Installed Si steering wheel in EX Coupe

[stevieray]

Decided that I wanted to have a leather steering wheel for my EX Coupe so rather than install the leather steering wheel cover (which looks like shit IMO), I decided to see how much the Si steering wheel would cost. Checked with JR at hondacuraworld.com and to my surprise, the entire wheel was only $157.50! The wheel arrived after about 2 weeks (special order, obviously) and I installed it yesterday in about 1 1/2 hours. The HELM manual says that you have to have a steering wheel puller for removal but once you remove the SW nut, a couple of swift whacks will loosen it enough to come off. Just swap all of the components from the EX wheel over, make sure all of the screws are tight, reinstall the new SW, torque the nut to 39 n/m (newton meters), reinstall the air bag and you are good to go. An experienced technician could definitely do this install quicker but I like to be extra careful when screwing around with airbags and clocksprings.

I would strongly recommend that for this install you have the HELM and make absolutely sure that you are in a work space big enough to ensure your front wheels are exactly straight. Also, after you remove the SW nut but before you pull the old SW off, make sure you mark its position so the new SW goes back on the correct spline. Enjoy---

[mmm def]

I know what the wheels looks like but I'd still like to see pics if you have them :)

[Silver8th]

Did you have to deploy the airbag?

[Draven11722]

I didn't even know that a reguler civic didn't have a leather wheel.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by mmm def

I know what the wheels looks like but I'd still like to see pics if you have them :)

Looks just like this because I have Navi:


No, I didn't have to deploy the airbag. Just unplug the SRS connector & horn plug on the underside of the SW, remove the two #30 Torx screws holding it in and the airbag comes right out. Just remember to remove the negative battery terminal and wait 3 minutes before working on any SRS-related equipment.

[GregM]

That doesn't look like leather. It has dimples everywhere like a synthetic of some type. The OEM wheel cover is real leather. Not sure why you think it looks like crap. It costs $100 less to buy and takes an hour less time to install.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by GregM

That doesn't look like leather. It has dimples everywhere like a synthetic of some type. The OEM wheel cover is real leather. Not sure why you think it looks like crap. It costs $100 less to buy and takes an hour less time to install.

Well, that pic is from the Honda website and what I have is definitely not synthetic and those are not "dimples", they're perforations. It's also real moo **** cow leather (as Lewis Black would say). Not sure why you're so defensive. I'm merely presenting another option for those interested. I stand by my comment that compared to the Si leather steering wheel, the OEM accessory leather cover looks like shit, in my opinion because it doesn't cover the spokes like the Si version. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, though.

Also, if you can install a steering wheel cover in 30 minutes, it's either el cheapo or you ain't doing it right. I know this from installing 2 Wheelskins covers in the last year. To get it laced correctly and pulled tight is 2 hours minimum, provided your hands don't turn to hamburger.

[GregM]

I think your mod is great, but just sharing my own observations. I've never seen perforated leather like that.
I also prefer the all-black wheel that came stock on the LX to the silver moulding on the spokes of the SI wheel.
I guess the deciding factor is whether you need a cover. those of us who are not the cleanest people need to protect the wheel from our hands. the OEM cover fits right and feels great. If it gets grungy after a couple years, I can snip it off and get another one.

This looks like the cover over the SI wheel...

[exbauer]

I have tried to put on the leather steering wheel cover and it is a pain and i didn't like the turn out. i think that is a better way to go and i like the coupe steering wheel more than the sedan. does anybody know if it is interchangable?

[CameronJr9]

Originally Posted by exbauer

I have tried to put on the leather steering wheel cover and it is a pain and i didn't like the turn out. i think that is a better way to go and i like the coupe steering wheel more than the sedan. does anybody know if it is interchangable?

I don't know why it wouldn't be. If you want to pay the money, I'm sure you could do the same thing stevieray did.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by GregM

I think your mod is great, but just sharing my own observations. I've never seen perforated leather like that.
I also prefer the all-black wheel that came stock on the LX to the silver moulding on the spokes of the SI wheel.
I guess the deciding factor is whether you need a cover. those of us who are not the cleanest people need to protect the wheel from our hands. the OEM cover fits right and feels great. If it gets grungy after a couple years, I can snip it off and get another one.

This looks like the cover over the SI wheel...

I hear ya. I'm pretty anal about my EX interior so the Si wheel will get cleaned on a regular basis. That pic you posted looks better than the one that somebody else posted up where they had installed it themselves. I like the perforated grip because of the feel and the fact that I've always wanted perforated leather seats (another mod that I'm thinking about). It's not quite as "thick-feeling" as the stock EX wheel but that's something I'll get used to.

I don't see why you couldn't install the Si wheel in an LX but I think you would have to order the EX/Si back plate as well because I think it's different (3 spokes vs. 2 spokes). It's all good----

[GregM]

My LX wheel has three spokes...I dig it because it is all black. No silver on the spokes. I believe the sedans have only two spokes. Some people like to put their hand at 6:00 so I can see the advantage. But I'm with you; i prefer 3 spokes.

Maybe someday I will get the Si steering wheel, but the draw for me is the stereo controls which do not come on the LX. If there is a way to hook those up, it would be worth the extra $$.

[S treet I llegal]

my si steering wheel look like the pix stevieray show

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by GregM

My LX wheel has three spokes...I dig it because it is all black. No silver on the spokes. I believe the sedans have only two spokes. Some people like to put their hand at 6:00 so I can see the advantage. But I'm with you; i prefer 3 spokes.

Maybe someday I will get the Si steering wheel, but the draw for me is the stereo controls which do not come on the LX. If there is a way to hook those up, it would be worth the extra $$.

Greg, you might want to check and see if the SW harness for the stereo & cruise switches is available separately because I know the switch bank is. That harness plugs in right below the SW nut and I can't help but think that Honda used a common harness from the SW to the radio and the difference between LX/EX is the absence of the switch bank and/or different harnesses in the SW itself. Just had a thought---wait one...

In fact, College Hills Honda shows the EX stereo & cruise switches as an "assembly" which would indicate to me that the harness is part of it. BTW, the "assembly" is $96.24 from them. I'm sure there might be some miscellaneous trim pieces that you need to make it all fit together but it might be worth checking out---