Changing my steering wheel

[Mellow Matt]

I've never done this before, so I don't really know how...

I'd quite like a smaller, suede/alcantara wheel, and I quite like the look/price of this one but the 6 screws that hold it on are of a different orientation to my Nardi steering wheel:


Is there a way around this? Do I need to take the boss off and get another one? Or maybe use an adaptor like this?

[Gizmo!]

Something I know the answer to

Measure the PCD of the wheel you have and the one you want - you should find that the Nardi is slightly larger (74mm iirc) than the one you linked (if it's Momo-size it's 70mm I think.)

If you can get a 'boss' or converter though it's really pretty easy (I did it) - the steering column has ridges on it and all you do is slide the boss on so it's flat-side-up or pointed-end-up (of the screw hexagon, IYSWIM).

Note: when you're removing the wheel DON'T undo the centre nut all the way: loosen it and then tug the wheel loose first. Or you'll punch yourself in the face.

[B3njamin]

Gizmo! said:

Note: when you're removing the wheel DON'T undo the centre nut all the way: loosen it and then tug the wheel loose first. Or you'll punch yourself in the face.

+1.

Getting a bloody nose really isn't fun - Especially if you give it an all-or-nothing last tug and it comes free with a fair bit of momentum behind it...

[Mellow Matt]

Gizmo! said:

Something I know the answer to

Measure the PCD of the wheel you have and the one you want - you should find that the Nardi is slightly larger (74mm iirc) than the one you linked (if it's Momo-size it's 70mm I think.)

If you can get a 'boss' or converter though it's really pretty easy (I did it) - the steering column has ridges on it and all you do is slide the boss on so it's flat-side-up or pointed-end-up (of the screw hexagon, IYSWIM).

Note: when you're removing the wheel DON'T undo the centre nut all the way: loosen it and then tug the wheel loose first. Or you'll punch yourself in the face.

I think I follow you - I guess it's easier to get an adaptor than to take the whole boss off is it? The adaptor then somehow fits onto the boss that's already there and allows for the 6 screws to go into the boss at a different orientation to originally (to make the steering wheel the right way up)?

Edited by Mellow Matt on Tuesday 26th October 16:31

[B3njamin]

Although... Assuming the steering column has ridges on it, would it be possible to turn the boss-that your current steering wheel uses-several degrees and slide it back over so that it would then line up right for the new wheel?

I have no idea what the steering column on the MX5 actually looks like or whether this would even work but it may allow you to keep your current boss.

The bolt pattern looks the same, just with the 'point bit' of the hexagon at the top rather than the 'flat bit'. May be worth a try...

• Ah, sounds like the Nardi boss a slightly different size... My idea probably won't work. **

Edited by B3njamin on Tuesday 26th October 17:03

[Gizmo!]

B3njamin said:

Although... Assuming the steering column has ridges on it, would it be possible to turn the boss-that your current steering wheel uses-several degrees and slide it back over so that it would then line up right for the new wheel?

I have no idea what the steering column on the MX5 actually looks like or whether this would even work but it may allow you to keep your current boss.

The bolt pattern looks the same, just with the 'point bit' of the hexagon at the top rather than the 'flat bit'. May be worth a try...

• Ah, sounds like the Nardi boss a slightly different size... My idea probably won't work. **

Edited by B3njamin on Tuesday 26th October 17:03

You're right that if the boss is the correct size, that's exactly what you do - slide the existing boss off and re-align. But if the PCD is wrong you either need an adapter for your current boss, or a new boss (compare prices).

Oh, and if you are removing the boss, don't do what I did when you replace it - you'll find a small white plastic ring with two sticky-out teeth either side. Make sure they go into the slots on the back of the boss, or they'll break and you won't have self-cancelling indicators...

[Gizmo!]

Boss boss.

[Mellow Matt]

OK thanks guys, looks like I'll have to have a play then!

[Mellow Matt]

I still don't really know how these adaptors work - I haven't really seen any good pictures of what they are/how they fit. Do they just have a ring of holes which are of different diameter to stock? And you just need to have an adaptor which has the correct diameter ring of holes to screw into?

Would this work? It's nice and cheap at the mo!

Or this or would I need the extra expensive mx5 parts one?

TIA

[dumbfunk]

Momo/Sparco wheels have a different spacing as well as positioning to Nardi/Personal wheels and the easiest way to swap from one to the other is to buy a cheap adaptor like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nardi-Momo-Steering...

Imagine a 5-10mm deep ring with 12 holes in it. Half of them are countersunk and you get a set of screws that go through these holes and secure the ring to the existing boss and being countersunk they sit flat. The remaining 6 holes are then in the correct position to accept the standard fixing screws from your new wheel.

It takes 5 minutes to fit and is extremely solid. It brings the wheel out by about 8mm but on my Griff at least this improved the driving position for me.


dumbfunk

Edited by dumbfunk on Tuesday 26th October 17:35

[Mellow Matt]

dumbfunk said:

Momo/Sparco wheels have a different spacing as well as positioning to Nardi/Personal wheels and the easiest way to swap from one to the other is to buy a cheap adaptor like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nardi-Momo-Steering...

Imagine a 5-10mm deep ring with 12 holes in it. Half of them are countersunk and you get a set of screws that go through these holes and secure the ring to the existing boss and being countersunk they sit flat. The remaining 6 holes are then in the correct position to accept the standard fixing screws from your new wheel.

It takes 5 minutes to fit and is extremely solid. It brings the wheel out by about 8mm but on my Griff at least this improved the driving position for me.


dumbfunk

Edited by dumbfunk on Tuesday 26th October 17:35

Ah, makes sense. Thanks

[Chapppers]

Mellow Matt said:

dumbfunk said:

Momo/Sparco wheels have a different spacing as well as positioning to Nardi/Personal wheels and the easiest way to swap from one to the other is to buy a cheap adaptor like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nardi-Momo-Steering...

Imagine a 5-10mm deep ring with 12 holes in it. Half of them are countersunk and you get a set of screws that go through these holes and secure the ring to the existing boss and being countersunk they sit flat. The remaining 6 holes are then in the correct position to accept the standard fixing screws from your new wheel.

It takes 5 minutes to fit and is extremely solid. It brings the wheel out by about 8mm but on my Griff at least this improved the driving position for me.


dumbfunk

Edited by dumbfunk on Tuesday 26th October 17:35

Ah, makes sense. Thanks

Hi Matt. I meant to say earlier, you really need to change your steering wheel ASAP. I drove a Transit van with a smaller steering wheel than yours today. I'm not even joking.