STEERING wheel upgrade.....
07-15-08, 02:34 PM
#76
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I've been looking around for 2001 gs430 or rx300 steering wheel. It looks like 2002 - 2004 ES300 or ES330 are the same steering wheel and it seems there's plenty of those around and cheap. So is there any thing different like in the wire harnesses of those wheels I should be concern about? I'm sure I still gotta look around for 2001 gs430 airbag for it though...
12-03-10, 05:55 AM
#77
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Mr Clean, you are only incorrect on including the 98' SC as having a 3 spoke. The 98' still came with the fat ugly 4 spoke. 99-00 are the only OEM 3 spoker's!
12-04-10, 11:13 AM
#78
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I spent hours searching in this forum trying to figure out the range and exceptions of swapping a stock steering wheels.
I found you
My IS350 seats just came in =D. On to the next one (steering wheel)
I found you
If you have lets say an 92-97 SC...you'll have a 4 spoke steering wheel. You can find a SC steering wheel from a 98-00 model and be able to install that into your car. You'll then have a newer look of a 3spoke wheel and not have all that extra junk you're talking about.
But, you can setup those buttons to control other things in your car. Those buttons on mine will control my volume/change tracks on my carputer.
If you want a newer wooden steering wheel, steering wheels from 01+ cars such as the ES, GS, SC will bolt-on. You would then have to worry about getting an airbag to fit because most 01+ models with the exception of the RX300 have dual stage airbags which cannot be used on older SC's...
I hope that helped more than confused...
But, you can setup those buttons to control other things in your car. Those buttons on mine will control my volume/change tracks on my carputer.
If you want a newer wooden steering wheel, steering wheels from 01+ cars such as the ES, GS, SC will bolt-on. You would then have to worry about getting an airbag to fit because most 01+ models with the exception of the RX300 have dual stage airbags which cannot be used on older SC's...
I hope that helped more than confused...
03-28-13, 03:18 PM
#85
But I would like to use the above wheel he has.
Now correct me if I am wrong, but anything '02 and newer there is a two stage air bag. Where as, anything pre '01 pretty much anything will fit.
But if I bought a '02 or newer wheel, even if I buy the correct pre '01 airbag, it still won't fit because the airbag itself is to small for the design of the '02 and newer airbags.
So I guess anyone with a pre '98 SC is stuck with getting a wheel and airbag from a pre '01 Toyota/Lexus?
I'm sure I goofed up on something, but please do correct me where I am wrong.
Thanks for the help guys.
11-26-13, 07:36 AM
#86
As the owner of the wheel pictured above I can tell you that there are 2 sizes of single-stage (pre '01) airbags. The larger one that came on 92-97 SC's as well as LS models, and a smaller diameter version that came on RX, GS, and some other Toyota models like Celica, Matrix, and Rav4. To add to the fun there are 3 different connectors that came on the single-stage airbag modules.
I used the small diameter airbag from a '00 Celica and it had a different plug so I used a tool to remove the 1992 airbag pigtail from my original airbag and transferred it onto the Celica bag. It worked fine on the 1992 I have but I have an issue with it in the 1996 model.
I just transferred this wheel/airbag assembly from my 1992 SC400 onto my "new-to-me" 1996 SC400 and this time I have an airbag check-light on my dash. It's an OBD2 car so I'm hoping I can clear it with the scanner tool...
BTW - SAFETY TIP - Unhook your battery and leave it unhooked for at least 30 minutes before attempting to remove an airbag!
I used the small diameter airbag from a '00 Celica and it had a different plug so I used a tool to remove the 1992 airbag pigtail from my original airbag and transferred it onto the Celica bag. It worked fine on the 1992 I have but I have an issue with it in the 1996 model.
I just transferred this wheel/airbag assembly from my 1992 SC400 onto my "new-to-me" 1996 SC400 and this time I have an airbag check-light on my dash. It's an OBD2 car so I'm hoping I can clear it with the scanner tool...
BTW - SAFETY TIP - Unhook your battery and leave it unhooked for at least 30 minutes before attempting to remove an airbag!
11-26-13, 12:02 PM
#87
I did this mod on my S C and it is the single greatest upgrade other than a turbo upgrade. What EVERY ONE fails to tell you is that it's difficult if you don't have a level or have marked the toothed grooves of the out going wheels...... that it will take a few tries to get the new steering wheel aligned correctly and if you pull the bag enough or ride without it you with throw the airbag dash warning in the cluster....and that's annoying and hard as hell to get rid of. But again. ..The look and feel of a woodgrain wheel and a chrome emblem in front of you really does make a difference.
