juicyjosh

iTrader: (29)

evo,

You'll just need a 10mm socket to remove the airbag bolts and a 21mm socket (and torque wrench) to remove the steering wheel nut. "Wiggle" (not turn left and right) the steering wheel to get it off the hub.

The Protege airbag connector won't work with your RX-7, but you can just connect the two wires from the airbag to the two wires coming out of the steering wheel harness. It doesn't matter which airbag wire goes to which steering wheel airbag wire, as long as the two airbag wires from the car connect to the two wires from the airbag. Or you can use your OEM RX-7 airbag connector on your new airbag.

The switch definately makes the interior look less dated, and the smaller steering wheel just feels better, not to mention the *tiny* bit of extra room for your legs.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

I am now on the mission to replace my FD steering wheel. I haven't seen anyone directly say it, but it appears that the following model are interchangeable with the FD with some modification.

Miata 99-2005
Protege 99-2003

Is this correct?

Secondly, are both the Miata 99-2005 & Protege 99-2003 wheesl 370mm vs. the FD 380mm, or is that for the Nardi models only? I don't need the prestige of Nardi as much as my knees need a little more space.

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

I think the answer to all of the above is yes. My wheel was a non-Nardi Miata 2003 wheel with Protege airbag and it all worked. It is also the 370mm size which is nice.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

Thank you. I've been able to source a few options and wanted some sort of verification before committing to buy. I realize their not that expensive, I just don't need extra steering wheels in my garage, and don't want to bother trying to sell them afterwards.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

Well I ordered a steering wheel last week. I browsed quite a few websites, made probably 30 phone calls and found one that said, "blk, 3spk, lthr, A condition". A lot of places where charging an extra $300 for the air bag so I finally decided to just get the cheapest "A" condition black leather wheel I could find and then find a cheap air bag later. The site listed it for $50, so I called to check for shipping, and they said $52 shipped. I've been watching my credit card for a week, and no charge. I was about to order something else today but saw the charge on my account. I got home today, and a box was on the doorstep. So here is the cheapest ($52 shipped) black leather 3 spoke wheel I could find:

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

Nice! I sourced my airbag from a Miata forum for $50 shipped. The eBay guys are quite expensive for airbags.

ksu-chewie

iTrader: (14)

Well, scratch what I wrote previously. I just found a mazdaspeed miata wheel w/ the red stitching, so I'll be using that instead.

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

That sounds nice. Post up some pics.

cross

iTrader: (1)

Local parts out Miata's for a living so I had done this on my MX6 a long time ago and happen to still have the wheel, this rocks will be doing it this week for the fun of it!

Randall.K

iTrader: (6)

How confident are you all that the airbag will function properly if needed?

superdan50

iTrader: (3)

as long as the air bag is in good order its self, as well as the sensors in the car itself for the airbag. and your ground is good as is the power wire, it will work.

airbags are fairly simple. if you complete a circuit through the airbag, POOF! airbags in older cars are single stage, this means that there is one charge, that fully inflates the airbag. (in newer cars (im not sure if its all) there are 2 stage, this is there are 2 separate charges (possibly a compartmentalized bag as well) and depending on the severity of the crash 1 or both will deploy. this is so if you're in a fender bender, your head isn't unnecessarily blown off by the airbag, it only blows one charge so there is a lesser impact.)

so basically if everything in the system is in working order, and its all plugged in correctly, it will work.

the best advice is, Try not to find out.

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

^ exactly. With the swap the airbag is a direct plug and play so it will work. Cruise control not exactly. Mine works but not the decal or resume.

Randall.K

iTrader: (6)

Good to hear. I agree with the previous statements about how this is a great way to update the FD interior. I'd just rather not pay a penalty in safety to do it. Thanks for the replies =).