Elise Airbag Steering Wheel Hub Adaptor

[superbad]

The Elise wheel is not hubcentric

Really?? I can't think of any good reason for doing that. Is the wheel offset to the top of the column, or to the bottom?

[Enright]

The hub is below centre. As a result there's a larger aperture to look through to see the instruments.

[superbad]

The hub is below centre. As a result there's a larger aperture to look through to see the instruments.

Unless you're turning! Seems it would have been easier to move the column up...

[nitroman]

So then, the top of the rim is slightly lower due to smaller OD, but higher due to it's non-centric hub. That also means there should be MUCH more leg clearance against the bottom of the rim. All true?

[lotusgirlmarie]

Actually top of the rim is pretty close to oem local and yes there is alot more leg room. The sides are narrower than stock obviously and this does obscure the sides of the gauges.

[esprit888]

This is quite true, and neat as it gives me a lot more leg room. I still have my federal knee crash pad removed too which is even better. My Elise wheel feels 'tiny' compared to the OEM wheel. I really like the look & feel and will never go back, although i did leave all the SIR wiring and connectors in place so its a simple 10 minute swap back for any new owner. All this gauge view posting is so relative, i am long in the leg and long in the body so the upper edges of the cluster is obscured, but someone short in the body would have no problem. Lowering or changing the seats is an option and i still have the new Honda S2000 buckets sitting in the garage once the OEM bottom collapses, which from the feel of my butt after a 200 mile trip could be very soon

Noteworthy tidbit. The Elise wheel is not hubcentric meaning that the bit that attaches to the steering column is not in the middle of the wheel like the OEM Elan/Esprit wheel. Just an interesting bit.

[Enright]

The hub is below centre. As a result there's a larger aperture to look through to see the instruments.

Unless you're turning! Seems it would have been easier to move the column up...

I'd rather be looking where I'm going when turning, and save the "status updates" for the straight bits!

[lotusgirlmarie]

I agree. If your looking at your gauges in a corner your doing something wrong.

[superbad]

I agree. If your looking at your gauges in a corner your doing something wrong.

On an oval most drivers set up the steering so the wheel is "straight" in the corner, and turned to the right on the straights. Anyway, never knew road cars had off center steering wheels. Don't think it's something we ever did in racing, but maybe I just never noticed. The displays have been mounted to the wheel rim for a long time, so it's been a while since you would have needed clearance under the rim to see instruments.

[nitroman]

This is quite true, and neat as it gives me a lot more leg room. I still have my federal knee crash pad removed too which is even better. My Elise wheel feels 'tiny' compared to the OEM wheel. I really like the look & feel and will never go back, although i did leave all the SIR wiring and connectors in place so its a simple 10 minute swap back for any new owner. All this gauge view posting is so relative, i am long in the leg and long in the body so the upper edges of the cluster is obscured, but someone short in the body would have no problem. Lowering or changing the seats is an option and i still have the new Honda S2000 buckets sitting in the garage once the OEM bottom collapses, which from the feel of my butt after a 200 mile trip could be very soon

I had assumed you connected the Elise's airbag. Not so huh?

Having been in 1 airbag crash, I'd hate to be in one without it.

[esprit888]

No bag, my wheel is a UK Elise spec which was on a UK Elan boss (which should show the steering shafts are all the same) a'Before/after' set below.

Before.jpg (70.82 KiB) Viewed 6738 times

After.jpg (71.42 KiB) Viewed 6738 times

This is quite true, and neat as it gives me a lot more leg room. I still have my federal knee crash pad removed too which is even better. My Elise wheel feels 'tiny' compared to the OEM wheel. I really like the look & feel and will never go back, although i did leave all the SIR wiring and connectors in place so its a simple 10 minute swap back for any new owner. All this gauge view posting is so relative, i am long in the leg and long in the body so the upper edges of the cluster is obscured, but someone short in the body would have no problem. Lowering or changing the seats is an option and i still have the new Honda S2000 buckets sitting in the garage once the OEM bottom collapses, which from the feel of my butt after a 200 mile trip could be very soon

I had assumed you connected the Elise's airbag. Not so huh?

Having been in 1 airbag crash, I'd hate to be in one without it.

[lotos]

The hub is below centre. As a result there's a larger aperture to look through to see the instruments.

With all the brainpower on this forum, why doesn't someone just design a heads-up display and be done with the issue?

[Elanlover]

I've been working with Bob on a prototype hub for this project. He now has all the dimensions and diagrams to produce a prototype which he will produce and send to me for testing. I'll report back after its been fabricated, shipped and fitted. Costs seem like they will certainly be much lower than what was quoted for the original piece but that will be up to Bob in the end.

(p.s. I will shortly start a thread on what I've found regarding raising the steering column up on the Fed car)

[Elanlover]

These might be of interest to someone who likes the idea of this conversion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-200 ... 7C72%3A317

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-Ex ... 7C72%3A317

[Elanlover]

Don't think that'll happen although I did see a "possible" way to adjust the position of the wheel slightly. That's another thread though

More on that here.

[tweetdriver63]

These might be of interest to someone who likes the idea of this conversion.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-200 ... 7C72%3A317

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-Ex ... 7C72%3A317

Also, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-Lotus-Elise-Steering-Wheel-and-Airbag_W0QQitemZ200363008310QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2ea690e136&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A10%7C39%3A1

[Elanlover]

A few very good deals on some pieces can be found on eBay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-Lotus ... 06.c0.m245

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Lot ... 06.c0.m245

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOTUS-EL ... 06.c0.m245

[bobbrown]

Prototype nearly completed the hardest job is done cutting the splines but was not difficult just time consuming, 28 splines cut one at a time! Should be able to get it Canada next week for testing.

It looks like I can get these made for less than $100.00 each but the more there are the cheaper they will be, if it is only 3 or 4 I will make them myself.
Elise steering wheel to Elan hub (airbag) prototype production ones will be anodised

elise to elan hub.jpg (47.87 KiB) Viewed 6545 times

Espirt

Esprit Hub.JPG (32.41 KiB) Viewed 6545 times

Bob

[tigerdog]

If they come in at or under $100, I could mentally justify this. The original $200-$500 was somewhat out of range for me. Put me down as interested, as long as the adapter allows the airbag to function. Boy, it never stops, does it?
1. Elanlover
2. superbad
3. lotos
4. cliffyg
5. Tigerdog

[lotos]

Boy, it never stops, does it?

God I hope not