I just bought a '85 s (base) RX-7 with 80k miles. The steering wheel will sometimes move in and out one to three inchs. Before I start taking everything apart anyone have any idea whats going on? How do I take the center of the steering wheel (horn) out without ripping it apart and what will I see when I do?

 

Your collapsable column pins are sheared. Theres writeups out there on the internet on different ways to fix it. Look in the FAQ thread. Dont take all that stuff apart yet. Also we had a lenghty discussion on the over on the mazspeed board about this.

 

I just fixed mine. I ended up drilling a 1/2" hole through the outer shaft, and then drilling and tapping a hole for a 10mm bolt in the inner shafts... I then ground down the head of the bolt to about half it's original height... Test fit it a couple times to get the lenght correct, and then finally installed it, with a coating of JB weld on the threads of the bolt and hole, and a coat of JB weld around the head of the bolt too...

If you're going to go the route I did, I would highly recommend and aftermarket steering wheel. The Momo/Sparco wheels have a collapsable hub...

Dan

 

i put a piece of a nail in mine, held in by some tape..lol

works fine!

 

Don't use bolts or nails in the holes. In an accident, the column wont collapse and you'll get skewered.

 

That's why I have a Momo Race wheel, with a collapsable hub....

Dan

 

Mine (85) does the same thing with my Grant wheel,which is really not the right application. If the wheel is on tight is there still a possibility of some type of failure due to this movement? If so what kind of failure would that be?

 

Collapsible race wheel hub or not, if u have an accident, and the column won't collapse, you WILL be skewered (which can be fatal). This is why all cars in the USA since 1968? have collapsible steering columns, a law passed due to motorists deaths from non-collapsible columns.

 

Collapsible race wheel hub or not, if u have an accident, and the column won't collapse, you CAN be skewered (which can be fatal). This is why all cars in the USA since 1968? have collapsible steering columns, a law passed due to motorists deaths from non-collapsible columns.

 

However, if u use a 5 or 6 point racing harness, that would keep u from contacting the wheel/column.

 

thats not to say that it will keep the wheel/column from contacting you