Steering Column / Wheel Q

[cwatt]

Hey R3v,

The previous idiot (owner) stripped the threads on my steering column for bolting down the wheel. Since I need to replace that, it has me wondering if I could install an air-bag wheel in the vehicle (air-bag removed). I would be removing the electrics, but I'm thinking this:

[jlevie]

Creative mods to a column would allow you to mount that steering wheel, but it would require invention and addition of electronics to have any of the steering wheel mounted controls/displays work.

[jalopi]

I don't know man... sure, it looks good in that car, but I think it might look a bit too 'futuristic' in our cars.

On a side note, have you tried saving the column threads with a die? Or are they just that fucked up? You'd be surprised at what a good die and steady hand (read: proper initial placement of the die) can bring back.

[cwatt]

Creative mods to a column would allow you to mount that steering wheel, but it would require invention and addition of electronics to have any of the steering wheel mounted controls/displays work.

Hey, you must have missed that I don't intend to use the electronics, but that's good to hear about the mounting. My primary concern 'electrical' wise is the horn...

I don't know man... sure, it looks good in that car, but I think it might look a bit too 'futuristic' in our cars.

On a side note, have you tried saving the column threads with a die? Or are they just that fucked up? You'd be surprised at what a good die and steady hand (read: proper initial placement of the die) can bring back.

Threads are totally f-ed. Wheel was probably installed with an impact gun.

Re: aesthetics, I have something really interesting planned for the interior.

[jlevie]

By creative mods to the column I mean getting a column/shaft from the car the steering wheel came from and modifying it or grafting part of it onto the E30 column/shaft.

[E30NJ]

Are the splines on the old column the same as the new ones on this steering wheel?

[Madhatter]

they won't be.

If the threads are totally destroyed and you can't clean any of it up, you are going to have to swap out the column.

[TobyB]

Or find a die (maybe SAE?) that will cut new threads onto the stub...

hth

t