peterdaniel

Title pretty much sums it up. Are they interchangeable? Switch right over?

Anything to be careful of when taking off the steering wheel? Any special way of putting on the new one?

Again, I want to take off my 2 spoke original steering wheel and change to the 4 spoke one. All are OEM original steering wheels

Thanks!
Peter

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Hi Pete
FWIW they are SEPARATE part numbers in the OE Parts book (horn button). If for some reason they wouldn't swap, you will have no prob getting the 4-spoke version either on ebay or over at the parts sub-forum here.

Removal is easy:
1) Disconnect battery
2) pry off horn - its just pressed on with the outer lip wrapped around the metal under-collar.
The horn assembly (the metal and wire bits) stay ON. There is a metal round cover plate that can come off, and I believe, but you should be able to leave the actual metal horn assy in place, tho you obv would need it if the replacement horn doesn't have it...
3) 21mm (IIRC) or even your lug wrench will loosen the nut
Do NOT use the steering lock to keep the wheel from turning!! The nut should not be reamed on there….
4) with the nut off, grasp the wheel rim at the 3 and 9 o'clock and firmly rock the wheel alternately (i.e. push on one side, pull on other) - it will walk off the spline.
NOTE- you should have the st wheel correctly set to "straight-ahead" so you can correctly mount the new wheel !
AND:
Be aware if you have an early sn (most 79s) before chassis SA22C-574180, the steering SPLINE is different than late 1980-85 RX7!! So you will need the appropriate 4-spoke from a similar chassis-series car.

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

Use a puller. Without it, there is a chance that the clip that holds the 2 piece steering wheel shaft together MAY come off and the steering shaft will now move up and down instead of being in a fixed position. Just be careful not to use too much force while removing it without a puller.

peterdaniel

Thank you!! I will try this today

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Siraniko is right - if you broke that, it would _suck_.
FWIW I have stripped down some 6+ RX7s and never once did the "walk-it-off-the-spline"
method result in any damage to the steering column. But be aware…

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i've never broken the clip either, but its there...

one refinement is to keep the steering wheel nut threaded on a couple turns, that way if the wheel pops off, it doesn't go anywhere