Steering Wheel Removal

Sclayto2 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-02-2007, 07:38 AM

Okay, I know this sounds like a simple question, but I'm trying to be careful

.

How on earth do you remove the central panel on the steering wheel of a Jalpa? I can see that there are two clips, but then what? Does it slide up, down, etc?

Thank you.

Tipo122a · #2 (**permalink**) 01-12-2007, 08:54 PM

I'm a safety restraints engineer from Detroit. Spent 3 years of my life working for MOMO S.p.A. in Verona, Italy on Steering Wheels. I am not as familiar with your steeering wheel as I believe it's a Nardi. At any rate, I've seen them all so let's see if we can talk you through it. I would first check to see if the wheel has any small access holes from the side or backcover.

If there are holes but no evidence of a fastener (i.e. screw) inside, the holes are designed to relase the clips. By pushing a small rod through each hole and pulling up (one side at a time) you should be able to unsnap the unit.

I would tend to doubt this is the case due to the age of the unit.

If the wheel has holes with fasteners inside, they can be unbolted and the unit should snap out easier by hand. I would tend to doubt this also as your "DAB-Delete" wheel doesn't carry an airbag... so there's no real motivation to add them... besides they add cost. Nonetheless, I would check... they could have decorative plugs to camoflage them, so look carefully.

If the unit is held on by clips, watch out for a hidden third one at the bottom or 6:00 portion of the wheel Irregardless, this type of fastening does not need and was not designed to be slid around in order to be removed. It was assembled by snaping it into the wheel armature and consequently will come apart by carefully poping it out by hand (one side at a time). I would advise against using any tools to try to pop it loose unless you think you can be really really careful. If it comes down to just clips and there are no access points (as described above), the unit was designed to be removed by hand. My old Porsche wheel was done this way and it did unsnap with force when I took it off to re-wrap the wheel... but it was a doozy.

As far as being cautious, I don't blame you as the unit is old. Can you tell if the clips are metal or plastic? In addition do the clips run through the center of the horn springs (many DAB-Deletes are done this way)? Write me back when you get a chance. Regards, John

raymond · #3 (**permalink**) 01-31-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sclayto2

Okay, I know this sounds like a simple question, but I'm trying to be careful

.

How on earth do you remove the central panel on the steering wheel of a Jalpa? I can see that there are two clips, but then what? Does it slide up, down, etc?

Thank you.

First of all it's important to know which kind of steering wheel you have in the car, the very first cars had different ones I don't know how to take off.
My car was from 1985 with the flate plate in the middle, on this one you could simple pull and it comes off. Some cars were also equipped with the countach wheel.
I replaced mine in 2005 with a dark blue one I found on ebay.

The horn is operated by the switch of the side indicator there are no wires to the wheel.

Old style:

Countach (Raid):

Here a picture of the newer wheel in the Spyder in Dosso, the central plate is missing.

and the same complete (Nardi):

raymond · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 12:10 PM

Here my old steering wheel, when you remove that rubber piece you can access the silver plate and unscrew the whole thing from the steering column.

The Jalpa one's is from Nardi, Diameter 390mm, order numbers: Blue 57775, Wine red 57776, Brown 57777, Black 57778, Grey 57779

emery · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 01:06 PM

Great info. Who make the early wheel??? Any part numbers on that one?

raymond · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007, 01:10 PM

I have no info about the older wheels the about first 100 cars had that one. I suppose it's the Raid Countach with a different center cover.

Lambotsavy · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2007, 02:40 PM

My 84 Jalpa was the 100th one made and has the old style wheel, which I prefer over the newer ones. Also you will notice that my dash is brown and black. I assume the older Jalpa's dash boards were like mine.

Sclayto2 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2007, 03:18 AM

Hi Raymond,

Thank you for the info. I have the bottom wheel, of the 4 pictures. After getting the centre boss off, I'm having problems getting the centre nut off.

It is a round nut with four slots, cut into it. After speaking to a few tool stores it seems that a none-standard tool is required.

Therefore I'm going to just remove the wheel from the mounting plate and take that to get retrimmed.

raymond · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2007, 03:26 AM

As far as I remember I also only unscrewed the wheel from the hub and did not loose the big nut. The hub is a standard piece which should also fit different other wheels.

Lambotsavy · #10 (**permalink**) 12-25-2007, 10:39 PM

Received my new Jalpa steering wheel, but found the configuration different from what Raymond had posted earlier. Added photos to assist anyone in the future who has a similar steering wheel that they plan to replace.

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