How to Install 996 Steering Wheel in Late Model 944/968

[zooklm1]

Marc,
Thank you for raising this back up. I think the newer steering wheel has a 2 stage airbag and have not seen any posts trying to adapt it to earlier airbag models. Also, for people’s info, the early years (sim to 996) Boxster steering wheels would also work for the mod. I plan on changing the wheel on my 968 tiptronic to have the shift buttons on the steering wheel and will also add paddles.
Lee

[fasterfaster]

Marc,
Thank you for raising this back up. I think the newer steering wheel has a 2 stage airbag and have not seen any posts trying to adapt it to earlier airbag models. Also, for people’s info, the early years (sim to 996) Boxster steering wheels would also work for the mod. I plan on changing the wheel on my 968 tiptronic to have the shift buttons on the steering wheel and will also add paddles.
Lee

Ah, thanks for the heads up. Yeah, looks like the 996 and 987.1 were the last single stage bags. Didn't realize. Whelp, I guess that means a dive into the 944 srs control module. I'm betting I can set it up to trigger the 70% stage 1 in an event. And maybe it can be set up to trigger both in an event. Setting up true two-stage sounds like more trouble than it's worth.

[Sansho]

While not a 99x steering wheel, another option is the non-airbag 968 Clubsport wheel. There are several threads around, including Carpokes, on how to install it - easiest if no airbag involved, or adding a resistor in place of the airbag. Passenger airbag stays functional unless you choose to disable it.

[fasterfaster]

While not a 99x steering wheel, another option is the non-airbag 968 Clubsport wheel. There are several threads around, including Carpokes, on how to install it - easiest if no airbag involved, or adding a resistor in place of the airbag. Passenger airbag stays functional unless you choose to disable it.

Yeah, if eliminating the airbag there are a ton of easy options, and I agree I like the esthetic of a fully padded wheel like the clubsport or the Nardi Gara. That's a pretty straightforward swap, but on a street driven car with a 3 point seat-belt it feels irresponsible to lose the airbag. The look and feel of my wheel aren't more important to me than my safety.

[Jotronic]

While not a 99x steering wheel, another option is the non-airbag 968 Clubsport wheel. There are several threads around, including Carpokes, on how to install it - easiest if no airbag involved, or adding a resistor in place of the airbag. Passenger airbag stays functional unless you choose to disable it.

Yeah, if eliminating the airbag there are a ton of easy options, and I agree I like the esthetic of a fully padded wheel like the clubsport or the Nardi Gara. That's a pretty straightforward swap, but on a street driven car with a 3 point seat-belt it feels irresponsible to lose the airbag. The look and feel of my wheel aren't more important to me than my safety.

That's the entire point of this tutorial, because there are multiple threads across various websites talking about how to swap out a non-airbag wheel. This is one of only two or three that talks about putting in a newer airbag wheel into our airbag equipped cars and the only complete tutorial remaining for this particular wheel into our cars. I feel the same way about the Clubsport wheels. I like them, they look good, but I feel it's taking something away from my car if I go "backwards" in that regard. Not to mention if I ever move back to the US I don't know how they'll look at that issue.