My head now hurts after trying to read up on which steering boss supports self-cancelling indicators, which one comes with airbag/horn adaptors and all the rest.
As far as I can see:
1) A cheap 3.3ohm resistor, legs plugged into the airbag plug, will cancel the light. Unsure how much heat that will generate, but HKB want £10-15 for the same piece of kit (although that may come with a plug)
2) I want a Momo or HKB boss so that the steering wheel comes out as far as stock.
3) A deep dish wheel on top of that, should solve all my problems. Unless I ever crash. In which case, I may not have any more problems in this life 😉
4) I have no idea which brands will cancel the indicators. There's a Momo writeup on Spyderchat that's far more involved than SpyderLee's video so I'm guessing they've possibly updated the kit over the years?
This was the Spyderchat write up (for an all inclusive kit that I can't track down): https://www.spyderchat.com/forums/showthread.php?39028-How-To-Install-an-Aftermarket-Steering-Wheel-(COMPLETE
This was the Momo job: https://www.spyderchat.com/forums/showthread.php?10784-MOMO-Steering-wheel-hub-install
There are some cheap bosses on eBay for £10-£30, I imagine they're all the same as the £3 listing on AliBaba so intending to give that a wide berth. However if I've got to spend £80, I want one that's hassle free and does everything..
Anyone got any more recent guidance?
Thanks
I have the Momo boss and OMP wheel from Demontweeks (I believe MOMO and OMP are the same size)
My indicators cancel.
Horn I need to fix - the OEM connector for the wire snags on the boss, so either modding that connector or soldering the wires will fix that.
Video that helped me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlP2KJyPnPs
A Momo or quality boss is designed to 'collapse' in an impact. The cheap one's aren't. I've also seen a pic of a cheap one that sheared in apparent normal use.
Thanks both,
I wonder why the chap on Spyderchat went to town on his Mimo then?!
Was also recommended one that Driftworks sells (the HKB) but the Momo is cheaper so that's fine by me.
Momo on mine, everything works as it should and is easy to fit. No way was I going to skimp on the thing that you control the car with....£80 vs £30 is a no brainer for me.....£50 is nothing compared with a steering wheel coming off in your hands!!!!
Same applys to steering wheels, you can buy cheap but cheap can also bend, flex and break......why risk it? Plenty of 2nd hand momo steering wheels for sale if price is an issue.
Yeah definitely going Momo as above, was just concerned that the most comprehensive Momo write up on Spyderchat involved so much butchering of existing kit. Just trying to find a discount or similar as I'm not in an immediate rush due to lack of funds.
May come back from some fitting advice if that's OK? I'm going to solder to the horn pin, I'm still a little unsure as to where the little disc fits in (is it between boss and wheel) which I think is horn related?
Bugger it, ordered.
Boss from Carthrottle
Genine OMP wheel from Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DSIYGVU/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
May end up sending back as I'm unsure if 300mm is going to be too small to drive with but will at least be a useful test for knee clearance/indicator reach. 39 in the end after another return went back.
I think I'm after a 320mm deep dish wheel.
39? How'd yoy manage that?? Says its 100
Had some credit to use up from a return
Have the same 300mm wheel, find it too small to be honest. Issue is getting in and out of the car with fixed buckets so going for a removable boss and a 320mm dished wheel.
Quote from: Dudi on March 7, 2019, 22:27
Have the same 300mm wheel, find it too small to be honest. Issue is getting in and out of the car with fixed buckets so going for a removable boss and a 320mm dished wheel.
I had a quick feel around the wheel (oo-err) on the drive in to work this morning, I think a 320 dished would be ideal, with the exception of
A) Having to reach for indicators
B) I think the 'natural' driving position is going to be a bit close to me - a dished wheel apparently brings the wheel about 3 inches closer.
There are some marketed as a smaller dish which I may look into.
Quote from: Bossworld on March 7, 2019, 15:09
May end up sending back as I'm unsure if 300mm is going to be too small to drive with but will at least be a useful test for knee clearance/indicator reach. Also got a horrible feeling that the price means it'll be a return of the one in the pictures (with the scratch but again we'll see).
I think I'm after a 320mm deep dish wheel.
I fitted a 330mm Personal Neo Grinta wheel (pictured below) a couple of years back, and I ended up selling it because 330mm felt too small.
