Thanks to SilentRacer, I got to install a new bit of kit on the BE.

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I followed some great instructions from this Scoobymods thread

The install took about 40 minutes, but a bit more time because there were some steps in the other writeup that were not covered well.

The airbag and the front cover of the wheel are one unit and do not detatch from each other. The two Torx-30 bolts on either side are indeed captured, but they're still tricky and try to keep you from getting the airbag on and off.

The electrical connector is a PITA...without using a screwdriver to pry them apart:

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Removing the black connector at the bottom rear of the wheel housing is necessary. It just slips out laterally. Apparently JDM cars don't normally have cruise control, so the USDM connector has horn and cruise, not just one wire for the horn. Simple swap.

The horn ground and cruise stalk were easy to remove, using the same Torx-30 and a Phillips screwdriver:

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The 17mm center mounting bolt was not as tight as I thought it would be. I did have to pull violently on the wheel to get it to come loose. I'm a strong guy, but I was really surprised. I took the ScoobyMods advice and didn't take the nut all the way off, which saved me from getting my teeth knocked out...

Install was pretty much the reverse of removal. Everything slotted in where it needed to be.

Don't be surprised if, like me, you get the steering wheel off by one or two teeth. I had to drive around a bit, adjust it, then drive around more to get it on perfectly centered.

Cruise works, horn works, car turns...success!

I like it. Looks better, grips better and the preforated leather will be nicer in the summer and during spirited driving when that extra level of grip is even more important.

wow great job! I was thinking about doing this but the cruise control issue was causing me to shy away.

Love that wheel, I wish I coulda gotten it to work on my car. I used a steering wheel puller but yes its a great idea to loosen but not fully take of the nut til you break it loose.

Did you have to dremel the opening for the cruise stalk on yours?

ss

edit: I guess I should clear that up a bit. On my wheel(a JDM BE series B4 wheel basically identical in appearance to DLCs) I had to dremel the opening for the cruise stalk but the imprint was on the wheel itself as a guide, so no probs there. The deal breaker was the non-compatibility on the airbags. My car came equipped with the older higher powered bag system. The wheel had the newer bag. I wasnt inclined to experimnet on splicing wires and having it go off in my face.

I bought the wheel from SilentRacer, and he'd either done the stalk hole modification or it'd been done prior to him owning it. It's just a hole in one spot. Mine could actually use a little more trimming on top, as the stalk touches the wheel when I push it upwards all the way.

Mine was plug and play all the way 'round, the way I like it.

Yea DLC, when I looked at the wheel really closely, there was what looked like a faint casting seam right at the opening. I just cut along that line.

What was also neat was that the cruise stalk transferred right over and screwed to the new frame.

ss

nice!

I cut that hole with a box cutter.....well actually Andy did it because I don't have the heart to damage JDM items.

Looks great! I have a Momo on my GT and it has a much better feel than the origional.

I'm not surprised to hear you got it from Andy.

I really like the feel of the perforated versus smooth leather.

Thats awesome, Im jealous.

so i was looking at getting JDM Impreza GC8 WRX STi Leather MOMO SRS Steering Wheel and wanted to know if it would fit on a 2002 RS. what modificatoins will have to be made air bag? cruise? fitment? here is a pic

You'll probably need to modify the airbag plug. check out scoobymods.com or rs25.com as some people have done it over there.

I think youre gonna find the airbag is plug-n-play. You are likely going to have to dremel out the hole for your cruise control stalk to be mounted to the frame of the new steering wheel. The holes for the mounting should already be there and a light casting line in the cover where the hole needs to be cut.

Generally an easy install in my experience because you should have the newer lower powered bag like this wheel has.

In my 97 Legacy the plugs and system didnt/dont match up to these newer lower powered airbags.

ss

Old thread, jdm momo will work with moding the cruise stock for my 01 lgt?

No modification needed, just swap the stalk over. My wheel had the stalk hole cut by the previous owner.