about?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by machgo5go &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Hey Marc,
where is your NSX-R mom steering wheel u told me about?</TD></TR></TABLE>

mine is exactly like kyles

not ready to pony up the $100+ for the NA horn button yet

 

wow, now everybody and their mom has that steering wheel

 

nice steering wheel, so are u gonna get some bucket seats and harnesses ?

 

Well I plan on replacing mine since the factory piece of crap airbag has been melted my the sun....JDM here I come...

 

I hate air bags,you ever had one blow on your face?gave me an inch cut to my face,scared for life I personally think they do more harm than good.
I'll be getting the spoonie soon.Looks tite yo!nice R color.
Get that horn working!

 

An aftermarket steering wheel is so much lighter than stock ... This helps to have a much more direct feel .

IMO, the stock steering wheel is so heavy ( about 10 pounds ) that it acts as a damper ...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">in addition, please note that the SRS light that comes on after removing the SRS....

two ways of "fixing" it to stay off.

1) rip out cluster. take out pcboard that the yellow connector plugs into. take soder gun and unsoder the SRS LED. Yes, i said LED. its not a simple removable bulb after the 98 spec clusters... but was once a time ago.. (prior to 98 i believe)

2) get a resistor to "emulate" the srs bag. this will allow the passenger bag to still deploy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

F that, a square piece of electrical tape works best.

Nice wheel thk.
Is it removable?

 

On my 98 ITR, all I had to do was remove the bulb on the SRS/ABS circuit board.