replacing steering wheel with leather

D111 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011, 11:27 PM

just purchased a 15" Moto leta reproduction leather wheel from finishline to replace my current
14" BDR steering wheel.

Is there a way of doing this without getting rid of the nice billet aluminum steering boss ?

the mounting holes almost line up. I'd rather not go with the black wrinkle finish boss that's available.

Thanks
dennis

Cashburn · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 06:42 AM

On older BDRs you have to redrill and tap the factory hub/boss for the different wheel pattern. Newer Backdrafts (post 800 or so) are dual-drilled for both wheel styles.

An aftermarket hub will not fit the BDR spline.

15" is a pretty big wheel, it's going to impact your line of sight and/or your leg room. The factory BDR wheel is not 14", it's a bit smaller.

cbreez · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 06:47 AM

You will be fine with a 15 inch wheel regarding sight, legroom, and anything else. In addition, a larger wheel will decrease your steering effort a bit.

If the holes don't line up, drill (using a drill press) and tap.

BBQCYCLEWERKES · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 07:02 AM

I had the same issue when I replaced my steering wheel with a 14" Moto Lita wheel. I considered drilling and tapping the hub, but elected to drill the steering wheel. I centered the front wheels and steering wheel to make sure the wheel was straight. I then removed the center steering wheel hub and marked the steering wheel and hub on top to make sure I installed the Moto Lita wheel correct. I when mached up the 2 steering wheels hub to hub and marked where the holes needed to be. All holes were not near the orig holes so no loss to steering wheel integrity. I drilled the new holes in the Moto Lita wheel and counter sunk the holes for the bolts. I used a small dab of blue loctite and mounted the steering wheel. Lines up straight and no issues. installed the steering wheel center cap and done. took approx 45 minutes to complete. remember to measure twice and drill once.

6t8stang · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 02:04 PM

Did you rotate the wheel all the way around - I don't believe the holes are equally spaced and will only line up with 1 specific orientation.

Rich_ACC · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 02:16 PM

BBQ, is right on the money I did the same with my Mota Lita wheel. I like the feel and have no problems with fitting under the wheel 6'2". Car does not have PS and does not need it.

Rich

D111 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 04:58 PM

thank you very much for the replies

My steering boss does have dual drillings the original weel holes definitely don't line up at all, the alternative six holes line up on some two or three. Tomorrow I will try rotating the weel on the hub to see if the secondary holes somehow line up in a different rotation.the secondary holes are a bigger threat size also.

If not I will do just as BBQ says, so I can just tape both steering wheels back to back then scribe where the holes need to go making sure there is no holes already their and then drill and countersink?

Cashburn · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D111

thank you very much for the replies

My steering boss does have dual drillings the original weel holes definitely don't line up at all, the alternative six holes line up on some two or three. Tomorrow I will try rotating the weel on the hub to see if the secondary holes somehow line up in a different rotation.the secondary holes are a bigger threat size also.

If not I will do just as BBQ says, so I can just tape both steering wheels back to back then scribe where the holes need to go making sure there is no holes already their and then drill and countersink?

If it has secondary holes that are larger, you are good to go. You will have to remove the canceling pin on the back of the hub and reorient it (drill and press fit in) to actuate the signal cancel in the new orientation.

The dual drilling may have found its way into production earlier then.

D111 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 05:27 PM

that's great Jay thank you.

Now I just have to find the proper screws,

Dennis

JUS BIT · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2011, 08:24 PM

I believe that the proper size screw for the Motolita is a M6 by 25mm.

Good luck!

Rwillia4 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-04-2011, 06:19 PM

For those of us that don't have newer hub but still want a different wheel, the hole pattern of the original hub is the same used on Momo steering wheels. I swapped my wheel out to a suede one and no modifications were needed.

6t8stang · #12 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rwillia4

For those of us that don't have newer hub but still want a different wheel, the hole pattern of the original hub is the same used on Momo steering wheels. I swapped my wheel out to a suede one and no modifications were needed.

I too have the older hub and I replaced my wheel with the 14" MK3 6 bolt available at Finishline. Redrilling/tapping the hub was real easy.