Resplining a steering wheel: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Jan. 22, 2012 9:51 a.m. Taiden SuperDork

I have an old rally wheel (3 spoke) from the Saab 99 EMS days (Sport & Rally maybe?).

If I recall correctly, it should be splined to match the 99 EMS wheel.

It's an amazing wheel and is almost period correct for my e30. It's just sitting on my wall.

I'm wondering if you guys have any idea how I would go about getting it resplined. There is one important thing, though. The splined area has a crack forming and in my mind it makes the part bad. The whole "hub" assembly is solid riveted to the wheel face though, so I figure this could probably all be removed.

Any thoughts?

The steering wheel in question happens to be the one in my avatar.
Jan. 22, 2012 10:16 a.m. patgizz SuperDork

can you take a junk e30 wheel and cut out the hub and make it to replace the cracked riveted on hub? just an idea.

what is the hub with the crack made from?
Jan. 22, 2012 10:19 a.m. Taiden SuperDork

Cast aluminum I do believe surrounded by a steel basket
Jan. 22, 2012 11:44 a.m. a401cj Reader

pics??
Jan. 22, 2012 12:22 p.m. Taiden SuperDork

Sadly the wheel is about 2 hours away from me right now.
Jan. 22, 2012 1:06 p.m. EvanB SuperDork

Could you remove the riveted on hub and drill the wheel to bolt up to a momo or similar wheel hub adapter?
Jan. 22, 2012 1:13 p.m. ditchdigger Dork

I can think of several ways to do this but would really need to see the backs of both wheels to be sure. I have destructively turned several wheels into adapters for Fiats when aftermarket stuff is just too rare.

The center of a steel fiat wheel turned into something that can be bolted into an adapter hub

Doing the same with an alloy body is easy. Then use a boring head to match the wheel to the new hub. If it is aluminum weld it together if not make sure to machine a flange so that it can be bolted.
Jan. 22, 2012 1:55 p.m. Taiden SuperDork

EvanB wrote:

Could you remove the riveted on hub and drill the wheel to bolt up to a momo or similar wheel hub adapter?

This is what I was thinking as I was driving the e30 today. If I'm lucky, it might even have the same bolt pattern as a Momo. Someone told me it was produced by Momo but this is just hearsay and I never really researched it.