Hi,

I tried to search for the difference between the MAZDA 99Spec Steering Wheel and the Spirt R steering wheel and I had no luck. Can someone please explain to me what the difference is?

I have attached a pic, can someone tell me if thats a 99Spec Steering Wheel?

 

The Spirit R has red tread stich on it and I think it's actually say Spirit R on it. Anyway the picture u have there that the Nardi type steering wheel. Also expect to pay close to $600 or more for the Spirit R steering wheel. I have been looking for since they came out with it and I still got no luck and I think part of it is that I refuse to pay over $200 for a steering wheel.

 

To be totaly honest with you that wheel look like every other j-spec steering wheel that I have ever scene.

 

Thanks for the quick reply guys. I am thinking about buying the 99Spec Steering wheel from JT-Imports. Do these steering wheels have an airbag? if the steering wheel does not come with an air bag how hard it is to get one for it?

 

J-spec steering wheels do not have airbags.

You may also want to look on e-bay for one, I see them on there all the time.

 

I'm pretty sure all the 99+ wheels had airbags

 

If you want an airbag, this link can give you options.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ighlight=miata

 

I had a 99 RX-7 wheel in my car (sold it) & now have a 2002 Spirit R wheel (eBay).

Both wheels (made by Nardi) came with air bags. The Spirit R wheel has the red stitching & the flying "M" logo.

You will need to splice your horn & airbag electrical connectors from your old wheel. Then it's plug & play.

The picture you posted is not a 99 RX-7 wheel. The 99 wheel didn't have the mazda logo & the Nardi emblem was located in the center of the wheel.

 

Thanks Sled Driver. Can you tell me how much you told your 99 RX-7 wheel for? Because JT-Import is selling it for $525.95 used. Do you think thats expensive or is that a average price?

 

I bought my 99 wheel off the forum a couple of years ago. I paid around $400 for it. I bought the electrical connectors from guys parting out cars for $30.

I sold my stock wheel, complete with airbag, for $150.

I found the 2002 Spirit R wheel on eBay & paid $525 total (shipped from Japan). Bought another set of electrical connectors off the forum $40

I sold my 99 wheel (with the proper U.S. electrical connectors) for $450 on eBay.

So, lets see $430 for the 1st wheel minus $150 = $280

Then $565 for the second wheel minus $450= $115

Total invested $395

You'll read where some guys have used a Miata wheel, but the hub is indexed wrong so you have to modify it to fit.

 

can u use the wheel off other mazdas, like the protege5 or mp3 ? will they be the same as the miata wheel ?

 

edit: never mind, they are the same. but i have another question- how much are the wheels from the mp3s, mp5s, and miatas ?

 

I'd asked this question before and seem no one knew.. So, I'll answer this with what I found out.. hope this will clear things up for everyone..

I have the Nardi 1999-2000 FD3S wheel.
as seen in pic above, it has the nardi logo on the airbag portion of the steering wheel.

I currently run 1999-2000 wheel with Miata 2002 airbag. They are interchageable and all you need to do is modify your harness.. Instead of cutting the harness on the bag, I cut the rack side of the harness to take the new style airbag. So, the bags are interchangeable between Miata and FD (1999+).. and maybe Protege and MP3.. I'm not sure but they seem like the same size.

If you decide to use the Miata steering wheel, All you need to do is drill two holes. I know others have done this and when I compare both steering wheels, they are identical except for the hole pattern. I have these pics on my other computer.. I'll try to post this info later on.

 

Mine is not a Spirit R and it has the flying M and it also has an airbag.

 

Here is my 99 wheel installed.

I spliced the connector on the bag. That way you can reinstall the original wheel.

The holes in the back of the FD wheel are 90 degrees off from the Miata.

 

doesn't mazda speed sell some kind of hub that doesn't require any splicing?

 

Wow, I love that steering wheel since it doesn't have the flying m logo. Are the 99 wheels readily available to buy used or are they a rare find? What exactly do I need to make it work? BTW, is it a lot smaller then the 93-95 steering wheel?Thanks.

 

I have many details regarding this on my site. I personally have the MS MP3 wheel on my car. It's basically the same as all the others in design. Don't waste your money on an actual 99 Rx-7 wheel unless you really must have the red stitching.