MadaboutKitcars

I have obtained a steering wheel without an airbag to conform with SVA from a good fellow, and now have tried to fit it. Thats where I have come up against a hurdle, the donnor car was a 216 bubble with air bag wheel, it appears they are not a direct replacement. Has anyone come across the same issue, or what wheel did you use to overcome this problem.


Steve

Hi Steve,

Yes...I had same issue...if you use a Bubble Shape column then the cowling assembly is slightly different than the older version & also the horn push is different.

Options:-

1) Get hold of some older cowls and horn contact assembly and convert your car (should only cost £5 - £10 from a breaker)

2) My option - keep the bubble cowls and just convert the horn push. Then cut approx 10mm from the back of the 'SVA' steering wheel so that it fits and secures OK.

ATB

Rich

Gent's I had the same problem. So I purchased off Ebay a non-airbag wheel, which must be off the old 216 non-bubble type. It fits on the column spline OK but also issues with cowl and horn etc. Without hacking it to pieces I decided to go a different route.
I got hold off another airbag steering wheel from a bubble (my donor car's airbag had gone off) and very carefully drilled out the rivets off explosive module off the air bag cover, so I was left with the cover intact.

Be very very careful when you do this, securely mount in a vice (which is earthed) and never have any limb or eyes etc facing either direction of any accidental firing of the module.

With the intact cover you can then use spray foam to fill the void left by the charge module, which will act as a cushion.
I then carefully abraded off the airbag initials off the steering wheel cover.

All just to get it through the SVA as I will then fit a nice MOMO.

Cheers

Mike

Thanks for the ideas, I had thoughts of modifing the steering wheel, I feel tha is the route I will take, as I will probably revert back to the air bag wheel untill finances prevail for an after market wheel.


Steve

Mike,

If I were to pay the postage for your modified wheel, would you be interested in lending it out?

I really don't fancy drilling out an airbag module, having fired a few of them in my previous job, and seen what they're like!

Cheers,

John.

Hi Mike, I would also pay to borrow your center module when my time comes as I know I would set it off if I tried to drill it out....

Craig

Craig and John

If you want an air bagless Rover steering wheel and cowling, I am happy to send up to either of you who needs if first, I bought from another builder. I want £20 + P+P, you can between the two of you haggle out the price I assume £10 each. I am sure Mikes is fine, but this is a proper Rover wheel not played with, and John, in your case going to Southampton, I would suggest you comply best as you can.

If either of you want it, private msg me.

Steve

Hi Guys.

If you guys want to "borrow" by all means as I kind of like the feel of the steering wheel. I won't be needing the wheel for a little while.

Steve,

That's ideal. I'll phone you to discuss.

Regards,

John.

p.s I won't take the car to S'ton if they're likely to cause me ball ache!

Hi, I have the steering wheel with the airbag and was a little concerned with it exploding if I tried to drill the rivets out. But looking at it the rivets only go through some very soft plastic on the steering pad so I just cut around them and removed the bag in about 30 secs. And it still fits in perfectly.

my question is how do I dispose of the bag ? I presume it is too dangerous to throw in the bin.


any ideas

thanks

Providing the air bag can be clamped securly in a vise the best way to dispose of it is to set it off
I have seen quite a phew done this way
Two bits of wire 5 meters plus in length (safe distance way)eep:
Apply 12 Volt and watch it explod

(This is at your own risk) you get a nice big bang and a big white bag