Bought another Personal Neo Grinta wheel in 350mm and felt it was perfect.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/8607/RDN7Lc.jpg)
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 8, 2019, 11:16
Quote from: Bossworld on March 7, 2019, 15:09
May end up sending back as I'm unsure if 300mm is going to be too small to drive with but will at least be a useful test for knee clearance/indicator reach. Also got a horrible feeling that the price means it'll be a return of the one in the pictures (with the scratch but again we'll see).
I think I'm after a 320mm deep dish wheel.
I fitted a 330mm Personal Neo Grinta wheel (pictured below) a couple of years back, and I ended up selling it because 330mm felt too small.
Bought another Personal Neo Grinta wheel in 350mm and felt it was perfect.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/8607/RDN7Lc.jpg)
Looks nice that 8)
I'm kinda stuck as in my case, it needs to be smaller or dished, or maybe even both. I'm only changing as I'm knackering my hip driving the car with my leg at funny angles. Got the lowest profile shoes I could find.
Perhaps a 350 dished would extend out far enough to make the knee clearance null and void but unfortunately it's not a simple thing to test out without buying lots of wheels.
Wheel arrived (with horn) in perfect fettle so delighted with that. Think the boss is at the sorting office. Will try and fit this week
Any tips on fitting a two contact horn?
Quote from: Bossworld on March 10, 2019, 16:23
Wheel arrived (with horn) in perfect fettle so delighted with that. Think the boss is at the sorting office. Will try and fit this week
Any tips on fitting a two contact horn?
I used a mono boss along with the stock spiral cable for the +ve horn wire (which retained the self cancelling indicators). I then grounded the horn to the boss for the - ve wire.
Quote from: DropLinked on March 11, 2019, 15:40
Quote from: Bossworld on March 10, 2019, 16:23
Wheel arrived (with horn) in perfect fettle so delighted with that. Think the boss is at the sorting office. Will try and fit this week
Any tips on fitting a two contact horn?
I used a mono boss along with the stock spiral cable for the +ve horn wire (which retained the self cancelling indicators). I then grounded the horn to the boss for the - ve wire.
Thank you. I'll take a look at the pieces tomorrow. I think there's a small disc with a tab on it which I'm guessing is the negative wire/ground, just need to look at some instructions to see where that disc fits in the order of things
The order should be spline > spiral cable > boss > wheel > horn
I have to say that the wheel was one of the best mods I've done. Not only do my legs now fit, the dished wheel gives a spot on driving position, and feels much better.
Hope everything goes smoothly.
I surely can't be the first person in the world to use an OMP wheel and a Momo boss?
While the horn clips into the wheel fine, it doesnt fit into the grounding ring for the boss, it's too wide?
Reading further up, you mention you just grounded to the boss itself? As the horn sits in the wheel snugly, I clearly don't need this ring as a retainer, but I could still do with the tab for the ground I think?
(https://i.ibb.co/Tt7zb9f/7-C16186-D-B294-48-D5-B9-FC-30-B52-A52-A079.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7KZ7Rsf)
(https://i.ibb.co/WvFxKKt/B10872-F6-7-F23-49-F6-BABF-8231-ABD200-E2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gZwjggV)
Wheel is on, I've figured a workaround to ground the horn but need another spade connector so will have to wait. It's comically small - you can see it fits entirely within the stock wheel with space to spare :D
I was still trying to weigh up after getting new tyres and wheel tracking done if the stock wheel was ever soslightly off centre. I think it was as a very quick test up and down the road makes me think it's still off in the same direction. Too little to take up via the steering wheel splines so will leave for now
(https://i.ibb.co/cgR2cys/445-DAD63-D288-4-B03-BE33-A900-B4-F4-E1-B9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mDdhCRP)
(https://i.ibb.co/dcwb67J/EC01-BB80-15-E5-4607-B824-F873-F726-BC44.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LPXQ6vh)
(https://i.ibb.co/c2S9kWG/55618-E58-1727-45-DE-B502-2-A0-ED3-ADD54-C.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NWdqt08)
upload pic (https://imgbb.com/)
Excellent work!
Looks great. But most importantly, does it address the knee clearance issues?
Quote from: shnazzle on March 12, 2019, 21:13
Looks great. But most importantly, does it address the knee clearance issues?
Yes, thank the lord. I've only gone 10 yards up and down the cul de sac as I've not fully tightened down yet in case something was amiss. Hopefully get it finished tomorrow, I've fashioned a ground cable together.
I'm going to spend tonight telling myself that taking the boss off the splines and trying to move it one to the right is only going to end in tears.
I now need to get used to actually having my right knee under the wheel as well :))
Woohoo! Looking forward to a full review.
