Renault, Peugeot, Citroen cars steering wheel spacer installation
Valid for:
Many Renault, Peugeot and Citroen cars share the core of the steering wheel, or just the spline machining fitment. So, our steering wheel spacers are a combination of mutual parts assembled together differently, depending on the car they are destinated to, in order to accomodate gaps and offsets coming from different dashboards and steering wheel’s shape.
You can follow this list:
- Renault: Alpine A110, Clio 2, 3 and 4, Megane 2, 3 and 4, Twingo 2 and 3, Laguna 3, Capture, Trafic.
- Peugeot: 206, 207, 208, 306, 307, 308, RCZ
- Citroen: DS3, DS4, C2, C3
- Smart: ForTwo W453, which share the Twingo 3 platform and fitment
ATTENTION:
1) The kit is pre-assembled, there is no need to unscrew the 5 Allen screws.
2) Carry out the procedure after disconnecting the battery, to avoid lights coming on at the end of the work. Wait 30 min after you pulled out the negative terminal.
3) It is not necessary to park with the wheels straight, because the spline has only a possible orientation, determined by 3 thicker teeth that act as markers.
4) Handle cables with care. Also avoid accidentally pulling them hard from the clockspring where they come from, otherwise you may hear a “click” while steering, at the end of the installation. Normal gently handling is not a problem.
PROCEDURE.
Check our videos on both on Youtube and product pages that illustrate how to disassemble the steering wheel. It is enough to see one of a few minutes to get an idea and simplify the whole operation. We keep the list updated every time we have chance to work on a car in the above list.
Installing the spacer is basically an intermediate step, fitting it on the steering column before reassembling the steering wheel.
1) Remove the airbag, which, depending on the model, can be fixed by 2 torx screws behind the steering wheel (in this case, unscrew them) or by two metal clamps that are unlocked by accessing from small holes on the sides of the steering wheel, behind the spokes, with a flat screwdriver.
2) Disconnect all connectors, starting with the airbag connector, and temporarily keep the airbag in a safe place away from everyone. Do not pull on the “force” connectors, as each one has a small, elastic plastic safety device, which intuitively must be unlocked at the moment (video helps)
3) Unlock the central bolt that holds the steering wheel to the steering column. Do not unscrew it completely and just pull out the steering wheel. In fact, it can happen that after years, the steering wheel and the steering column, having never been disassembled, “glue” each other and the steering wheel could suddenly come off and hit your face, and even tear the cables. So, leave the screw loose but still engaged, and ensure the wheel goes back and forth on the wheel.
4) Once ensured the steering wheel slides on the steering column, remove the screw and the steering wheel, gently passing all the cables through the slots. The connectors must be passed one by one, because together they do not pass through.
5) At this point, it may be necessary to extend the airbag cables (depending on the car’s model). If there are two cables, FIRST cut and lengthen one (5 centimeters are enough), and once the first one is finished, proceed with the other, in this way you will avoid exchanging them with the consequent obvious harmful effects on the operation of the airbag.
This link helps more in detail about airbag wiring extension.
6) Insert the spacer into the column, passing the cables and connectors through the internal slot. Put the steering wheel back on the car: insert in the steel part of the spacer, which faithfully reproduces the car’s shaft. Tighten the central screw and keep the original torx bolt aside, in case of future need.
7) Reconnect the battery.
8) Check that everything must work as before:
- steering wheel rotation effort does not change
- no warning lights
- stalk lever still return automatically
- horn pressure feel does not changes
- all steering wheel buttons must work as before, if present
- existing steering wheel adjustment still works, if available
- you should not hear clicks or rubbing noises behind the wheel
END.
