Ralph:

Got the wheel in today. I'll be putting it on this weekend if I can work up the nerve. Mechanical stuff, no problem. Electrical stuff, no problem. Interior bits over the years - big problems for some reason. Now I am gun shy.

Any tips? Took the horn pad off the new wheel. Looks like the wire from the steering column goes in the back of the wheel through a small hole. ???

Mark,

Congratulations! Hope it looks as good in person to you as in the images you've seen.

I did mine way over a year ago and some of the details are pretty foggy, but I do remember that it was a pretty straightforward install.

Some points that I do remember:

1) It was tough to break the nut loose that holds the wheel to the splined shaft. I don't think that my stock wheel had been off before.

2) Make sure you are aware of how the stock wheel comes off in relation to the splined shaft. I would mark one of the splines with a marking pen and than orient the new wheel in the same manner as you took off the original wheel. If you happen to get disoriented and mount the new wheel off a spline or two, you know what happens: It will be slightly cocked to the left or right when driving and force you to do it again.

3) I'm a pretty big guy with large hands, and probably the biggest problem I had was getting the horn contact reconnected, the washer to stay on the spline and than the nut started on the spline. My fingers were just too big for how far down you need to go in the small hole provided and I didn't look graceful but I managed to get it done pretty quickly anyway.

If numbers 1, 2 and 3 go smoothly, you'll be done in no time. If they don't, it's not a timed race, exercise some patience and get back to it.

Anyone else want to chime in? I'm sure someone else can provide some useful tips.

Ralph

Just to compare notes:

I couldn't make the nut budge with a breaker bar while holding the wheel. One light zap with my impact gun though and it spun loose.

Getting the wheel on the right splines isn't a big deal. Just to try it, I installed it one spline off and the wheel is way off. It would be obvious. I don't think there's any real need to mark it.

I used needle nosed pliers to get the washer back on the steering column shaft. It was tougher getting the nut on.

I got tripped up putting the horn pad back together. The three little black gromets are not all the same though they look the same. The lower one is different and must be in the lower position for the horn pad to work correctly. Those little black screws are really short and only screw into a tiny bit of plastic. Don't over tighten and strip them.

My only (small) dissapointment is that I thought the wheel would have been smaller in diameter. It still hits the tops of my legs like the stock wheel when I turn it 180 degrees. Other than that I love the feel, the fit and finish, and beautiful leather.

Thanks for the input Anthony. If memory serves me right, the stock wheel is 380mm in diameter and the new tequipment wheel is 360mm, so you should notice a bit of a difference.

Wish I had an impact wrench when doing it. I used a breaker bar and with some oomph got it to break loose.

You're probably right about the spline issue, I didn't know how blatantly off it would be until going in and doing it so I marked it just in case.

I tried putting the nut into the socket but than pointing it downwards toward the shaft the nut would drop out. After a couple of failed attempts, ended up putting a small piece of paper between the nut and socket to hold the nut tight until I could get it started on the threads. Worked like a charm.

I think you should be getting the point that it isn't rocket science and even if you are mechanically declined, this is still a job that can be handled.

Ralph

Definitely not rocket science. Even with futzing around with the breaker bar the hornpad I figured it out in 15 minutes.

I went down and measured. Stock wheel = 15" 930S wheel = 14"

I think it feels like it hits my legs more because the wheel is mounted more eccentrically than the stock wheel. I still love the wheel.

Well, it looks like all of the talk on this board has caused a run on these wheels. I called my local dealer today, and he said all nine that were in Germany a couple of weeks ago are now gone. Is this something that Porsche will reorder or are they gone for good? If NLA, I bet that these original wheels will command quite a premium in the future.

Chris, that is a good question that unfortunately I cannot answer. But here is the good news, you still may be be able to get a similar wheel. There is in fact another part number that I didn't disclose earlier. When I did my research way back in May 2003, I talked with the dealer, than with PCNA in Atlanta, and than got an email address to someone at the parts warehouse in Germany since the guys stateside couldn't answer my questions.

There are two different non-airbag sport wheels for >89 911's with two different part numbers. I wanted to know what the differences were. The first number is of course 000 043 161 00 with various color codes (which is what we have all bought) and the other wheel that is supposedly exactly alike is part number 000 044 400 10. The only color code available with that wheel is 8YR (black). And, this sport wheel is actually a bit cheaper than the one that we have all bought.

The parts guy in Germany english was very broken and I am not sure that he fully grasped my questions. After looking at both, he said the two wheels whose part numbers I referenced above are similar in appearance but were manufactured at different times by different vendors. He also said that the other wheel (000 044 400 10) did not come with a hub, which I found odd. How does one mount it than? This is why I wonder if he fully grasped my email. I shot him another email trying to get a better explanation but he never responded. Tired of dealing with the inquisitive American I guess. This sport wheel was also not available in the States at the time while the 000 043 161 00 8YR was available at Porsche's main parts warehouses in Ontario, CA and Atlanta.

My local dealer balked when I asked if I could buy both and than return one. Special order only, no returns. I figured I would pay the extra $40 and get the sport wheel with the hub and not have to worry about it.

Again, this is what my research turned up but please remember that I have not actually seen part number 000 044 400 10 8YR to confirm that what was told to me is in fact true. It may come with a hub, it may not. You can also try ordering 000 043 161 00 with one of the different color codes unless you really want black.

Just trying to give you another option...I swear I don't have any more steering wheel secrets to share!

Ralph

The ebay guy has them still:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7917793869


Too bad he raised the price. Give him a call. Maybe he'll give you a better deal if he doesn't have to pay ebay fees.

Finally got around to installing the wheel today. It was not too bad a job.

I do have a concern though. I ordered and received the 8YR part. However, the black color is nowhere near as black as my dash or seats. Its not gray, but its not "black" black either. I really did not notice until after I got the wheel installed and took the car into the sun.

Is yours the same way? Can't tell by the pictures.

Mark

Yes, my wheel is black and what I expected it to look like. My interior is Linen and my dash is dark blue with some black accents, so I can't really provide a direct comparison to the seats or dash for example. My wheel only looks gray in the pictures I posted because the sun was beating down on it. In person, the wheel is black to an observer.

Ralph

Thanks Ralph. When I took my wheel out of the box it looked black. It was only when the wheel was installed that I noticed the difference.

Does anyone have this wheel with a black interior? If so, are you seeing the same shade difference I noted in a previous post?

Yes, I see the difference. My 930S wheel is black but not as dark a black as the stock SC interior. I don't care; the wheel looks great.

OK, well that makes me feel somewhat better. I say "somewhat" because I am a perfectionist and this will drive me nuts for a while. I'll adapt I guess.

It does feel and look great other than the shade difference though!

The wheel Pelican/AJUSA sells looks darker. You could switch but you get lower quality and no embossing.

Nope, if I have to compromise I'll compromise on shade. Besides, the d*mn thing is too hard to remove! :)

I wonder if I could dye it darker? Naa, I'll leave it alone I guess.

While trolling the net today to look for a different wheel, a Tecequipment 993RS, I accidently came across an English site that sells two 930S wheels...they are actually called on the site a 930S MK1 and MK2. The MK2 has an inset cloisenne (?) in the traditional gold background (NOT embossed...actually an inset emblem), wheras the MK1 is the one everyone buys here from Pelican or AJ-USA, with the Cloisenne that sits on top of the hub without indent. Ask me the name of the site, I can't remember! D'Oh!

If you search Yahoo under 993RS Steering Wheel, I'm sure you'll get the same link, though. It cost approx. 30 Pounds more than the Mk1, if I recall correctly.