Page 1 of 1
Shift boot and steering wheel questions
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:34 pm
by nicebloke
Just bought a 90 LS Wagon and would like to make the interior a more pleasant environment. I'm buying an STi titanium shift knob but am wondering what can I do about replacing the shift boot. Will a WRX boot fit? Any other suggestions?
Also, I'd like to get a better steering wheel. Are there any drop in replacements that look and feel good and that retain the horn?
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:34 pm
by BAC5.2
You can use any boot you want, just make it fit. Almost all shift boots are universal.
The steering wheel, just requires an adapter hub, and most aftermarkets will bolt on. New WRX wheels bolt right on.
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 9:55 pm
by professor
the titanuim shift knob will leave you with a small problem...any boot you fit will be pulled WAY up, as the original shift knob has a very long shank.
My solution was to retain the original rubber boot, and cut the shift lever shorter and thread more of it. That balances things out. I fit a WRX leather knob I got for $10. The orignal boot, painted black, actually looks pretty good in a retro-cheapo-japanese-car sorta way. Krylon semi-flat black was the ticket, it stuck well and matches the knob and other black surfaces.
I agree 100% about the wheel, I'm still looking for an affordable one. My wheel further aggravates as the foam spins on the metal core, very annoying.
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:15 am
by nicebloke
Well the titanium knob sale fell through so i bought a stock WRX knob and boot. We'll see how that works...
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:38 am
by IronMonkeyL255
I hate my steering wheel with a passion.
My main thing is I want to keep the cruise control, so that would mean messing with some stuff to get it to work with just about any aftermarket wheel.....
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:20 am
by LaureltheQueen
i like my wheel. the leather feels nice on my hands, as does the $200+ I'm saving by not buying an aftermarket one
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:51 am
by evolutionmovement
My aftermarket wheel was less than $100 with the adaptor. I had to add a horn button in the steering column plastic under the wheel as the horn button system on the wheel never worked well. I could have gotten cruise control to work and it would've looked slick, but I lacked the motivation as I never use it anyway. I have a three spoke, fairly small diameter (330 mm ?) with drilled black metal spokes like an older sports car would have. I'm not sure Grant makes them anymore as all I see are rice ones (including one that has multi-colored light up LEDs).
Steve
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:10 am
by LaureltheQueen
i want one with LED's and horn buttons that look like "NOS" buttons
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:34 am
by evolutionmovement
g0 2 p3P 80y5, y0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
s 2 teh V
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:46 am
by azn2nr
grant has cruise kits that you just wire in that make getting a wheel much more plesant. i personaly want to replace mine but i lack the motovaiton to do the horn, not the cruise
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:54 am
by evolutionmovement
The horn's easy. I just moved the wires down to a momentary switch to the bottom right corner of the face of the column under the wheel. Adds some interest, too, as it could be anything.
Steve
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:15 am
by BAC5.2
I just put tape on the center line of my steering wheel. Totally JDM.
Steve thought it was a GRANT wheel

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:33 am
by LaureltheQueen
center line?
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:15 pm
by IronMonkeyL255
330 mm is a 13 inch wheel.
Our (or at least my) wheels are 15 inches.
I was looking at a new wheel awhile ago, but it would end up costing about $150 for the wheel and adapter. Was looking at a simple black 3-spoke from Grant.
I may be able to con my uncle out of a steering wheel, as he has one he never put on his mustang before he sold it........
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:35 pm
by snowjob
I have this wheel
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=33704
I didn't have the hub, so I got a machine shop to cut the spline out of my stock wheel and weld it into the center of this one. It fits well and is soo awsome to drive with.. Highly recomend it. I lost the cruise, but will rewire it later on. mine cost $50us delivered to me though.
Frazer
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:37 pm
by boostjunkie
I wonder if Vikash is using my old wheel? I thought it looked pretty good for the price... it was a Grant unit.
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:50 pm
by evolutionmovement
It does make a big improvement in steering feel.
Steve
Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:26 pm
by vrg3
Jason - Matt is going to use the wheel. I have an airbag in my wheel that I don't want to screw with.
That Grant wheel does feel really nice.