Aftermarket Steering Wheels

[Maxxdsix]

Alright so I was just thinking about this when I couldnt sleep last night...For you people that have aftermarket steering wheels and quick releases whatever, do you pass inspection with the wheel?

Do you feel a major difference over stock?

Do you feel that it is safe/unsafe not having the airbag there?

Do you like yours?

How much did you spend?

And what was your reason for getting one? You race your car? the cool factor? whatever it may be.

oh....and POST PICS, lets see those steering wheel set ups!!

[M Solo]

A major difference no. But i do love the feel of it.

Yes driving without an airbag is unsafe, but thats the price u pay

I love mine

The wheel itself was about $120

Pretty much for the cool factor, plus my airbag was defective anyway

[DPancoast]

do you pass inspection with the wheel?

[b]in my experience (not much lol) you will only fail inspection if there is a check engine/air bag light on in your car when you go to get it inspected. for the most part you should fail for not having one but if they just go by the light (not sure) then if it's not on, and doesn't show up when/if they have to scan (depending if it's obd1/obd2) then you should be fine.



non-quick release here.

1) Do you feel a major difference over stock?

yes. the stock MR2 wheel is big, heavy, and looks ugly

Do you feel that it is safe/unsafe not having the airbag there?

sometimes yes, but most of the time it doesn't occur to me... possibly not a good thing to say

Do you like yours?

yes I love it.

How much did you spend?

$200 for the hub and steering wheel

And what was your reason for getting one? You race your car? the cool factor? whatever it may be.

better steering response, looks cleaner than the stock one, more comfortable/easier to steer the car in tight places

[Teku18]

I had a sparco one in my old 240sx and I had no problem with it passing inspection. I liked it better then the stock wheel, gave the car a better feel, and I had a better grip on the steering wheel then i did with the stock one.

[Supraru]

Got mine because I was doing a wrx swap with dash. I wanted to get an sti wheel and with the swap my steering wheel had a blown bag. So pricing out sti wheels I realized they were around 300 bucks. This prodrive wheel was 300 too so I went with that. nrg quick release was around 75 I believe and the shorty hub was a little over 100 if I remember correctly.

Never had a problem passing inspection but the first inspection was by my ex soccer coach when I was young for about 5 years. Then the next inspection was done by my friend, then this years was done by me.

I think I'm better off without an airbag since I'm tall and I sit very close to the wheel. If an airbag went off I'd be pretty f'd up. I guess there would be only one way to find out.

[justinlansdale]

sparco/NRG quick release setup here.

Do you feel a major difference over stock?

yes, my stock wheel was completely falling apart.

Do you feel that it is safe/unsafe not having the airbag there?

doesn't really matter all that much to me, as i don't daily the car and the rare times i drive it, i'm not really thinking about it.

Do you like yours?

i love my setup.

How much did you spend?

somewhere in the ballpark of $150 bucks.

And what was your reason for getting one? You race your car? the cool factor? whatever it may be.

wanted to get rid of my destroyed stock wheel and thought the quick release setup looks c00l.

[Maxxdsix]

Loving that every post has been a useful one lol. rare find now on TST.

Im prob gonna get a NRG wheel quick release for the s14 im gonna get once someone buys my 6. Itl prob be one of the 1st things I get besides the sr swap lol.

Im prob gonna get THIS one, sounds about right for the prices you guys have been posting, you think its real?

And pretty much my only reason for getting one is hopefully better steering response, cleaner interior cuz im gonna go with more CF.

Oh and just cuz I wanna be that guy...the one that takes his steering wheel off and puts it in his locker every day after he parks at school lol :D

[turboman808]

Never done a quick release but swapped out plenty of steering wheels. I certainly am not gonna carry a steering wheel with me. LOL

I recently swapped out the momo monte carlo in the porsche for a more period correct momo prototipo. I love the look but I think the monte carlo is more comfortable.

I had a turbo 93 civic with semi solid engine mounts. The car rattled like you wouldn't believe. When I swapped out the stock wheel for a nadri alot of the rattle went away. In this case it was a great upgrade and didn't regret it at all. Took alot of weight off the steering column I guess.

If its a daily driver and a newer car with controls on the wheel then I would leave it alone.

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by turboman808

Never done a quick release but swapped out plenty of steering wheels. I certainly am not gonna carry a steering wheel with me. LOL

I recently swapped out the momo monte carlo in the porsche for a more period correct momo prototipo. I love the look but I think the monte carlo is more comfortable.

I had a turbo 93 civic with semi solid engine mounts. The car rattled like you wouldn't believe. When I swapped out the stock wheel for a nadri alot of the rattle went away. In this case it was a great upgrade and didn't regret it at all. Took alot of weight off the steering column I guess.

If its a daily driver and a newer car with controls on the wheel then I would leave it alone.

