Aftermarket Steering Wheels?
 

Hey guys, I'm new to RS so I apologize if there's already been a thread about this topic but I was just curious about what our laws are in accordance to putting in an aftermarket steering wheel in your car. I have a 1991 Mustang which comes with a factory airbag and I've heard that if I were to swap it out it would void my insurance.

Thanks in advance guys!

it'll be illegal

It doesnt void your insurance. It might conflict with any payout due to an injury that may have been prevented if such safety equipment wasnt circumvented.

i vaguely recall this topic coming up before but i do not have time to search for it. you might want to ask about legal issues in the police forum here on RS.

i also can't remember what the law says about what is the minimum allowable diameter for an aftermarket steering wheel? 350mm? 320mm?

I think the diameter of the steering wheel must be the same as the one originally installed.

100% illegal, you will get slapped with a nasty VI for it.

The only circumstance where it IS legal - that I am aware of - is if your car did not come with airbags from the factory. And even then it must be the same (or similar) diameter than the one that originally came with the car. From personal experience in my AE86, a few cm doesn't make a huge difference as long as it is visibly the same size. Stock wheel is 370mm, my current wheel is 350mm, etc.

if it's DOT approved why not?

Its illegal and also pretty unsafe. Imagine getting in a rear impact crash and whiplasing your head directly into your aftermarket momo steering wheel-just so you can cruise around the streets pretending your about to set a lap record at The Nurbhurgring.

If you decide to do it anyways: Don't buy cheap parts.

so it's illegal...

source?

Call icbc?

This. Provide sources instead of just what you think the law should be.

Aftermarket steering wheels are NOT illegal. Tampering with the safety equipment on board your vehicle IS.

Sources:

^Straight out of the MVA (I don't know what section as the MVA is blocked at my work, stupid sonicwall). I see nowhere in the above that states aftermarket wheels are entirely illegal.

However what everyone here is saying fall under part 3 of the MVA - Safety & Equipment requirements. Under that section the MVA states that you can't modify or tamper with factory safety equipment. Which means you cannot just pull the airbag out of your car and not replace it.

If you can find an aftermarket steering wheel with an airbag (Or a space for you to put yours), and it is DOT approved, and the same diameter and strength as the OEM, that will be legal.

Lots more on this and other fun VI-related topics see this thread:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/692500-first-vi-2.html

I was pulled over at a speed trap because of a front tow hook(back when I was younger and thought they looked cool). The cops proceeded to check out my car. They gave me a ticket for the front tow hook, hood pins and my muffler tip being too big. They stated that I could creep into an inspection and clip somebody with the tow hook and if they fell onto my hood they would then injure themselves on the hood pins. They also stated that the bigger muffler tip could catch fire against the rear bumper. They mentioned a story where an Eagle Talon burnt to the ground under similar circumstances.

While all of this was happening I opened up a can of worms on other stuff my car was equipped with seeing if they would say anything. My unpadded roll bar was brushed off and he said that it was an additional safety device. My steering wheel(320mm Momo Tuner) was complimented on by the cop and he stated that it would increase the hand to wheel grip level, so no problems there.

I'm thinking to myself, are you serious? But sure enough, he was serious. Although most of this type of stuff is written in the MVA it is up to the cop to enforce it.