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-   -   Steering Wheels/Hubs (https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep-75/steering-wheels-hubs-44499/)

Rallas 06-18-2012 08:40 AM

I have the exact same wheel and adapter. I have had it on the car for over a year now and its pretty damn good. I got mine from TacoTaco at the time. It appeared the same as one Brain had successfully used a while back. My only complaint is that the padding on the wheel is a little thin and makes the wheel feel hard on long road trips. It does feel great on track and spirited driving, with little flex. The spokes are made out of much thicker material than the “flat” cheapo ebay wheels that flex like a paper doughnut. The wheel is not as stiff as the OEM wheel, but worked for me, I am still running a powered rack. On a manual rack, this might not be the case. While doing my alignment last week, turning the wheel on the concrete floor to do the caster readings I did notice some flexing in the wheel, but that’s power steering with the engine not running which is even worse than manual.

When mounting the wheel to the ebay NRG knockoff quick release I had to add a very thin spacer between the wheel and the quick release in order to get the quick release ring to move back far enough to full disengage and come off. This drove me nuts for a week. I had the wheel on and off 3 times. With everything installed, it was hard as hell to get on and off and no where near a “quick” release! When I took the parts off I could get the quick release to work perfectly with little pressure required to pull on the release ring and separate the two parts. I finally figured the release ring was not moving back as far with the wheel installed and did not allow the ball bearings to move all the way out.

I gave up on the horn, that stupid quick release connection and wiring just did not want to work for me. This is the cheapest crappiest part and both ebay wheels had the same horn setup. I’m eventually just gonna add a horn button on my dash. My clock spring is bad on my steering wheel in any case.
That stupid accordion plastic piece that connects to the adapter is crap. I could not get mine to stay on there. Every time I would leave the car sitting in the sun, it fell off. I finally just glued it on there with a mess of epoxy. Works fine now.

Originally I bought the adapter, quick release and wheel together. With the quick release and the deep dish wheel you end up with the steering wheel in your chest and having to take your hand off the wheel to reach the wipers and indicators. I tried one of the cheapo flat wheels to place the wheel a little further back. DON’T GET A FLAT EBAY WHEEL, EVER!!!! Even though I could now reach the indicators and wipers, that was the worst POS wheel ever. You can bend it and it would permanently deform where the deep dish might flex a little, but you are not going to bend it permanently.

I ended up sticking the deep dish wheel back in, mounted directly to the adapter. I will keep the other wheel for a kids go cart or something like that. The flat wheel was a 300mm which is just too small, the slightly larger 330mm or 360mm wheel works much better. With the deep dish wheel I can’t see the top of the speedo, I rotated my tach to put the redline closer to 1’o clock so I have no issues there. On track, my Kirkey seat sits much lower so I can see everything.

I am sure that a $200++ wheel will beat this $47 wheel all day long, but I would give it a 90% score compared to the real thing. I am confident that it will do what I need it to do and hold up. That flat flimsy wheel felt like it would bend at any point in time, I would not feel safe at all. If you have the money, get what you can afford. If you are cheap like me, don’t spend any less than this setup, especially if you do track/autocross driving.

Next time I am over at panicmotorsports I need to get in one of the cars and see how their wheels feel. Usually all the spec cars they have in the shop are all manual racks and would be a good worst case comparison.

mgeoffriau, not knocking your review. I just didn’t think it was quite that bad. You get what you pay for and that’s the usual case with these Chinese knockoffs.

mgeoffriau 06-18-2012 09:41 AM

And that's probably a fair counterpoint to my review. Honestly, in 98% of actual driving, you won't notice any flex at all. But if you are approaching the purchase from the perspective of pusha (eg, personal status wrapped up in "baller" watches, guns, etc.), you're likely to be disappointed with the ebay wheel if you're expecting a MOMO, Nardi, etc.

Rallas 06-18-2012 01:08 PM

100% correct. For all the cheap bastards like me, it will do the job though.

Fireindc 06-18-2012 02:00 PM

Wow, thanks for the reviews guys. mgeoffriau, relte - thanks! I will not purchase one of these based on your guy's reviews. I've learned long ago that if i just cheap out and buy something like this I will be replacing it soon enough that it was just wasted money.

Now, anyone have any input on those NRG wheels?

pusha 06-18-2012 02:40 PM


Originally Posted by mgeoffriau (Post 891631)
And that's probably a fair counterpoint to my review. Honestly, in 98% of actual driving, you won't notice any flex at all. But if you are approaching the purchase from the perspective of pusha (eg, personal status wrapped up in "baller" watches, guns, etc.), you're likely to be disappointed with the ebay wheel if you're expecting a MOMO, Nardi, etc.

