Alternate steering wheels for MA Disco

[langy]

Since I'm not exactly the smallest guy around, I sorta like some room the move my legs under the steering wheel. After some exploration in the nice junkyard, I found that the HONDA steering wheels have a nearly identical spline to MA Disco's. The only difference is that Honda (Accord/Prelude etc) do not have a chamfer leading from the shaft to the splines like disco.

For general information, it is VERY DIFFICULT to find an aftermarket sports steering boss for the MA Disco, after 3 weeks and 3 seperate tries by my local parts store, the manufacturer gave up (true story).

So I got my Honda steering wheel boss, made some measurements, and found that I needed to grind away a maximum of 1.25 mm in circumference at the base to nil 15mm down. One of those cheap hobby grinders did the job no problem.

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=12864krk2I&i=794437

Next was to hook up the horn. Since my Disco was built before 1.7.95, I don't need an airbag, even though it came as an optional extra ( One wonders what the connection is like on the post 7/95 14inch Honda steering wheel with airbag???)

I saw that the simple spring loaded arm sliding on the brass backing plate on the boss would be the easiest idea. I suppose you could fit the rotary coupler - I didn't try that idea out. The indicator cancelling cam is missing from this shot, but you file down the locating tangs so they fit into the honda boss.

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=12864krk2I&i=794450

That strip of metal does the job. You can see where it rubs by the grease tracks on the hub. Believe it or not, there is a hole and a pimple ready to go - drill two 3mm holes in the metal to match the pimple and hole in the assembly, use a small screw, solder the purple with orange stripe wire onto the strip - and it works like a charm.

This is how close the fit is in the shroud

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=12864krk2I&i=794451


and the completed item ( I know a Diesel isn't a street racer, but let me have my little bit of 'bling')

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=12864krk2I&i=794452


For owners of JA/KA/LA Disco/Defender/Rangie - it is possible that the shaft on your steering is different. There wasn't anything I could compare with at Pick/Payless at the time (Apart from an 88 Rangie - which was different).

Langy

[landrovermick]

Nice !

whats doing with the centre console ?

Mick

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">do you want to try my defender one on for size......
i got a momo boss for mine......if you want to see if it fits just let me know
and i can drop by......

youre not far from me....</span>

[langy]

For Mr Landrover Mick - the centre console mods are for my next post/pics

For Defenderzook, thankyou, but I'm happy with this, fits like a glove.

[CraigE]

I had the same problem recently with my Fender. The only ones to get off their buts and compare for me were Issotta in Adelaide. The should have a boss for your Disco as should Momo. What spline are they running?
The Defender and some earlier 110 and some Rangies run 48. Biggest problem I have found is inept junior and even senior staff who would not have a clue about the parts they are selling unless it is on the computer in front of them, dont know anything about cars or are just to lazy or stupid to find out for you.

Nice alternative though.

[discowhite]

just not asking the right people langy!

i would have told ya that with a small triangle file and 15min
a VL commadore boss kit would have fitted!

thats how the sass came to fit the disco!

cheers phil

[Caveman]

So Langy, what happened to the cruise control buttons from the original wheel.???? or don't you use it.

[langy]

Well, I examined VL but I chose Honda because most of the spline is identical - I've used GMH before on my old rangie, and it fit OK - but it's a horror to get off when you go for filing like that -

Besides, I didn't want a steering wheel in COATES orange https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

As for cruise control - my disco wasn't fitted with CC.

Langy

[discowhite]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Besides, I didn't want a steering wheel in COATES orange [/b][/quote]

CHICKEN!!!!!

i would have filed it for you, and painted it BLACK!!! :roll: