Aftermarket Steering Wheel

[uribeforrest]

Can anyone help me on instructions or walk me thru installing this in my RX8once I get home in March 2011

[chickenwafer]

It's not very difficult. First, you need to remove the factory steering wheel, which requires removing the airbag. You also need a resistor for the airbag plug otherwise you will get an airbag light on your dash. A lot of hub kits comes with this.

You first need a vehicle-specific hub kit. The only one I know of for the RX-8 is made by Works Bell. This slides over the steering shaft and you put the nut back on. It has holes on the front mounting surface that allows you to mount an aftermarket steering wheel to, or a quick release hub.

With the 8, the turn signal/wiper stalks are angled forward, you have MUST use a spacer or quick release hub, otherwise the wheel will hit the stalks.

A quick release hub just install in-between the wheel and the hub. You just use 6 allen cap bolts to secure it all together.

It's very easy to do, the most difficult part is getting the OEM wheel off the shaft. The nut has a good amount of torque on it, and the shaft has a safety feature that collapses it if you hit it (like your body hitting the steering wheel during an accident), so if you hit the wheel in the wrong way trying to remove it- like with a hammer- you have collapse the shaft.

I put an aftermarket wheel with quick release in my FD and it was very easy. Took me less than an hour to install


EDIT: Just my personal opinion, but I would stay away from NRG steering wheels. Their quick releases are good, I have one, but I've seen many NRG steering wheels and the feel pretty flimsy. The flex a lot and that is NOT something you want in a steering wheel.

I would look into better brands such as Personal, MOMO, Works Bell, and Nardi.

[uribeforrest]

Thanks man, I have already bought a NRG Steering wheel and I also bought the NRG HUB KIT. I am really not comforntable with putting it on myself thru you know interior people that does things like that?

[chickenwafer]

I can put it on for you once you get all the parts, it's not too difficult.

Any shop should be able to as well, some just don't like removing safety equipment (airbag) since it's technically a Federal offense, like removing a cat or seat belts.