I'll probably pick one up for my DD. I think I really need to suck it up and drop a couple benjamins on a quality wheel.

dgmorr 06-18-2012 03:39 PM

Ugh, my ebay cheap hub adapter didn't come with the 6 bolts. Anyone know the correct size and pitch they normally come with?

EDIT: M5 x 0.8 x 10mm. I just ordered 6 titanium bolts that cost $20 for a $7 ebay hub, awww yeah! Love being ripped off.

http://torontocycles.com/Selling/Bla...ium_Bolts.html

Handy Man 06-18-2012 04:21 PM

Why Titanium? Sounds like you ripped yourself off.

dgmorr 06-18-2012 08:43 PM


Originally Posted by Handy Man (Post 891887)
Why Titanium? Sounds like you ripped yourself off.

Quickest local thing I could get. The local hardware store has a min $20 policy. Home Depot didn't have countersunk bolts that fit. Hardware selection in stores here is not the greatest.

dgmorr 06-20-2012 04:20 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I just got my steering wheel adapters in the mail today. I'm not so sure about the quick release. The quick release feels solid on it's own with no play, but once everything is mounted and I try to rip the wheel off, I can feel some slop. In the normal steering plane, left to right, I feel 0 play. Definitely would use it on the street (why use a QR hub for street, no idea), but is this acceptable for the track?

Also, I have a legit Momo wheel and when trying to rip it off holding the 12 and 6 o'clock positions I see quite a bit of flex. Nowhere near as stiff as a stocker.

I don't know if I'm just expecting too much.

This is the QR hub
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEERING-WHE...0e&vxp=mtr
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1340223649

FowlerMotorsports 06-20-2012 08:18 PM


Originally Posted by Fireindc (Post 890615)
Anyone have experience with NRG steering wheels? They have a few nice looking ones I wouldn't mind having on my car. Assuming they are sturdy and not flexible pieces of ----.

Examples: https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1339789029

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1339789029

http://www.advancespeedshop.com/imag...ring-wheel.jpg

These all retail for a little over $100.

NRG = ebay quality? Or better?

I am considering a NRG here in a few weeks, so if no one has any reviews over them I wouldn't mind giving my opinion.

pmhaddad 06-24-2012 05:53 PM

I am also considering getting an NRG wheel, and would very curious to see what any of you guys think based on experience with them, particularly for track use. Otherwise, I'll probably just wait a few more weeks and get a Sparco or Momo.

kotomile 06-24-2012 10:17 PM


Originally Posted by FowlerMotorsports (Post 890859)
I just got my Works Bell hub/QR, pricey but very secure and easy to use.

Yep. Secure - You'll never undo it by accident. I've undone it with one hand before but it takes some dexterity.

Like I said I have nothing to compare it with, but it has ZERO PLAY and that's all I care about.

FowlerMotorsports 06-24-2012 10:39 PM

Seems noone has any experience with the NRG Wheel, if you get one let me know, if not i may have one ordered next week

pmhaddad 06-24-2012 10:44 PM


Originally Posted by FowlerMotorsports (Post 894892)
Seems noone has any experience with the NRG Wheel, if you get one let me know, if not i may have one ordered next week

I wasn't planning on getting on for at least another 3-4 weeks, but now maybe i'll let you be the guinea pig ;)

joyrider 06-25-2012 05:40 PM

I just bought and installed the extension, quick release and adapter from miatacage.com. Was recommended by SM racers.

Feel really good, still have to try it on the track with my small sparco D wheel (310mm).

It gives good clearance and a better driving position with the Sparco Pro Adv seat.

Fireindc 06-25-2012 06:01 PM

I finally gave in and bought an older used MoMo with hub from a member here. I'll report how I like it once i get it in.

As for the NRG, i'm still curious so keep us in the loop.

curly 06-25-2012 07:05 PM

LTB hub play. I showed you the up close shot of the spline so you can see it rocking back and forth. Aka, there's really no radial play, only rocking it toward and away from you at the ends.


FowlerMotorsports 06-25-2012 07:10 PM

I am ordering a NRG friday most likely, so next week I should get it and I'll install asap.

pmhaddad 06-25-2012 07:26 PM


Originally Posted by FowlerMotorsports (Post 895274)
I am ordering a NRG friday most likely, so next week I should get it and I'll install asap.

Sweet, have you decided which one you are going to get? The suede looks nice, but I like the "limited edition" one with the blue spokes too (matches my car theme).

FowlerMotorsports 06-25-2012 08:43 PM


Originally Posted by pmhaddad (Post 895280)
Sweet, have you decided which one you are going to get? The suede looks nice, but I like the "limited edition" one with the blue spokes too (matches my car theme).

Those are the 2 I am debating over lol I like having suede for the track, but the car is more a street car than track car so I may go with the blue.


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