late model steering wheel easy swap?

93Leg-c · Post by **93Leg-c** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:18 am

I've got a '93 Legacy. I'd like to swap my stock steering wheel (has airbag) for a late model one, whether it be from a Legacy, Impreza, etc. but only if the horn will blow when I press anywhere in the center section of the wheel. I've had to use the horn 3 times in the past couple of weeks due to inattentive drivers turning into me and I couldn't find those mini horn buttons so I've had to stomp on the brakes hard or swerve off the road. Those horn buttons are a safety hazard! And I'd like to keep the car looking stock as possible so I figured the original equipment late model steering wheels may fit my needs.

Oh, I'd like to know: Will the late model wheel fit my steering column without modifications? Can I just remove my '93 wheel and install the newer wheel? Is it tricky removing the airbag and reinstalling the new one? And, will the airbag in the newer wheel work with the electrical hookup of the '93 Legacy?

Any help anyone can provide will be much appreciated.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:53 am

IIRC it's almost a complete bolt on.

I really want a WRX wheel one of these days.

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 12:54 am

I thought late model airbags were the 2-stage depowered kind so they wouldn't work right with our airbag systems.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:26 am

I believe the harness must just be modified and plugged in. As I said, someone here has the WRX wheel.

I don't know if their air-bag works or not, and I don't think they do either.

I would almost rather not have an air-bag, but that's because I could get creative in gauge placement if the controller wasn't where it is

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:38 am

Yeah... That controller is in a sucky position. My 91 L had a cool storage pocket there!

93Leg-c · Post by **93Leg-c** » Thu Apr 29, 2004 1:45 am

Beginning in what year were the two-stage airbags installed?

HomeSlice · Post by **HomeSlice** » Tue May 04, 2004 1:30 am

i think 97 up had duel stage i got a 01 rs wheel on my 93L--no airbag no more- you cant modify the wiring to work- without replacing the brain and all the sensors and wires.

93Leg-c · Post by **93Leg-c** » Wed May 05, 2004 6:39 am

Thanks for all the info. The newer steering wheels are nice, such as the WRX wheels. But I want the safety of the airbag as insurance. If the '96 wheel is still of the single stage variety, then I'll see if I can get one of those.

QuickDrive · Post by **QuickDrive** » Wed May 05, 2004 12:29 pm

I want the Ver3 Sti wheel like LegacyT has. It seems all the ones on ebay lately are charging a fortune for shipping...

Of course they're mostly in Hong Kong or Tokyo..

DeusExMachina · Post by **DeusExMachina** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 7:00 am

Just curious, where is the airbag controller? I have a 1991 without an airbag. I think I'm going to get sporty with a Momo or Nardi steering wheel.

Wondering if I can do something creative with more gauges where the controller is supposed to be.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:00 am

its right under the ashtray, mounted to the floor. The molding that covers it looks hideous compared to non-airbaged cars (yet another reason why the 90-91's are so much better inside and out

)

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:36 am

hey now! my 92 has no airbags.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:45 am

most of the interior is still unattractive, and the front of it definately is.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:54 am

i like my interior.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:11 am

nothing wrong with that

kastrix · Post by **kastrix** » Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:27 am

I wish mine were dark blue

omahasubaru · Post by **omahasubaru** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:04 pm

When you guys are removing your airbag equipped wheels for something else. Do you get a CEL or any warning lights because of it not being functional?

I know the Late Model cars through a constant code and it requires a resistor to fool the system to not show the CEL.

Just curious as I'm hoping to pick up a SS soon and will want to ditch the steering wheel for a non-airbag one from my supplier Primm Racing and was hoping it wouldn't generate a CEL as then I'd remove all the airbag equipment (sensors, brain, etc.) since it will no longer be needed.

Thanks - Jon

tris91ricer · Post by **tris91ricer** » Wed May 25, 2005 5:06 pm

if anything, because the airbag is a separate computer unit, the 'air bag' light in the dash would probably A) flash or B) stay on.
Both are pretty easily ignored. Although, if you removed the ENTIRE airbag system (which you should, if you've removed just the steering wheel/air bag) you should take out as much as possible --the computer, most of the wiring, etc..

I personally would prefer to have the airbags deactivated in ANY car I drive. The passenger airbag could stay, but, as a driver, I'm pretty sure my hands/arms/whatever are gonna be hard-on that steering wheel, so I doubt I'd be eating it. The passengers don't always have something to brace themselves with, so it might be better to leave that one in tact, just to (pun intended

) . . . save face.

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late model steering wheel easy swap?

late model steering wheel easy swap?