Is there a generally agreed-upon steering wheel maximum diameter, assuming no center console forcing my right knee toward the wheel? Does anyone know of a steering column that has an airbag, that I could just hook up a crash sensor (a la Lincoln fuel-kill) to trigger? Has any one installed a passenger airbag? I assume all air-bag steering columns communicate thru an on-board bus, such as "CAN". Does anyone have a program for a PIC micro PC board, to let the PC board communicate with the steering wheel?
Steering wheel dia.
- Thread starter clyde
- Start date
Clyde,
All good questions. I can only really weigh in knowledgably on the issue of size.
Regarding the size, I personally have found that 12" is about the maximum diameter I can comfortably get my knees past. I have one Sterling with a 12" wheel and another with an 11" wheel. I find the 11" very difficult to steer. A lot of manufacturers make wheels that are about 12.5" diameter. (It seems to be a common size for a "slightly smaller than stock" wheel for most prodution cars, which tend to be 13 to 14 inches). It would make sense that you could probably get away with this extra 1/4 inch on either side. But I've never tried it. In my car, 12" is comfortable but tight.
Most wheels with airbags are rather large (read: definitely TOO large for a Sterling). I've never really researched whether there are any unusually small ones because I didn't trust the idea of a homemade set-up for such a thing. I wouldn't want it to go off inadvertantly. And I wouldn't know how to guarentee that it would go off if I DID need it. I think that most moder systems are tied into the computer and sense speed and such. It seemed like a hoplessly complex system.
The other guys might have better info for you on the issue of air bags and pc interlinks, etc.
Have you found a style in particular that you'd like to try to use?
All good questions. I can only really weigh in knowledgably on the issue of size.
Regarding the size, I personally have found that 12" is about the maximum diameter I can comfortably get my knees past. I have one Sterling with a 12" wheel and another with an 11" wheel. I find the 11" very difficult to steer. A lot of manufacturers make wheels that are about 12.5" diameter. (It seems to be a common size for a "slightly smaller than stock" wheel for most prodution cars, which tend to be 13 to 14 inches). It would make sense that you could probably get away with this extra 1/4 inch on either side. But I've never tried it. In my car, 12" is comfortable but tight.
Most wheels with airbags are rather large (read: definitely TOO large for a Sterling). I've never really researched whether there are any unusually small ones because I didn't trust the idea of a homemade set-up for such a thing. I wouldn't want it to go off inadvertantly. And I wouldn't know how to guarentee that it would go off if I DID need it. I think that most moder systems are tied into the computer and sense speed and such. It seemed like a hoplessly complex system.
The other guys might have better info for you on the issue of air bags and pc interlinks, etc.
Have you found a style in particular that you'd like to try to use?
letterman7
Honorary Admin
The largest wheel you might be able to run, Clyde, would be 15", but that depends mostly on your physiology. Personally, I ran a 14", but technically in PA it was illegal...as were quite a few other things!
We had a discussion about airbags in another thread. My thought on this subject is this: for a driver, your position alone negates any potential positive that an airbag will aid. If you're in that a violent collision that the airbag will deploy, almost certainly your head is going to hit the windshield anyway - it's that close. Plus, the rest of your body is going to submarine under the dash panel. Same thing for the passenger.
That said, it sounds like you've got a little more electronic knowledge behind how they operate than I, so you may be able to rig something up. Myself, I don't want to take the chance on placing an explosive anywhere near me that wasn't designed for the car. It's a really small space, and I think more harm than good would come from an airbag deployment.
We had a discussion about airbags in another thread. My thought on this subject is this: for a driver, your position alone negates any potential positive that an airbag will aid. If you're in that a violent collision that the airbag will deploy, almost certainly your head is going to hit the windshield anyway - it's that close. Plus, the rest of your body is going to submarine under the dash panel. Same thing for the passenger.
That said, it sounds like you've got a little more electronic knowledge behind how they operate than I, so you may be able to rig something up. Myself, I don't want to take the chance on placing an explosive anywhere near me that wasn't designed for the car. It's a really small space, and I think more harm than good would come from an airbag deployment.
ydeardorff
New member
Lots of good advice from everyone.
Chazz, great point: The choice of steering COLUMN is perhaps even more important than the wheel. My wheel tilts, too, and I love it. Also, choose a column one ties into your system and has the functionality you want built in, like little levers for cruise control, etc. (It's very difficult to tie these in after the fact if they aren't built into the column already.) My car has an old Corvette column that tilts and telescopes. The problem is that it looks its age (rather plain) and only has rudimentary controls, like turn signlals but no cruise or lights/wipers/etc.
Rick, I've always thought the same thing: The seating position is so reclined that I'm not convinced an airbag would do anything other than punch you head up and backwards. I think that the most realistic way to make a Sterling as safe as practical...if you'd want to deal with this...is with a five point harness. I'm not saying that's necessary. But I think it just might give more protection than an air bag in a Sterling. The lap and crotch strap MIGHT prevent you from submarining under the dash and the double shoulder straps MIGHT keep your face off the windshield. And a five-point harness is cheap and really easy to implement. Personally it would drive me nuts...though...it would have a certain exotic flair to it. I have just a lap belt in the one car and a rather clunky four-point harness in the other, which I don't like. I think a tight-yet-comfortable shoulder-and-lap belt is a realistically safe compromise. I hope none of these things are ever put to the test.
