Mazda MX5 NA, NB, NC RX8 Subaru Impreza Forester Steering Wheel Spacer Installation guide
Valid for:
This installation write-up has been made for the steering wheel spacer with part number starting with MX5 NA… or MX5 NB… and MX5 NC…
This steering wheel spacer has been originally made for the MX5 NB, which is the 2nd generation spider made by Mazda. Later on, we discovered that the same spacer can be installed as is on the 3rd generation NC, the RX7, RX8, and after a revision on the engineering, it fits the 1st generation Mx5 NA as well.
Due to condivision of components across different models of same car brand, and cooperation between different car brands, the same steering wheel spacer fits as is on many Subaru cars between late 90s and early 2000s, such as Impreza and Forester and their STI/WRX versions.
Despite the steering wheel looking different from the outside, they have been all made on the same metal frame, which is hidden, and share the same spline pattern and clockspring matching.
This made possible to design and machine the steering wheel spacer in a way that fit all these cars.
NOTES BEFORE INSTALLATION:
1) Park the car with the wheels straight before installation, otherwise you risk “missing a tooth” during assembly and find yourself with the steering wheel slightly off centre while driving straight.
2) Disconnect the battery before starting, thus avoiding the illumination of lights at the end. Wait 30 min to let remaining electric power discharge from the car.
3) Be careful when handling the cables coming out from the clockspring behind the steering wheel, do not pull them even accidentally and unlock the connector clip before disconnecting, otherwise you risk to damage or rotate too much the steering angle sensor and hearian annoying “click” while driving, and you have to do the whole procedure again. Don’t worry, this problem comes if you really pulled the wires hard, you can’t generate this problem while just handling the wires.
INSTALLATION
Check the video tutorial at the bottom of the product page, or many videos on the internet that show how to disassemble the steering wheel of the MX-5. Watching one or two before starting helps to do everything more comfortably and without doing damage. In any case, we’ll summarize the main points here.
1) Remove the airbag from the steering wheel by unscrewing the two torx screws on the sides of the steering wheel. It may be necessary to remove rubber plugs that hide them from view. When the airbag unit is in your hands, disconnect the connectors behind it, do not just pull them: unlock the mini-safety clips first.
2) Leave the airbag safely, badge towards the sky and away from children.
3) Unscrew the center nut without removing it, first make sure that the steering wheel slides along the steering column. In fact, after years, the aluminum steering wheel and the steel column tend to stick together and if you pull hard to unlock, the steering wheel can suddenly come out hitting your face and tearing the wires. The steering wheel can be so hard to pull out that it is suggested to use an extractor, which simplifies everything considerably. Insert 2 screws into the holes provided on the steering wheel and screw in the central pin of the extractor. It only takes half a turn to unlock the steering wheel (with a nice “knock”).
4) When you are sure that the steering wheel comes out, remove it.
5) Now you can see the clockspring (rotating contact with pending wires) and the steering column on the car. Depending on model year, you may need or not to extend the wires inside the steering wheel, if so, cut the rubber clamp inside the steering wheel frame which force the wire’s route, (see photo) gaining a few centimeters.
mazda nb nc OEM wires lenght gain
7) Insert the aluminium part of the spacer into the column, respecting the orientation of the slots. The spacer reproduces the grooves of the steering wheel. The wiring must be routed through the in line slot. Tighten the center nut that previously held the steering wheel. Have someone help hold the spacer (and column) in place while tightening the nut. CLEAN HANDS AND NO FINGER RINGS, otherwise the cover will scratch.
8) Screw the steel part of the spacer to the aluminum part, using the allen bolts.
9) Slide the steering wheel onto the steel part of the spacer, which is a copy of the steering column. Tighten the central nut and gently pass the wires through the slots provided to reach the connector on the steering angle sensor.
10) Be careful when putting the airbag back inside the steering wheel : the wires behind it must not be pressed, otherwise the horn may always remain running when you reconnect the battery: re-attach the connector to the airbag and push the exceeding wires in the room inside the spacer’s black cover. Again, watching videos of re-assembling the steering wheel on the car can help.
11) Reconnect the battery.
12) 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.
