The 98-00 steering wheel is held by 1 nut, and the airbag is held by 2 six-star screws.
The shape of the 98-00 aitbag is the same as the 95-97 on the outside, but inside it is quite different.

 

Hi Guys

I have recently fitted a leather/wood steering wheel to my gen 1 LS. The wheel is a gen 1 wheel with a "coated" woodgrain and then re-trimmed in leather. I think you will all be impressed! I'll post some pics soon.

 

That's a great add-on. I love the feel of wood when you're gripping the wheel!!
How much did it cost, and where did you get it done?

 

Where did you get your shifter from?? I've ordered one and it's way smaller than the shifter I have. I think they shrunk the size of the shifter in the newer models.
I searched everywhere and can't find the one I want!!

 

I got mine on ebay. It's quite hard to find long one. But I made mistake and bought one with black leather

As an alternative option you can send your **** to american-stitches and have it redone.

 

I also got my shifter from ebay. About $120 if I remember right?

 

Cheaper these days. I got mine for about $80 shipped...

 

Hi Guys

Here are the pics.

The following costs are in Australian dollars:

Woodgrain effect coat - $160
Used donor steering wheel - $40
Leather retrim - $180
Total - $380

As you can see a hell of a lot cheaper than the Japanese and US conversions!

The pics do not do the wheel justice for the money spend.

Cheers!

 

Pic doesn't work.

 

Sorry about the pics guys. Too big. I'll re-post soon.

 

For no reason in the world would i get rid of this car Horta. I simply love it. The steering wheel upgrade and shift **** add so much to it. You still have the most beloved LS there is, even though there is a new body style out now, it doesn't mean anything at all compared to the classic body of your car. I put your car body style in the same group as the 1998 body style of the S-class benz, the BMW 740 from 1999 and the great Jags of the past. Simply classic. If i had to do it all again i would have got the 2000 LS400 with navigation. Car looks great Horta.GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

 

After searching for a way to fit the 98-00 steering wheel + airbag in my 96 LS, I found someone that was selling a 98-00 steering wheel, stating that it will fit in my model with a little "wiring change." This is what he said:

You may have to purchase an electrical drawing book on ebay. I know that
your airbag is the horn button as a whole unit. The newer bag that fits
this wheel has the contacts inside the vinyl of the airbag and the bag is
stationary. The only wiring change is moving the ground for the horn from
the frame of your wheel to the connections on the new airbag for the wood
wheel.

For those of you who didn't know, the 98-00 wheel fits, but you MUST use a 98-00 airbag with it - which does not fit in my airbag harness.

I don't really get it. What does his reponse mean?? Any help appreciated!

 

QUICK QUESTION..

When installing the steering wheel, are the gears (female and male connectors) supposed to sit flush with eachother? My wheel doesn't sit all the way in, I have a feeling that's not right. The steering wheel sits about 5mm above the gear (won't go in any further). I tried hammering at it with a socket, no go.

Let me know if anyone knows or has a pic of how it's supposed to look.

Thanks

 

make sure ur not hammering it into the delicate clockspring....

and what wheel are you installing? wood/leather 99-00 into a 98?

 

Yeah, wood/leather.

The gears weren't sitting flush (I don't know if it's supposed to be like this, should have taken a before pic) but I just screwed it in and it seems fine to me.