Aftermarket Steering Wheel Hub
I hope someone can help with this problem.
Because of my increasing disability and height (194cms before the back surgery) I do have a lot of trouble getting in and out of my AW11, as most who have seen me do it will agree. It's not a pleasant sight because I don't have any power in my left leg, although as I do have a full Disabled Parking Permit my using the MR2 to get around does cause some very strange looks and sometimes rude comments when I stop in a disabled parking spot. I am determined not to let this disability stop me from enjoying these cars and living my life "normally" but the AW11 is getting tighter to get in and out of, so I recently found a nice early automatic SW20 (pictures in the Showroom if you are interested).
My ADub has a cutaway aftermarket steering wheel which allows me easier access, and I was hoping to fit a similar wheel to the SDub. However, I have found that the hub on the SDub is much more complicated than that on the ADub, and the aftermarket hub I was sold as suitable for the SDub doesn't fit at all. This is due mainly to the horn electrical connection piece that sticks up about 3cm from the left of the hub centre, and the spline shaft not being deep enough to seat the new hub properly.
I discussed this with both of our Club's esteemed Technical Directors (Dennis and Scope) at "Motors In Motion" yesterday (see the post in Queensland if you are interested) and the consensus was that the wheel hub on my SDub was probably either the precursor to the later model airbag fitting, or it could have been Toyota used some left-over Celica bits on the early cars until the specific MR2 bits became available. The chassis serial number on my SDub is 000000217 so according to the on-line records it is really a 1989 JDM model. I can't believe I own two 1989 MR2's that are so completely different.
I wanted to find out if anyone had fitted an aftermarket wheel to one of the early SW20 models, and if so what make and part number (if available) of hub was used, and where this was purchased from. Any advice on the subject would be very helpful, including if there is any experience with similar age Celica's. The ADub was a very simple fitting with the horn earth ring visible but this one on the SW20 isn't. The earth ring is hidden under what appears to be a plastic circular clip that can move up and down slightly under spring tension.
Apart from the original wheel being really unattractive any increase in leg swing space brought about by fitting the aftermarket wheel would be gratefully welcomed. Thanks in advance, Walter.
Tralfaz
1989 AW11 SC G-Limited; all original and staying that way.
PLUS
SW20 G-Limited BEAMS
So much choice, so little time.