If I didn't have a custom upholstered wheel I'd be interested
I'm going to fitting an aftermarket too. What operates the indicator self-cancelling? And the airbag resistor, is there a tolerance or does it need to be 3.3 Ohm. Wattage?
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 12, 2019, 21:23
I'm going to fitting an aftermarket too. What operates the indicator self-cancelling? And the airbag resistor, is there a tolerance or does it need to be 3.3 Ohm. Wattage?
The Momo boss has two lumps on the rear at 3 and 9 o'clock. This, I believe, is what was referred to in the long winded Spyderchat Momo hack write up. I think there must not have been a mk3 specific boss at the time. Will confirm tomorrow but these same lumps are on the stock wheel and should act as the indicator cancelling mechanism.
The Momo comes with a plug in resistor with what looks like a 2amp fuse on two pieces of wire. Now I was never very good at science but I assume its resistance is the 3.3ohm mark that's required. This plugs into the two smaller holes on the yellow clock spring
Ok thanks. I've seen 3.3 ohm mentioned...... can anyone shed light whether that's the correct figure or if there's a tolerance.
Presumably it's low current & therefore low wattage...?
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 12, 2019, 21:52Ok thanks. I've seen 3.3 ohm mentioned...... can anyone shed light whether that's the correct figure or if there's a tolerance.
Presumably it's low current & therefore low wattage...?
3.3ohm seems to very common across the web. As before, the Momo boss comes with it, is collapsible and is 'reasonably' priced. If you've not already got one, I'd go for that.
Took the car out for a spin today having tightened everything down.
Long term impressions
+ve
- I fit in, at 6 foot 2, can easily swap between brake and accelerator without pain, wonderful
- It's an absolute hoot around roundabouts
- It feels chunky and secure
- My horn works fine
- Airbag light comes on with the ignition then goes off
- It's easy to get in and out of the car
- The additional feedback versus the stock wheel makes a big difference around S bends and country lanes
-ve
- It is small, and therefore low-speed maneuvering is taking more effort than before
- I think the boss makes it ever so slightly off-centre in comparison to the stock wheel, though it could be that it's just more noticeable with the smaller wheel
- Not a criticism of a modified wheel or boss, but a critique of the stock wheel. The screws that retain the air bag are an absolute nightmare to get out of the housing/get the airbag past the captive area!
(https://i.ibb.co/Y8ZnZKV/IMG-0326.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GkTYT1r)
My home made horn grounding cable. Connected to the rearside of one of the screws that connects the wheel to the boss, and I've added a nut to secure it. Excuse the poor soldering.
(https://i.ibb.co/9WVXR96/IMG-0325.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JHyLXRV)
Only other fitting notes - follow Lee's video all the way through, these are only suggestions:
1) I would recommend you dismantle the original white connector for the horn. You can then bend the connector pin ever so slightly, and fit it onto the receiving pin without needing to solder at that end.
2) I soldered the extension cable to the original cable. Couple of reasons a) I can simply use a desolder braid to undo it after b) it was loose when just connected - I guess you could crimp it but I didn't fancy it
3) If you have a wheel that doesn't include an earthing point, and your combination of wheel + boss doesn't allow for use of the horn retainer ring (as per mine), you will need to imagine up something to earth the horn.
4) I left the airbag connector and the resistor, bent and taped together, in the outer void between the boss and the clock spring. The clock spring still turns absolutely fine, but I didn't want more wiring stuck through where I was trying to tighten down the 19mm. I may have to revisit this if it causes any problems with the indicators but I don't think it will.
How has it made it a hoot around roundabouts?
Also - trust that you have some contingency for MOT time? Tester might to expect an airbag.
The term "rally car" is sufficiently vague that its yet another thing that's down to tester discretion.
Take cptspaulding for example; he does rallies in near-stock cars. Closer to stock than what we would consider rally. But, it's most definitely a "rally car". So, under that rule, the steering wheel is allowed.
One tester may want to see numbers, bucket seats, harnesses and roll bars to allow a steering wheel without original airbag. Another tester may be happy with some modified suspension, bracing and thr word of the client.
Good excuse to mod your car more :)
Mine with "enhanced" suspension, all the bracing, track alloys and engine mods would probably pass the bill quite easily for an aftermarket wheel
If you want to "fake it 'till you make it" for MOT time, screw in some bright tow-straps and mount a fire extinguisher visibly in the car.
Quote from: shnazzle on March 14, 2019, 00:45
How has it made it a hoot around roundabouts?
