Non-airbag Steering Wheel into a 993 Street Car

[sand_man]

I'm sure that I already know the answer ("safety first"), but is there any sage wisdom for a guy who longs to install a steering wheel WITHOUT an airbag in his airbag equipped 993? Maybe I'm asking you to talk me in off of the ledge.

My car is a daily driven street car. I've owned many more cars without airbags than with. I know that if I were smart, I'd play it safe, and just install the typical three spoke 996 airbag equipped wheel. But dammit, I like this one!!!! So beyond the unnoticeable weight savings, this is a total vanity mod. I wonder if there are insurance considerations, about disabling factory equipped safety equipment? And I wonder how good the 20 year old airbag in my car, really is?

[David in VA]

I can't say about insurance or legal aspects but I have that exact same wheel in my mostly track driven 993 and it is absolutely perfect. Alcantara wears pretty quickly and acquires patina, you can also get it in leather. You can sort of see it here:

[sand_man]

Thanks for the response, David! Yep, that's the one. A while back I sat in a track car that had this wheel and just fell in love with the feel. Before I sold my 930, this was gonna be my next mod, and that car already had a nice aftermarket Momo (installed by the previous owner).

[David in VA]

I'm assuming you know this but just in case. The Momo Mod. 07 is the exact same wheel as the Porsche one but without the logo. Much less $$ as I remember. I got mine here, pretty good service and they had the Porsche horn button.

Momo, Koni, Piaa, Denso, Eibach, Hawk, Sparco at LTB Autosports

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by David in VA

I'm assuming you know this but just in case. The Momo Mod. 07 is the exact same wheel as the Porsche one but without the logo. Much less $$ as I remember. I got mine here, pretty good service and they had the Porsche horn button.

Momo, Koni, Piaa, Denso, Eibach, Hawk, Sparco at LTB Autosports

Yes, good point. The non-Porsche branded one is what I intend to go with.

[BimmerDob]

Do you have a dual airbag discount code on INS policy, if so, they may want their discount back.

[Nine9six]

You are going to want to pull the airbag light...

[David in VA]

You are going to want to pull the airbag light...

Actually you can wire in a resistor so the airbag light doesn't come on. Pretty simple as I recall.

David

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by David in VA

Actually you can wire in a resistor so the airbag light doesn't come on. Pretty simple as I recall.

David

Yes, that's what I was planning. I think I stumbled onto a DIY or Rennlist thread for this.

[TheSt|G]

It is illegal to remove an airbag, but generally no one cares/notices.

I tossed my airbag wheel in the first week of buying my 911 for a Protipo(flat Mod 7). It was close to 30 years old and the factory recommended changing interval is every 10. Early airbags especially are also a pretty minor contributor to safety. I did rebuild/reweb my seatbelts immediately though, as they are hugely important.

My better half at the helm with the wheel:

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

It is illegal to remove an airbag, but generally no one cares/notices.

I tossed my airbag wheel in the first week of buying my 911 for a Protipo(flat Mod 7). It was close to 30 years old and the factory recommended changing interval is every 10. Early airbags especially are also a pretty minor contributor to safety. I did rebuild/reweb my seatbelts immediately though, as they are hugely important.

The seatbelts are on my list of items to R&R. I did them in my 930. Just out of curiosity, what was your source for the belts? Or did you go full harness?

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by sand_man

The seatbelts are on my list of items to R&R. I did them in my 930. Just out of curiosity, what was your source for the belts? Or did you go full harness?

I used Seatbelt Planet. We had a hiccup mid project that was neither party's fault, yet the owner of the company personally contacted me to make sure it was handled correctly. Nothing but good things to say.

In the end I got new retractors and belts, webbed to my existing buckles and mounts, which yielded a perfect OE fit install. I would definitely not use a harness on the street for safety reasons.


I got them in red(photo makes them look pinker than they are) which pairs very well with my red RSA door pulls. I also quite like that they transferred my original labels to them:

[sand_man]

Thanks Stig! Yeah, no plans for a harness for me....just wanted to make sure we were on the same page about factory belts.

[sand_man]

I like the red.

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by David in VA

I'm assuming you know this but just in case. The Momo Mod. 07 is the exact same wheel as the Porsche one but without the logo. Much less $$ as I remember. I got mine here, pretty good service and they had the Porsche horn button.

Momo, Koni, Piaa, Denso, Eibach, Hawk, Sparco at LTB Autosports

This language was on the LTB Autosports Website, LOL:

For cars with airbag Every automobile manufactured in the United States must be equipped with an automatic restraint system which meets federal safety standards. MOMO has been advised it may well be a violation of federal law for any manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repair facility to remove an airbag or otherwise render it inoperative. Accordingly, federal law should be regarded as prohibiting MOMO distributors from removing an airbag steering wheel and replacing it with MOMO steering wheel. MOMO Expressly disclaims any liability for any and all damages, injury, or other recovery related to any MOMO steering wheel installed in a vehicle previously having an airbag system.

[cgfen]

Originally Posted by sand_man

I'm sure that I already know the answer ("safety first"), but is there any sage wisdom for a guy who longs to install a steering wheel WITHOUT an airbag in his airbag equipped 993? Maybe I'm asking you to talk me in off of the ledge.

you like it?
use it!

Don't count on me to talk you off the ledge...............................

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by cgfen

Don't count on me to talk you off the ledge...............................

And is that you, cgfen, standing at "the ledge"? SHEEEESH!

[sand_man]

I have decided to do it. I'm in the process of gathering the parts. Thus far, here is the best write-up I have seen on the interweb, for removal and handling the airbag and horn:
http://www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/993/RSsteeringwheel/RSsteeringwheel.htm

Another one, but assumes the installation of a 996 wheel, with airbag:
http://www.pcarworkshop.com/index.php/993_-_3_Spoke_Steering_Wheel

[David in VA]

I think you're going to like it, found another picture including one happy kid. The yellow paint on one of the "M"'s came off in one piece so the wheel is now a MO O.

[sand_man]

Thanks to all for the advice and support. sand_man has jumped....