Steering wheels

[Rotary_Rage]

i had this idea to make my own steering wheel (ya boredom at its finest) so i mentioned it to a buddy and he said it would prolly be illegal. i dont see what the difference would be from buying a steering wheel and making your own would be thou.

my plans involved taking some 1/4 or 5/8 round bar rolling it then some 5/16 sheet CnC it to the desired shape, weld it, wrap it with foam and leather, obviously this is rough

i looked on google for anyone trying to make there own but all i could find is wood wrapping an original wheel

if anyone knows if this is illegal or if its legal what type of metal i should use it would be great

[godwin]

As long as you can get your product pass DoT certification.. it is legal.. else is illegal.

[Rich Sandor]

Aftermarket Steering wheels installed in used vehicles do NOT need to be DOT approved according to the Motor Vehicle Act. There is no specific reference to steering wheels in the MVA. Ergo, they are not enforceable unless they are obivously unsafe. (ie inadequately secured to the vehicle)

Only vehicles being sold as NEW vehicles must have steering wheels that meet the canadian federal safety standards for new vehicles.

That said, you can buy aftermarket steering wheels on eBay for $25 that are WAY better than anything you will make yourself, and are probably safer. However, you'd better check fitment first, for clearance, and also to make sure that the ignition lock still works okay with a different wheel.

If your vehicle was equipped with airbags, and your new steering wheel deletes the driver's side airbag, you will run into a grey area. Again, airbags are a federal responsibility, and there is no provision in the MVA to be specifically charged with removing airbags from your car - and if you remove the airbag "label", and there is no airbag test signal on the dash upon startup, then by all intents and purposes, the car no longer has airbags, and the mechanics at a shop will not even look or test for them. However, if you have an active airbag light on the dash because you put in an aftermarket steering wheel with no airbag - you will NOT pass a provincial vehicle safety inspection.

[Rich Sandor]

Just to clarify: There is technically nothing illegal about it, as long as you build it safely. HOWEVER, you will get hassled to high hell if you do it even just a little bit poorly or too obviously, and I highly recommend that you DON'T do it.

You'd be better off getting a mainstream aftermarket wheel that kinda-sorta doesn't stick out too much in your car.

[Rotary_Rage]

it will be done properly i have a friend that works with a CNC machine and access to a welder worst case its a piece of shit i wasted my 30$ i go buy another steering wheel

my car doesnt come with airbags i dont even think they had airbags in 1986 o.O

[ChyahGT]

Originally Posted by Rich Sandor

Aftermarket Steering wheels installed in used vehicles do NOT need to be DOT approved according to the Motor Vehicle Act. There is no specific reference to steering wheels in the MVA. Ergo, they are not enforceable unless they are obivously unsafe. (ie inadequately secured to the vehicle)

Only vehicles being sold as NEW vehicles must have steering wheels that meet the canadian federal safety standards for new vehicles.

That said, you can buy aftermarket steering wheels on eBay for $25 that are WAY better than anything you will make yourself, and are probably safer. However, you'd better check fitment first, for clearance, and also to make sure that the ignition lock still works okay with a different wheel.

If your vehicle was equipped with airbags, and your new steering wheel deletes the driver's side airbag, you will run into a grey area. Again, airbags are a federal responsibility, and there is no provision in the MVA to be specifically charged with removing airbags from your car - and if you remove the airbag "label", and there is no airbag test signal on the dash upon startup, then by all intents and purposes, the car no longer has airbags, and the mechanics at a shop will not even look or test for them. However, if you have an active airbag light on the dash because you put in an aftermarket steering wheel with no airbag - you will NOT pass a provincial vehicle safety inspection.

Originally Posted by Rich Sandor

Just to clarify: There is technically nothing illegal about it, as long as you build it safely. HOWEVER, you will get hassled to high hell if you do it even just a little bit poorly or too obviously, and I highly recommend that you DON'T do it.

You'd be better off getting a mainstream aftermarket wheel that kinda-sorta doesn't stick out too much in your car.

so let me get this straight..
if your vehicle comes with standard airbigs on the steer wheel, and passenger dash.. its OKAY to have an after market one as long as you bypass the airbag light?
excuse me for my stupidity