Pondering an idea about how to get a new steering wheel ready for my car

Oooookay, I REALLY want to update the steering wheel on my 1g but also wanted to keep it from looking aftermarket, and also retain the chance to have an airbag deploy in my face were the event ever necessary. I have a steering wheel from an SRT-4 which would look great in place of my jacked up 1g wheel buuuuuut the damn thing has an aluminum construction and the 3S wheel is made from steel (of some sort). The only steel on the SRT wheel are the splines, which I don't think I should go welding if I want to use them :P.

This is the structure of the wheel I want to put on:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...c/IMAG0157.jpg

Anybody have any ideas how I can get the 3s splines onto this guy? I thought about splicing the steering columns together and sleeving it but don't know how much I would trust that method :/. Opinions? And please don't say I should just pick a different steering wheel and leave it at that hahah

You should just pick a different steering wheel and leave it at that.

I believe the newer eclipse steering wheels drop right on, plug in, etc. They look pretty nice too.

lol I knew I'd get at least one comment saying that. If I could get rid of the tri diamond on the evo wheel I would probably just go with one of those...buuuut I don't have anything to put in place of that cap. grrr...

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Originally Posted by Emilie@GZP

I believe the newer eclipse steering wheels drop right on, plug in, etc. They look pretty nice too.

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b..b..but I don't know how to get rid of the diamonds :(

you have a stealth? maybe a dodge avenger steering wheel? :dontknow:

That's kind've why I went with an SRT-4 wheel from the neon. It is almost the exact same diameter and looks much fresher...does the avenger have the same setup as the eclipse? I just counted the splines on the eclipse wheel and there are the same number as on the stealth. Of course, I would have to check the diameter before saying it would fit up fine but if the avenger is the same as the eclipse I think I may just have to go that route :)

I would venture to guess the avenger steering wheel is the same as the eclipse. a few 3/S guys have used the seats and I believe the steering wheel from the newer eclipses without any issues. I know one of our techs has a laser/talon/eclipse steering wheel on his 3/s

Hmm...would make sense. I just remembered, though, that there is the new avenger and the older models. Which are you referring to?

I believe it's the 2002'ish body style that they were using. It's probably something you need to get in your hands and compare though, to be 100% sure. We had an avenger here a while back that we used for parts, I wish I had thought to check the steering wheel :(

Thanks for the responses, though! :)

Back to the original idea since I'm not too big on the previous gen avenger steering wheel. Is it possible AND sturdy to weld aluminum to steel? I learned about strips for welding the two together that would work but does anybody know anything about aluminum/steel welding strips? I think I might have to go and bug some machine shops or something. :/

I wouldn't waste your time trying to weld two different metals on a component that controls the direction in which your car is traveling. Find another steering wheel that works and fits properly.

lol I knooow, I know...I just wish it'd work :(

If you expect the airbag to still work you need to investigate the type used in the replacement wheel. I believe most newer cars have a different type of airbag which won't go off if triggered by our system. There was a big thread about using the EVO 8 wheel on our car. I have serously considered buying this wheel many times.

JDM 91-99 GTO VR4 3000GT MOMO SRS Airbag Steering Wheel | eBay

http://cms.thefoakhouse.com/attachme...0_ntriu882.jpg

One of the Australian guys has this wheel on his GTO. Came like that when imported from Japan.

oh another interesting thing is this wheel looks identical to the EVO 4 wheel...... which is also listed as 4, 5 & 6 so in theory if this "GTO" wheel is just an EVO 4 wheel and the EVO 4, 5 & 6 wheels are al the same then any wheel from those 3 models should fit our cars....... but it's just a theory

mitsubishi evo 4 5 6 momo oem steering wheel airbag | eBay

wait a minute....4g eclipse steering wheels fit in our cars? can we get some proof on this--good or bad?

p.s.
joe that also looks a LOT like the 1g dsm steering wheel.

Thanks a ton for that info, Joe. I am stoked that it doesn't have the mitsu logo in the center AND has an airbag. If it's being sold as being specifically for a 3000gt I'm assuming I would even have to cut splines, correct? That would be AWESOME. Do you know if the evo ones are the same splines as well? I looked a bunch into the different SRS systems, w/the dual and single stage and thought that would be a problem for me. Shame those wheels are only from 4, 5 and 6 evos, but forunately for me I got this SRT wheel with an airbag for a steal. Maybe that will offset some of the costs :)

well I put a s2000 wheel in my last 3000gt, anything is possible. If I remember correctly I cut the center off and bolted some momo adapter ring to it(correct spilines) worked wonders and looked very stock ...

s2000 wheel
http://www.motorintro.com/actuales/_...00interior.jpg

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Originally Posted by mb7050

well I put a s2000 wheel in my last 3000gt, anything is possible. If I remember correctly I cut the center off and bolted some momo adapter ring to it(correct spilines) worked wonders and looked very stock ...

s2000 wheel
http://www.motorintro.com/actuales/_...00interior.jpg

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One of these?
Mitsubishi Hubs - Hubs - Steering wheels - Products

Have any shots of it in the car? I'm curious to see how that hub looked in there.

yup thats the hub no pics sorry sold that car yrs ago

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MADMarc

Thanks a ton for that info, Joe. I am stoked that it doesn't have the mitsu logo in the center AND has an airbag. If it's being sold as being specifically for a 3000gt I'm assuming I would even have to cut splines, correct? That would be AWESOME. Do you know if the evo ones are the same splines as well? I looked a bunch into the different SRS systems, w/the dual and single stage and thought that would be a problem for me. Shame those wheels are only from 4, 5 and 6 evos, but forunately for me I got this SRT wheel with an airbag for a steal. Maybe that will offset some of the costs :)

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I believe it is a direct fit. I would love to compare it to an EVO 4 spline and see if they are the same.

Me too! :) The EVO 4/5/6 steering wheel is much cheaper, too at about half that price. I will be keeping my eye out for one now. Thanks a bunch for the link!

Been doing some research on the EVO wheel comparison and the EVO 4, 5 & 6 are the same, EVO 7, 8 & 9 are the same and 10 on it's own. Still no real evidence that the early EVO and 3S are the same. There are many boss kits sold for Eclipse & 3000GT but none sold as 3000GT & EVO compatible... however I just found this one and it says to suit all 3000GT, GTO and Lancer [including EVO] which is contradictory to others I have found.

F1 D shaped steering wheel MITSUBISHI EVO FTO GTO boss | eBay

I know for a fact that the evo 8 wheel does not have the same spline as per these threads.

Tutorial EVO STEERING WHEEL ( BY BALLER ) - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

EVO IX Steering Wheel Install - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

I also know the 3/S wheel fits a Galant VR-4.

2G 3000GT steering wheel in a galant vr-4? | Galant VR-4 > General VR4 Discussions | GalantVR-4.org Mitsubishi Galant VR4 Forum

thanks again for more info on this whole deal. I have tried emailing two people selling the evo 4/5/6 wheel about getting just a picture of the splines w/a ruler to show diameter and allow me to count the splines but for some reason they aren't replying :(. I know we couldn't be sure about whether it fits or not until I actually get the steering wheel but at least a couple pics could give me an idea whether or not I'd need to convert the wheel or not.

I think once I get a couple hundred bucks to spill I will go ahead and get the wheel and hope it's at least a steel frame unlike the SRT wheel. Might you know if the 4/5/6 wheels use the same single stage SRS system?

I emailed this guy and asked for the shaft size and spline count and got this answer.

JDM Momo Mitsubishi Lancer EVO airbag steering wheel !! - eBay (item 270770490716 end time Aug-20-11 10:29:39 PDT)

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The diameter of the splines from outside edge to outside edge looks to be about 0.635" and there are 36 splines. The diameter is not exact as it is hard to measure but if the spline count on your is the same then the wheel has the same fitment.

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So maybe count the splines on ours and see what you get?

hahah I just logged on to tell you I emailed that same guy and got an identical response from him today. I did a rough measurement on the diameter of the spline opening and got .625" which is a reasonable margin of error on both of our sides and our 3S steering wheel has 36 teeth...just like what he told us :) Looks like I will feel a little better about splurging the couple hundred bucks on a new steering wheel. If it is still available when I get around to it I will probably order the one from Asia because it appears to be in much better condition. Any idea on the SRS?

Well according to ASA that wheel is used on all of these models. They are all versions of the Lancer or Mirage with the exception of CD5W [Libero, which I have never heard of]. CN9A-SNGF is EVO 4 (1997), CP9A-SNGF is EVO 5 (1998) & 6 (1999).

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Momowheel.jpg

As far as the airbag goes I assume that if the connector is identical then the airbag is using the same technology...... however there is no way to prove this 100% unless we can talk to a Mitsubishi engineer. the GTO had the same technology airbag all the way up to 2000 so I assume that sine the EVO 4, 5 & 6 and all from the same era then they would all have the same tech airbag. But again that's all speculation on my part.

...so who's going to be the first to get one and test fit? You or me? ;) Thanks for all the help on this. Hopefully the extra studying is helping you out a bit as well.

I'm with IPD on this one..
in for pics and or confirmation that the newer eclipse wheel swaps right in

I don't recommend replacing your steering wheel with the thought that the airbag is 'compatible'. Timing data the computer uses in calculating when to deploy the airbag will be wrong, as it was calculated during crash testing for a car with different physical attributes.

This will cause the airbag to deploy at a nonoptimal time, which will cause it to be worthless at best or dangerous at worst (imagine it going off a fraction of a second too late, when your face is already an inch away from the steering wheel!)