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USDM vs JDM steering wheel frame

Old Sep 19, 2012 | 05:40 PM
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USDM vs JDM steering wheel frame

has any one ever compared the structure of USDM steering wheel (w/ airbag) vs the JDM (w/o airbag)? are they the same? just with the airbag?
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Old Sep 19, 2012 | 05:59 PM
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the "structure"...?

I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain the 1993-1995 JDM Rx-7s have a completely different steering wheel assembly. Not just the airbag - the whole damn thing. Notice there are NO horn buttons...

Pretty beat up interior, but I found this pic by searching. It's the interior of a 1993 JDM model.

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Old Sep 19, 2012 | 06:24 PM
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Tom I think that is the Efini whell that came on 1996 - 98 JDM RX7s:

FDNewbie Imports

Nice write up on it. No air bag but horns. A guy here in Asheille has one on his car.
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Old Sep 19, 2012 | 06:34 PM
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I thought it came on any efini FD's my 92 (march 92 build) has the same wheel, and its a type R (R1)

the horn is the center Efini logo, its a giant button, basicly the same size as the outer 'ring' that surronds the emblem

my friend hates it... says it reminds him of band aids or something...

(I can take some pics, but they would be with a iphone 3gs that has tons of dirt *in* the lens...)


J.

Last edited by Prôdigy2nd; Sep 19, 2012 at 06:36 PM. Reason: correction
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Old Sep 19, 2012 | 09:09 PM
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david, my 92 fd had the same wheel.

and tom i know what your saying, and yes they look a lot different and have different horn locations. let me clarify my question. is the metal structure underneath the same. for example im fat (usdm wheel), if i lost 100lbs (jdm wheel) i would look a lot different (dare i say good, lol) but my skeleton would look the same.
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 04:33 AM
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So you want to know if they have the same diameter? Is that the question?

If so I believe the US wheel is slightly larger than the JDM Efini. I have a Miata Nardi wheel and it is smaller than the stock US one. I just had it off to recover it and we held it up to the Efini one and they were essentially the same diameter so that would indicate the JDM one is smaller than the US wheel.
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 05:00 AM
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They're different & the airbag is not interchangeable. Source: I've owned both
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 05:32 AM
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I have imported several JDM efini steering wheels, just my personal opinion but I think they are garbage. Much better off with a 99/2002 steering wheel.
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 07:05 AM
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I loved the look of my stock efini wheel. The reason I changed it is because the diameter was way to big and it was fading at the top
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 09:54 AM
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I have a JDM import here to the EU. installed a spiritR wheel and it feels so much better. later on i converted it to LHD and it fits right on
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Old Sep 20, 2012 | 02:47 PM
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ok i was considering a future project, but is unlikely to work. so it looks like i will have to take a different approach.

thanks guys.
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