thanks for bringing this topic to attention! this is awesome

thanks for the reply,one more question-did you manage to light up the buttons?

Yes see post #37

That's a cool mod! I'd be scared myself to take anything apart on the interior though

Cool mod. Might look into doing this. Thanks

I love this thread. I just bought rx8 seats and I want the steering wheel to match and you made what I though would be an impossible job, very simple and creative. I dont drive my fd often and I would not mind disabling my airbag to get the radio controls to work. Good work mate.

Attachment 510712

Here is what i did after the thread inspiration.The radio and cruise buttons work like a charm!!

Nice! What did you do for the cruise buttons? Did you just wire them directly to the FD's cruise wires?

Not a fan of the layout of the steering wheel but I am definitly gonna use this as a stepping stone for my headunit tablet project. Much appreciated.

You need three wires.one 12v one ground and one signal.to make the signal work with the fd cruise control unit you must replace the resistors inside the rx-8 crise buttons electronic board with the fd resistors.I dont remember the resistor values but you can measure them with an ohmeter,or you can take it to someone who is good with electronics,and he will do it in no time.

That sounds simple enough, I didn't even think of that.

I just picked up an RX-8 steering wheel for my 1985 RX-7. It was from an automatic RX-8 so it has the paddle shifters. My car is a 5 speed so I really don't like them but it only cost $35.

Is there any way to remove the airbag and still keep the shell?

I would really like to reopen the tread . Sound like a great winter project. I have the wheel ready.

This might seem kind of silly, but why not just leave the airbag in the wheel and not wire it up? Pre-1989 cars don't have airbags, so all you'd have to do is stick the wheel on and wire up the horn and audio/cruise buttons if desired.

I tried to wire up a '99 JDM steering wheel and I can't even get the horn to work. :(

I think I might eventually just do the RX-8 steering wheel because I would really love to have the volume buttons on the steering wheel. lol

After driving around my other newer cars that have volume buttons on the steering wheels, I kind of like having those modern conveniences... lol

Yashifd3s: let me know any updates . I have the wheel but the airbag has me stumped.

The airbag is just there for aesthetics. I believe the RX-8 has a dual stage airbag and would be difficult to wire up correctly with the FD's single stage airbag system.

I love this thread! Thanks for the insight and I can't wait to get my steering wheel in the FD! I need the wheel to match these!

Attachment 549630

is that rx8 s2 steering wheel?

Thanks for the update. All we need now is a detail video or write up. Great winter project.

Do you think the wiring sequence would work with the first generation rx8 steering wheel?

yep!

I really like the steering wheel in the new mazda's. Anyone tried to fit them on a FD already?
http://static1.consumerreportscdn.or...nterior-pr.jpg

how did you get the buzzer and light to go off by bypassing the airbag.. i dont care about the airbag or buttons (i will get a European wheel) will it bolt up and steer the car? is my question..

There was a post I found that describes how to bypass the airbag light. There are two pins in a plug under the dash that need to be jumpered.