Steering Wheel Removal and Efini Installation
I speak Japanglish
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 1
From: bayarea, ca
Looks great! I'm glad you like the steering wheel and got everything worked out for you. How is the feel of steering during turns? Is it alot better than the stock wheel with the airbag?
I speak Japanglish
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 1
From: bayarea, ca
it is same size but because of the airbag being in the steering wheel, it creates unwanted weight distribution through out the wheel. From what I've read, the efini steering wheel give better steering feel. That was the reason why the early rx7, RZ and other rx7 came with the efini steering wheel where as only the type-X (touring edition) came with the same steering wheel as the U.S. (steering wheel with an airbag).
Thread Starter
Slow RX-7
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by jimlab
How? The clock spring contains electrical contacts in a circular pattern so that there's no wiring to twist when you take three turns of the wheel to the right, and then three back. If you're doing that continually with the wiring you ran, you run the risk of damaging the wire eventually.
On the plus side, it's only a ground wire (or should be), so if it does get pinched or damaged, the worst that can happen is that your horn stops working.
On the plus side, it's only a ground wire (or should be), so if it does get pinched or damaged, the worst that can happen is that your horn stops working.
I understand, I made a plastic piece to guide the wire. Works awesome. I will keep checking thw ires to see what is going on.
Thread Starter
Slow RX-7
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by herblenny
I see that after I suggested using the clock spring, you've decided not to.. What a waste of time I spend taking pics for you.
Like others said and I suggest before, you should use your clock spring for the horn.. Over time, solder will break because of constant turning of the wires.. Unless you don't drive your car that often..
Like others said and I suggest before, you should use your clock spring for the horn.. Over time, solder will break because of constant turning of the wires.. Unless you don't drive your car that often..
Dude, calm down. I didn't ask you "take pictures for me man!" You did it to help, and I appreciate it. I just decided to try somehting else. I like what I did, drove it around today and it works nicely.
Thread Starter
Slow RX-7
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by RE Suzuki
Looks great! I'm glad you like the steering wheel and got everything worked out for you. How is the feel of steering during turns? Is it alot better than the stock wheel with the airbag?
It feels awesome, a lot better than the stock wheel, not so heavy and bulky.
Thread Starter
Slow RX-7
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Originally Posted by jimlab
So you eliminated the clock spring and now your signals no longer auto cancel? All you had to do was rotate the clock spring 180 degrees and enlarge the notch in the back of the Efini steering wheel.
Haha, Jimlab, the auto cancel still works!
Bump, I just did this with my efini momo wheel with the same precedure being done although I went another route for the horn.
Yeah, the clock spring has nothing to do with the auto cancel of the turn signals.
That's done by the white thing behind the clock spring that can be seen when you take off the spring.
Tim
Yeah, the clock spring has nothing to do with the auto cancel of the turn signals.
That's done by the white thing behind the clock spring that can be seen when you take off the spring.
Tim
Originally Posted by zillionaire
Do you have your cruise control? if so, where did you mount it? Or did you rig up your own buttons?
I just did the efini wheel swap and found a cleaner procedure for a good install.
1. Disconnect the battery
2. Remove the airbag
3. Unplug all the connectors
4. The orange plug can be de-pinned and re-pinned on your new efini wheel
5. Remove the old steering wheel.
6. Remove this little black tab protector off the clock spring. This will allow you to install your efini wheel without cutting it at all.
7. Rotate the clock spring and install the efini wheel. You can feed the blue plug into the hole. It takes some wiggling and maneuvering but it will fit. Pulling the rubber boot protector back helps feeding it through.
8. Reinstall your wheel nut.
9. plug the orange plug off of the steering wheel center portion into the blue one.
10. install your wheel center and tighten the back screw. Now your done!!
This is the best way to do it without jacking up your wiring and keep it as close to factory quality.
1. Disconnect the battery
2. Remove the airbag
3. Unplug all the connectors
4. The orange plug can be de-pinned and re-pinned on your new efini wheel
5. Remove the old steering wheel.
6. Remove this little black tab protector off the clock spring. This will allow you to install your efini wheel without cutting it at all.
7. Rotate the clock spring and install the efini wheel. You can feed the blue plug into the hole. It takes some wiggling and maneuvering but it will fit. Pulling the rubber boot protector back helps feeding it through.
8. Reinstall your wheel nut.
9. plug the orange plug off of the steering wheel center portion into the blue one.
10. install your wheel center and tighten the back screw. Now your done!!
This is the best way to do it without jacking up your wiring and keep it as close to factory quality.
Bringing this back from the dead because I just did this. 1) don't wiggle the wheel off. Use a wheel puller. Faster and easier. 2) Don't remove the clock spring. Just rotate it 180 counter clockwise. 3) Enlarge the opening in the rear of the Efini wheel ever so slightly to get the wire fed through. 4) install Efini wheel, tighten nut. 21mm. 5) take orange connector off stock wheel. It's screwed in. That's for your horn. 6) attach the wire end of that plug to the blade on the Efini wheel where the horn wire goes. I used a 1/4" female spade connector. 7) plug the orange plug back onto the blue plug. 8) take another 1/4" female spade connector and insert it into the blue plug where the old airbag plug used to connect. This connector will touch both the pins and it fools the airbag module and ecu into believing that the airbag is hooked up. This will eliminate the flashing airbag light and it will avoid any beeping. 9) reinstall Efini cover and drive away. 👍👍
