I did some searching on aftermarket steering wheel replacement, but all the information I found was regarding only non-airbag FC's, and the few post I found had very vauge information about installing an aftermarket steering wheel on an S5 convertible.

I currently have a steering wheel hub (grant) for my 1991 convertible. The problem is that I had to remove the clock spring in order for it to fit properly on the steering column. Behind the clock spring sit the turn signal cancelling cam (two plastic tabs, one on the left, the other on the right).

The problem is that on this particular hub, the turn signal cancelling cam doesn't reach all the way into the steering hub. Occasionally, the cancelling cam will move out of it's place (the holes on the hub) causing me to loose my turn signals. I solved the problem by using plastic to extend the cancelling cam into the hub but I am looking for better solutions.

I was wondering if there is any particular hub that:
1. allows the turn signal cancelling cam to sit properly inside the hub or:
2. allows me to keep the current clock spring and lets me connect it to the hub for fully functional turn signals/horn.

This should be helpful information for any convertible owners with an airbag.

Thanks again.

 

I have a momo wheel and hub on my 91 vert. I had to cut the wiring for the airbag off and ground down the connector with a dremmel far enough for the momo hub adaptor to fit on.

Unfortunitly i wont be able to get any pics till sunday night or monday night most likely. It was a bit of a pita, and I didnt even think about the differences between the columns till I took the old wheel off. But the way my setup works now the turn signal works just like OEM. Just remember before pulling off the steering wheel to have the front wheels centered and ahve the clock spring centered up on its markings.

 

i have an S4 TII and i put a grant hub and wheel on with no issues so the turn signal components must be differnt because yours had an airbag. so what i would do is buy a turn signal assembly from a non airbag car, hook that up and you should be good to go!

 

So you left the clock spring in? From what I understand, you basically cut off all the wires coming off the clock spring and grounded off whatever was left of the connector in order for the hub to fit properly on top of it correct?

Just out of couriosity, in doing this, how did you get the horn to work out on your setup? Did you have any problems with the airbag light blinking?

On my current hub, I removed the clockspring, and built a bracket using plexiglass that has a brass screw which contacts the metal ring on the hub (for the horn). I mounted it using the existing clock spring screws and location. The brass screw has the ground wire for the horn (wire that is supposed to connect to the clock spring) so it just feeds the ground over to the hub, which then the hub has a soldered wire internally that connects to the steering wheel.

As far as the airbag light, I soldered a resistor (3ohm or 3.3ohm) into the harness that fed the airbag before. It stopped the light from blinking annoyingly.

 

Would the turn signal cancelling cams be interchangable between an airbag S5 and non airbag S5?

 

i would think so..i mean the only reason it mite not work is major differance in the colum which im not sure of but i dont see why they would be very different

 

If you have never seen an airbag car, you should stop injecting information. They are very different from even the other S5s. let alone an S4.

Fist off, the turn signal levers and cruise control are mounted on the column. That might make for a different mounting pattern for the turn signal cam. I do not know if this is the case, but it something to think about

Also, instead of boot legging it you could just drill a hole in the bottom of the new hub (the horn ring on the hub comes right off) for the airbag/horn wiring to fit through (There is a hub already designed for this from a miata company, but it's $125.). This could also allow you to use the factory horn wiring, as well as using the airbag wiring for a switch of some kind. Dunno what, but it's a possibility

If you want to remove the entire airbag "system", just look under the dash around your left knee. There will be two teal boxes with ford logos on them. One is the backup battery for the airbag, the other is the "computer." If I remember right they even say "airbag" and "battery" on them. If you don't want to go that far, there is a small wiring junction with three red wires going into a square connector. remove the connector and it severs the 3-way junction, also defeating the system. If you search for the S5 wiring diagrams you can see it all layed out.


BTW I have a momo hub and no problem with the canceling switch

 

its the computer and "redundant power supply unit"

when removing, dont mess with the redundant power supply, its basically a HUGE capacitor that operates at 14 volts.

i had to remove both because there was terrible water damage to the computer and i was getting the classic 5 beeps then stop, which apparently for verts is the airbag =] good job faq.