Yaughn, that's a very nice steering wheel! I like it. Very tech-y and tasteful. *thumbs up* Where did you find it? (I'm curious about dimensions).
Anyway, Clyde, I shot a quick video showing the amount of leg room/free-space arount my 12 inch wheel. It is perhaps the most boring video ever placed on YouTube. *laugh* And it makes me look like I'm using a Thigh-Master.
But anyway, I'm 6'2" and kind of skinny. My seat is all the way back against the rear cabin wall. You can see that I have a little free room, but not much. It's not even so much the absolute diameter of the wheel that gets you so much as the angle of one's legs, position of your knees, and clearance at your shins, too. The height and front-to-tyrear position also make a difference: You can go with a bigger wheel...maybe...if it's a little high and further back towards you. But then that's more difficult to step out around, too. My tilt wheels really help with this.
Anyway, here's my Sterling Thigh-Master workout.
(Yaughn, I'm hoping this will help you visualize and plan some of your dash ideas as well.)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaDx4lwHV-c"]Clearance around 12 inch steering wheel.[/ame]
Chazz, great point: The choice of steering COLUMN is perhaps even more important than the wheel. My wheel tilts, too, and I love it. Also, choose a column one ties into your system and has the functionality you want built in, like little levers for cruise control, etc. (It's very difficult to tie these in after the fact if they aren't built into the column already.) My car has an old Corvette column that tilts and telescopes. The problem is that it looks its age (rather plain) and only has rudimentary controls, like turn signlals but no cruise or lights/wipers/etc.
Rick, I've always thought the same thing: The seating position is so reclined that I'm not convinced an airbag would do anything other than punch you head up and backwards. I think that the most realistic way to make a Sterling as safe as practical...if you'd want to deal with this...is with a five point harness. I'm not saying that's necessary. But I think it just might give more protection than an air bag in a Sterling. The lap and crotch strap MIGHT prevent you from submarining under the dash and the double shoulder straps MIGHT keep your face off the windshield. And a five-point harness is cheap and really easy to implement. Personally it would drive me nuts...though...it would have a certain exotic flair to it. I have just a lap belt in the one car and a rather clunky four-point harness in the other, which I don't like. I think a tight-yet-comfortable shoulder-and-lap belt is a realistically safe compromise. I hope none of these things are ever put to the test.
Yaughn, that's a very nice steering wheel! I like it. Very tech-y and tasteful. *thumbs up* Where did you find it? (I'm curious about dimensions).
Anyway, Clyde, I shot a quick video showing the amount of leg room/free-space arount my 12 inch wheel. It is perhaps the most boring video ever placed on YouTube. *laugh* And it makes me look like I'm using a Thigh-Master.
But anyway, I'm 6'2" and kind of skinny. My seat is all the way back against the rear cabin wall. You can see that I have a little free room, but not much. It's not even so much the absolute diameter of the wheel that gets you so much as the angle of one's legs, position of your knees, and clearance at your shins, too. The height and front-to-tyrear position also make a difference: You can go with a bigger wheel...maybe...if it's a little high and further back towards you. But then that's more difficult to step out around, too. My tilt wheels really help with this.
Anyway, here's my Sterling Thigh-Master workout.
(Yaughn, I'm hoping this will help you visualize and plan some of your dash ideas as well.)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaDx4lwHV-c"]Clearance around 12 inch steering wheel.[/ame]
ydeardorff
New member
Warren,
I like your video! LOL
Do you realize my wifes Dodge Intrepid fits me the same way? I have to motor the seat all the way back just to get my knee passed the steering column. Then motor it forward again once Im sitting down.
The steering wheel is made by MOMO and the model is a GTR2.
Looks like your steering wheel is actually a little off center toward the center of the car there warren. Youve got more room outside it than inside.
Looking at you moving around in the car, does make me ponder a few things yes, but nothing bad. I wouldnt have to change my dash design. *thumbs up* But like any design/mod once installed it will require some tweaking here and there to get it to fit just right.
Still working on raising those funds! Not there yet.
Still looks like you have to walk on the seats to get into the car, which I dont like too much.
Maybe I could make a sunsetter retractable awning be attached to the inside of the roof, and to the canopy, so when I open the top to get out, the entire interior doesnt get bathed in the Washington liquid sunshine. Then when the top closes have it roll back up. LOL
I like your video! LOL
Do you realize my wifes Dodge Intrepid fits me the same way? I have to motor the seat all the way back just to get my knee passed the steering column. Then motor it forward again once Im sitting down.
The steering wheel is made by MOMO and the model is a GTR2.
Looks like your steering wheel is actually a little off center toward the center of the car there warren. Youve got more room outside it than inside.
Looking at you moving around in the car, does make me ponder a few things yes, but nothing bad. I wouldnt have to change my dash design. *thumbs up* But like any design/mod once installed it will require some tweaking here and there to get it to fit just right.
Still working on raising those funds! Not there yet.
Still looks like you have to walk on the seats to get into the car, which I dont like too much.
Maybe I could make a sunsetter retractable awning be attached to the inside of the roof, and to the canopy, so when I open the top to get out, the entire interior doesnt get bathed in the Washington liquid sunshine. Then when the top closes have it roll back up. LOL