by "That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
Published 03/25/2017 at 16:01
by "That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
Published 03/25/2017 at 16:01
No Tags
STARS: 10
For the last four months, this has been the scene in my Land Cruiser’s cabin: a worn out, gross ass steering wheel marring an otherwise fine interior.
It’s been chipping away at my sanity, but man, finding an FZJ80 steering wheel is hard work. Except that it isn’t.
See, it’s hard finding an FZJ80 wheel because they didn’t build a ton of them. But thankfully, in a fit of parts-bin glory Toyota decided the Cruiser could use the same wheel as its flagship vehicle, the LS400.
A little Googling on the internet machine told me a 95-97 LS400 steering wheel is the same as my Cruiser’s. And wouldn’t you know it, a not so distant scrap yard had two of them.
I wish I had had time to take more pictures during the disassembly, but my wife and 15 month were waiting out in the car. The main problem I had was that the last person to drive the car was apparently the shortest person in the world, so I couldn’t just sit in the car and work on it.
The wheel was also locked at 90 degrees, so to get the right one I had to lay across the seats with my head under the wheel. Good times!
Now there are two kinds of steering wheel removals: when you’re reinstalling the wheel in that car, and when you aren’t. My natural inclination is to leave things as good and with as much usable for the next guy as I can, but my wife texted me as I got the airbag off to tell me the baby was crying. Unfortunately that meant out came the wire cutters.
About 20 minutes later I had my prize:
I gotta say, that’s a preeeetty nice wheel. I didn’t note the mileage on the car, but I can’t imagine it was much less than mine at 177k.
It was a much easier job going back on in my truck. The only weird thing was that there was a ground wire I had to cut on both wheels (it was riveted on) and solder back together. Thankfully that’s a thing I’m actually really good at.
Here’s the end result:
Seriously, $16.99 at this yard. I mean the place was a mess, I’m spoiled by Pick N Pull, but the car was where they said it would be and had lots of good useable parts on it. This is really a high quality improvement, something I’m going to notice literally every day.
I apologize to the junk yard gods if I angered them by cutting those wires, but I did have somebody at Pick n Pull once tell me if I couldn’t get the trunk open that I could just pry it, so maybe that’s not a breach of etiquette? Oh well, I’ve got a nice steering wheel now, so that’s all that matters.
"BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind" (briangriffinsprius)
03/25/2017 at 16:12, STARS: 2
It’s weird those wires didn’t have quick disconnects. I’ve never pulled a steering wheel that didn’t have them.
"vicali" (vicali)
03/25/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 5
Ha, you paid for your parts rather than filling your pockets, I’d say you are above the average customer right there.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
03/25/2017 at 16:26, STARS: 2
Much better. The first thing I did to the interior of the Galant was replace the steering wheel. The previous owner was a woman who worn a lot of rings, it was trashed. Now I have a nice wood Momo wheel, with black spokes. It was a lot more than 16.99 but it was worth every penny, and this is actually the second car I’ve had it in.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 16:36, STARS: 1
It has them on everything but that ground wire, which goes to a connector on the clock spring I couldn’t figure out/didn’t need to. The one for the airbag was just so bizarre, I spent 10 minutes messing it and couldn’t figure it out...which obviously means I googled it when I got home and found how to disconnect it in like five seconds.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 16:39, STARS: 2
I honestly have no idea what happened to my old one. The previous owner was a woman, the only thing I can figure is some hand cream she used reacted poorly with the leather because it was like chemically messed up. All bubbled and stuff. Really weird.
I love Momo wheels, that one sounds good pretty nice.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 16:41, STARS: 0
Ha, I thought afterwards that I should have left the cruise control stalk attached to it because mine sometimes doesn’t work.
I’m going to go back next week and pull the sun visors off it, they were in nice shape and they’re supposed to be a direct bolt in for the Cruiser. I should probably see if there’s anything else that interchanges, the interior on the car was pretty clean.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
03/25/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 1
It’s a great wheel, looks classy. I bought it off eBay used for 170 bucks. Here’s a pic of it in my old Civic, I don’t have a good one in the Galant.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 17:14, STARS: 1
I’ve always liked wood steering wheels, but not wood and leather wheels. Gotta be one or the other. I had a Nardi in my XJ12 that was fantastic, black spokes like your Momo but a more vintage style.
"fintail" (fintail)
03/25/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 1
Nice job.
What is it with Toyota wheels that aged poorly? I have seen it in a number of early Lexus. Period GMs also seem to do it more than others. I guess it got better in the mid-late 90s, when Japanese car leather interiors also started aging better.
"Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's" (africantacoman)
03/25/2017 at 18:39, STARS: 1
Damn nice price, I have a 97 with similar miles. Use some leather cleaner and conditioner and that wheel will clean up even more, and stay that way!
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 19:38, STARS: 0
I hit it with some zymol leather cleaner and some black spots I thought we just worn just came right off. I’ll do the conditioner tomorrow.
"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
03/25/2017 at 21:51, STARS: 3
I must be really spoiled, my local yard charges $9 for any steering wheel. Including this beautiful one I got for my MR2 a ways back.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/25/2017 at 22:00, STARS: 3
Damn, that’s awesome. Junk yards are like Disney World for gear heads.
"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
03/25/2017 at 22:04, STARS: 2
I do love a good trip to the junkyard, even if I don’t need anything.
"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
03/25/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
Seriously? It’s $45 at mine for a steering wheel!
"Trunk Impaired 318" (matteocscaptura)
03/25/2017 at 22:21, STARS: 0
Damn, thats insane. Most everything is cheap at my yard, a seat and wheel are each $25
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
03/26/2017 at 17:40, STARS: 0
....I gotta do this.
"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/26/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 0
Find an LS400 and get after it. Is your interior tan or gray?
Some guys says the 98+ wheel fits too, but I don’t think you can retain your airbag if you do. The 95-97 is exactly the same, the lone exception is the Lexus has a rubber block of some sort, maybe for vibration dampening, which the Cruiser’s doesn’t. Comes off with two screws though, so no problem there.
"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
03/26/2017 at 18:52, STARS: 0
(spits coffee)
I paid $65 for my Volvo seat (middle row so no airbag or motor) (and there was an $8 core on top of that)