Steering Wheel Options

*Update 3/18/2014* -- Install now 50% complete - got the airbag in and installed - LOVE this upgrade. Now the hard work starts - working on the clock spring to get everything working, cruise control, horn and such. But I'm going to leave it for a week - it's so much nicer than the minivan tiller that was on there!






*Update 3/10/2014* - So - it fits. 1 problem down, more to go. The wheel fits perfect - the clockspring is a different story....will take some work and some customization to get all this to work together but it will work and boy oh boy is it worth it!!!! The new wheel is smaller diameter - GOOD - and has a thicker grip - GOOD -. The three spoke design is so much better! Anyway, I'll be updating more with additional information as I go. For now, the new wheel is in and I answered my own question.
Comparison of stock vs. 2003 Rav4 wheel


LOVE The way this looks and feels!




*Update 03/07/2014 -
Purchased this guy from eBay - figured what the hell - for 30$ it was worth the shot


Supposed to be here Tuesday next week so I'll update again when I it arrives and I get a chance to play around....

*flamesuit on*

Ok - so after exhausting my options using the search on this forum and very nearly breaking google trying to find this information I've come up empty handed.

I'm new to the Tacoma universe but I've come from the european/japanese car side and one of the single most important upgrades I've done on all my vehicles is a steering wheel upgrade. To me, it is one of the single biggest improvements you can make to your vehicle - you use it every single time you use the vehicle and you get the added benefit of two sensory experiences in the feel and sight of it.

Examples in some of my past vehicles (my personal cars)





And now one closer to what I'm after in my truck...in the VW world there is an upgrade concept people refer to as "OEM Plus" - which is another way of saying using something from another Audi or VW on your current car. I did this on my Jetta with a steering wheel from a German market Polo and took it apart, painted it, and installed it on my car.



After I refinished it;



So - what I'm trying to accomplish is putting a more cosmetically pleasing and better designed steering wheel in my truck and possibly maintaining some of the OEM functionality - I know I will likely lose my radio controls but that is of no concern - I'm not using them anyway. I don't want to lose my cruise control but after some digging around I found these pictures - seems that lots of people upgrade components of their steering wheels or swap to wheels from newer trucks...

This guy seems to use the same cruise control stalk in our trucks it and even appears to mount the same way...
2003 Rav4 steering wheel



Here is a company that will refinish with new leather the same wheel:



And here is a 2006 Celica wheel - similar design, same cruise stalk location;



Now you see the direction I'm trying to head in...I searched and searched and came up with nothing here or anywhere on google. Can anyone shed some insight on the spline count and diameter of our trucks steering column? I can't find this information anywhere.
I am going to continue researching this and when I get some information worth sharing I'll be updating this thread. Any help ahead of time would be greatly appreciated

 

Neat thread. I love the idea of OEM+ upgrades. So simple and subtle, but so perfect.

Jazz Blue DE?

Also, I love the Lupo 3L wheel in all black.

:beer:

 

Thanks for noticing - it was actually my 98 Porcelain Blue GTI (which was the better Blue IMHO ) and thanks for reminding me that it was a Lupo wheel lol. I always called it a Polo wheel for some reason. It's on my buddy's Corrado now. Nice MkII btw

That is a nice wheel but I'm really partial to a classic 3 spoke design...for a factory wheel the Rav4 and the Celica wheel were really nice designs...Supra wheel too but those are too hard to find. There was actually a TRD wheel made but they are insane $ if you can find them...I think I'm going to take my airbag out this weekend and just figure out the spline count myself - I'll be updating this thread with my findings and how things go as I navigate through this....

 

Thanks! :beer:

I love Porcelain blue.

Lusby MD? I have buddy with a white MK2 GTI that lives there.

 

Wes?

 

The wheel on the latest trucks is great, except that the radio and phone controls are in nearly useless positions.

