I installed my new steering today. I've had it for a few months now, but finally decided to put it in. It's a 99 Nardi Steering wheel. I wish I got the one with the Mazda wings emblem on the airbag, but this is still cool.

Here the procedure:

1. Disconnect negative terminal, so the airbag shouldn't deploy (I didn't, but you probably should).

2. Take the 3 bolts out behind the airbag hidden by rubber covers.

3. Undo all the harnesses. The blue harness first, then the orange. The orange is the horn, and the blue is the airbag. The white rubberband should be removed too. The middle steering wheel nut needs to be removed too.

4. Take a wire clothes hanger and press into the little notch above the clock ring. You will see the white assembly behind the steering wheel move.

5. As you're pushing the clothes hanger into the little notch, pull the steering wheel with all your might, and the steering wheel should pop right off.

6. Take the new steering wheel, and disconnect the airbag from the steering wheel.

7. Attach the new steering wheel frame onto the steering column.

8. Attach the horn wire using radio shack tools onto the original horn wire.

9. Attach the new airbag wires using radio shack tools(I had to guess which wire was what. I guessed it right the first time).

10. Attach the airbag onto the steering wheel frame.

11. Good to go.

pics to come

 

Right on. I've been thinking about putting in an Efini unit but I'm not sure if I want to get rid of the airbag just yet. Post some pics though.

Frank

 

.....And the pictures are?

 

first pic

 

2nd

 

The Nardi bag should * theoritically* work still. Don't know if if anyone's actually deployed a transplanted one though...

dis1 posted a write up in this section recently, but for the Protege MP3 steering wheel (which looks identical, save for the color scheme).

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=187786

I've had my '99 Nardi for a year now, probably the last thing to go in hehe.

 

I assume that since the airbag light isn't flashing, the airbag should still work.

 

I realize that the Nardi has the airbag, but I was refering to the Efini wheel, which I believe doesn't have the airbag. The Nardi does look nice but I would have to say I like the Efini and stock wheels' perforated leather and stitching better. That's just me though.

Frank

 

Fdeez,
Where did you get the shift boot? I have also seen a padded door that replaces the sliding ash tray?

 

Nice

 

Interesting wheel. I have never seen one like it before. As was pointed out I recently posted about my Nardi wheel as well. Mine does have the stitching and perforated leather as somebady mentioned as a difference. This one doesn't look like it is leather. Is it?? Anyway nice job.

 

Is there a size difference between this wheel and stock? Just curious on why you made the change.

I know the Protoge wheel is supposed to be smaller than the FD stock wheel. *off to check out the linked thread*

 

Where can I get this wheel and how much does it run for? I would love to get rid of the ugly over size stocker

 

I got my steering wheel from 4jspec.com for $350. The new steering wheel is about 2" smaller in diameter. Makes jumping into the car a little bit easier. I was hoping to get the RZ red stitching steering wheel, but that was too much for my blood. This steering wheel isn't leather either.

The shift boot, i got from someone selling it on this forum. It was being mass produced at the time.

 

that looks great! If you put a wheel without an airbag on do you just disconnect the sensor so you dont get the light?

 

Ah, the name 'Efini' gets used too loosely sometimes - thought you were refering to the Nardi. Here is a pic of the 'Efini' non-air bag wheel for those that have not seen it:

http://laujesse.tripod.com/sitebuild...eifininice.jpg

I like the Nardi better.

 

Yep, that's the one, although that pic doesn't do it any justice at all. Upon closer inspection the leather wrap matches the stocker perfectly, just the center portion is different.

Frank

 

sweet...

 

removing the sensor will not disable the light. if anything, it will just make one more step to get the light to go back off after putting an airbag back in.

to disable the telltale signs of no airbag, what i beleive most people do is remove the srs dummy light bulb from behind the gauge cluster, then unplug the power to the srs computer so that you dont have to hear it beeping every time you start up your car. that unit is down below the right driver side footwell area, sort of like a foot to the right of the steering shaft. i think that is all you need to do, if i remember correctly.

 

i have the 2001 nardi wheel with the new mazda emblem. i like it! anyways i read that the wires dont matter which way you hook them up. anyways i didnt hook up my airbag yet....he light isnt to annoying but maybe later i will hook it up for ***** and giggles