While it's nice to have the option taking my wheel in a friends house in Philly or if I'm going somewhere at least hiding it in the trunk that's not the reason for the quick release. It makes it a lot easier to get out of your car with a fixed seat. I currently don't have one but will when it turns into a track car but I also sit so close to my wheel it is a pain for me to get in and out. Having the option to be able to take it off is a very easy way to do it. lol

[Got Insulin?]

To avoid failing INS for a code or 'bag light, you could always put resistors inline to trick the computer into thinking that your airbag is still connected.

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by Got Insulin?

To avoid failing INS for a code or 'bag light, you could always put resistors inline to trick the computer into thinking that your airbag is still connected.

The airbag has nothing to do with the computer test portion. At that point your light is going to be on or off. You can just take the bulb out and you're fine. Visually the mechanic might fail you or might not. I've personally have not been able to find anything saying that you must have your airbags in your car. Common sense would say you should fail though.

[DPancoast]

yeah if it's a factory installed item, you should fail for not having it... but for the most part they won't fail you.

also just a fair warning. I have heard (but it has not been confirmed enough for me to believe) that quick releases become sloppy, jiggly (yeah I said it), loose fitting after on/off/on/off/on/off a couple hundred times. Sounds like a lot, but think about it, you'll have that **** on and off a million times before you know it. just something to look into and consider

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by DPancoast

yeah if it's a factory installed item, you should fail for not having it... but for the most part they won't fail you.

also just a fair warning. I have heard (but it has not been confirmed enough for me to believe) that quick releases become sloppy, jiggly (yeah I said it), loose fitting after on/off/on/off/on/off a couple hundred times. Sounds like a lot, but think about it, you'll have that **** on and off a million times before you know it. just something to look into and consider

Like I said, that rule would make total sense to me. But I haven't been able to find anything in the actual Pa inspection book saying anything about the airbags. As a matter of fact I just looked through the book again and I didn't even see an airbag section. lol.

I have not had any problem yet with my nrg quick release. I've had it over 2.5 years and take it off and put it on every time I get in and out of my car.

[Peter_Griffin]

In my last car I bought one for security reasons. I did feel a bit less safer. With my current car I just didn't bother getting another one. There wasn't really any difference in performance other than the wheel feeling a little smaller.

[turboman808]

Originally Posted by Supraru

While it's nice to have the option taking my wheel in a friends house in Philly or if I'm going somewhere at least hiding it in the trunk that's not the reason for the quick release. It makes it a lot easier to get out of your car with a fixed seat. I currently don't have one but will when it turns into a track car but I also sit so close to my wheel it is a pain for me to get in and out. Having the option to be able to take it off is a very easy way to do it. lol

Yeah if you got a full on race car with huge side bolster your not gonna be able to get in and out without a quick release.

[jspek]

i have a megan racing quick release and nardi 330mm deep corn. it puts the wheel in my face and i love it. makes getting in and out of the car so much easier. as for inspection, wouldnt matter for my car since air bags weren't around. total i spent about 230 for everything.

[SovXietday]

wheels and quick releases whatever, do you pass inspection with the wheel?

- Only if you're car does not come equipped originally without an airbag. Removing it will void your inspection immediately... technically. Some guys will overlook it, some guys won't.

Do you feel a major difference over stock?

- Yup, stockers suck.

Do you feel that it is safe/unsafe not having the airbag there?

- Well... my car's a little different. I actually feel safer without the airbag, but I do have the 6pt, seat, and 5pt harness too so.

Do you like yours?

- Sure. It's an NRG wheel, nothing spectacular.

How much did you spend?

- Don't remember, think it was like 100ish? Quick release was another 100 and the hub was like 60.

And what was your reason for getting one? You race your car? the cool factor? whatever it may be.

- I have a fixed seat and a cage and to get in and out of it when I park it in my trailer I have to climb out of the window. True story. Also because I can walk away with the wheel in my hand. You know, Hondas...

That and you can smack a bitch with it when she's complaining in the passenger seat.

[Supraru]

Originally Posted by SovXietday

wheels and quick releases whatever, do you pass inspection with the wheel?

- Only if you're car does not come equipped originally without an airbag. Removing it will void your inspection immediately... technically. Some guys will overlook it, some guys won't.

As I said, I literally looked through the rules and regulations for the safety inspection I didn't not even see anywhere that airbags are even mentioned. I think I'll ask some of the guys tomorrow and see what they say and if they can find it anywhere.

[DPancoast]

Originally Posted by SovXietday

That and you can smack a bitch with it when she's complaining in the passenger seat.

I feel like that would be dangerous at highway speeds lol

[JB'sLGT]

You can get an aftermarket steering wheel and retain all of your factory functions and airbag. It'll look stock to an inspector too. Unfortunately you need pretty deep pockets.