 

I had a 2002 Celica GTS 6 speed I liked that wheel the leather seemed like it was a lot tougher then the leather on my Tacoma wheel. That pic you posted make me miss that car it was alot of fun but I needed 4 wheel drive.

 

Sure is. Small world.

:beer:

 

I don't have any issues.

 

This is how steering wheel controls should be designed. Your thumbs are naturally in the perfect position to use the scroll wheels, which are a much better design than buttons.

I use the steering wheel controls in the Audio all the time, never touching the head unit, but then I get in the truck, and it's like, "these controls are useless...".

 

My last vehicle was a B7 Audi A4 that I owned for years so I'm familiar with those controls. I can do more things such as switch audio sources, and more easily control the voice recognition system in the truck.

It took me about 3 days to get used to the new locations but now using them is very natural and intuitive.

 

The only button on the Taco wheel that I find to be effective is the "Mode" button.

Aside from that, the scroll wheels on the Audi are ten times better. Each wheel performs the function of three buttons, and they're placed perfectly.

 

That's exactly the style of wheel I'm looking for! The leather on my wheel is completely worn smooth and the truck only has 54k miles on it. It's new to me but I can't stand the steering wheel

I know Wes very well - he sold his MkII a little while back though - he's got an M5 now Small world indeed...although the VAG community is pretty close here in the mid atlantic. I know a few guys from DCI pretty well and had started our own crew down here we called DSD. It's still alive and doing well

Nailed it.

The reason I could care less about the wheel controls is I have already replaced the factory H/U with an aftermarket with a nice round volume control that is easy to use without looking at it - since my truck is a 6spd my hand is typically resting on the shifter anyway so reaching up isn't a problem. I control most of my music through my iPhone anyway. And the 4 spoke wheel is yuk to me, personally. Gotta have that 3 spoke design! Like I said, I'm going to remove the airbag this weekend and investigate what I've got to work with then I'll report back what I find and where it goes. I'm still shocked this hasn't been done already?

 

I would love to install a 12+ wheel on my 08 as I hate the rolled seems in the leather on my 08. I even had the wheel replaced under warranty but the new one was just as bad.

I wish there was a way to know if the 12+ wheel would fit an 08 and if an 08 airbag would fit the 12 wheel.
I have my local wrecking yard keeping an eye out for a 12+ wheel for me.

Shawn.

 

Cool. I met Wes at Dubs on the Lake in '06. I knew he talked about selling it, but didnt know he did. I've seen some pics of the M5 :thumbup

Most of the community is pretty awesome. Who do you know from DCI? I know alotta those guys.

:beer:

 

Always wanted to change my wheel up as well. The vinyl-ish base model wheel is horrendous and has nothing but an airbag, which brings me to my next question…You concerned about keeping it? I know I'd be alright with ditching it, but the threat of insurance boning me if something were to happen is always the tough part. God I feel like an old man typing that haha.

Cool to see another ex-VAG guy here. To be honest, the whole reason behind wanting to ditch the taco wheel is to get back to the days of driving my old Corrado. Sigh…

Good luck!

 

do the camry steering wheel mod if you want that "3 spoke look"

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...53-camry-3-spoke-steering-wheel-mod-45-a.html

ive seen pics of is of someone on this forum run it on their tacoma and it worked good.

 

Hey! Ex vag guy here as well!! 2003 GTI with GT28 eliminator put down 385whp on 100LL fuel!!


Untitled by Tanner Tucker, on Flickr

Put an OMP Corsica suede wheel with Nardi quick release.

Untitled by Tanner Tucker, on Flickr

Untitled by Tanner Tucker, on Flickr

I to have changed the steering wheel in every vehicle I've owned. I recently put a woof NRG wheel in my truck. With quick release as well

image by Tanner Tucker, on Flickr

 

I am very partial to the '05-'11 Tacoma steering wheel design, because it lets me reach the horn without taking my hands off the 9 and 3 o'clock positions. Minivan-looking but very functional.

 

(Steering wheel controls did not swap over)