I was never any good at physics and my two As at GCSE science owed more to 4 out of 6 papers being multiple choice. But in the same way as it's more effort at low speed manoeuvring, as the circumference is smaller, it requires less movement of wheel through the hands in comparison to stock.
Does that make sense? I'm trying to apply the reverse logic as you'd have with a breaker bar as opposed to a standard ratchet handle. I still have the same number of turns lock to lock but as there is less wheel, I don't need to physically pass as much of it through my hands.
When I had the new tyres fitted, they rang a couple of local MoT stations that they'd use and neither had an issue with it, providing the airbag light isn't on.
I see what you mean. Shorter leverage arm. Less distance, more effort.
Quote from: shnazzle on March 14, 2019, 09:49
I see what you mean. Shorter leverage arm. Less distance, more effort.
Indeed, added a couple of screen grabs where someone has explained it better than me.
I should add that other than risk of a) misaligning the wheel and b) I'm not sure how much force it would take to remove this wheel/boss, you're talking a 15 minute job to swap it back to stock if necessary. Would probably take longer to get those bloody T30 screws back in/out of the stock wheel
My last point on the matter having driven out this morning. A 320/330 deep dish wheel would likely be more liveable and may still give the same legroom benefits. But, you'll be reaching for your indicators
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 8, 2019, 11:16Quote from: Bossworld on March 7, 2019, 15:09May end up sending back as I'm unsure if 300mm is going to be too small to drive with but will at least be a useful test for knee clearance/indicator reach. Also got a horrible feeling that the price means it'll be a return of the one in the pictures (with the scratch but again we'll see).
I think I'm after a 320mm deep dish wheel.
I fitted a 330mm Personal Neo Grinta wheel (pictured below) a couple of years back, and I ended up selling it because 330mm felt too small.
Bought another Personal Neo Grinta wheel in 350mm and felt it was perfect.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/8607/RDN7Lc.jpg)
Hi Alex, 2 years on , how are you getting on with the steering wheel, were there any issues with fitting it, would you consider this a thin or thick wheel? Its a toss up with one similar to yours or one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/MoMo-TUN35BK0S-Momo-mom11110335111-Steering-Wheel/dp/B000675ZU2/ref=pd_vtp_2/261-4866431-2743243?pd_rd_w=X1CON&pf_rd_p=f8be2100-4de3-46b4-9cb2-76b688b54cf4&pf_rd_r=P7RQ6N3TAGR5XSWB27KM&pd_rd_r=cb6d3663-a973-4693-9fae-2f42aa25b643&pd_rd_wg=mPNav&pd_rd_i=B000675ZU2&psc=1
Quote from: Gibla on September 20, 2021, 08:18Quote from: Alex Knight on March 8, 2019, 11:16Quote from: Bossworld on March 7, 2019, 15:09May end up sending back as I'm unsure if 300mm is going to be too small to drive with but will at least be a useful test for knee clearance/indicator reach. Also got a horrible feeling that the price means it'll be a return of the one in the pictures (with the scratch but again we'll see).
I think I'm after a 320mm deep dish wheel.
I fitted a 330mm Personal Neo Grinta wheel (pictured below) a couple of years back, and I ended up selling it because 330mm felt too small.
Bought another Personal Neo Grinta wheel in 350mm and felt it was perfect.
(http://imageshack.com/a/img922/8607/RDN7Lc.jpg)
Hi Alex, 2 years on , how are you getting on with the steering wheel, were there any issues with fitting it, would you consider this a thin or thick wheel? Its a toss up with one similar to yours or one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/MoMo-TUN35BK0S-Momo-mom11110335111-Steering-Wheel/dp/B000675ZU2/ref=pd_vtp_2/261-4866431-2743243?pd_rd_w=X1CON&pf_rd_p=f8be2100-4de3-46b4-9cb2-76b688b54cf4&pf_rd_r=P7RQ6N3TAGR5XSWB27KM&pd_rd_r=cb6d3663-a973-4693-9fae-2f42aa25b643&pd_rd_wg=mPNav&pd_rd_i=B000675ZU2&psc=1
I'm still very much a fan of this wheel, and haven't had any thoughts about changing at all.
In my opinion, Personal make the best wheels in the business.
I wouldn't consider this to be thick, or thin. I would consider it to be just right, but I am aware that this can be subjective.
As a side note, I would advise anyone who is considering getting a suede wheel on a daily driver to consider a leather wheel instead. Suede wheels attract and trap dirt very easily, and require regular cleaning to stay looking and feeling nice.