Steering wheel spacer for CS 3 spoke wheel

[RHT45]

There seems to be a bit of interest on the 968uk forum in another production run of these spacers. So far I've heard from Oz and a coupe owner who may change his 4 spoke wheel. The original run was organised by Big Dave UK and he reckons it won't fit the 4 spoke wheel.

When I showed the spacer to a friend who has a business manufacturing high spec things like lamps for North Sea rigs, he said he could do a run, minimum order 5 and about £60 IIRC. There was no problem replicating the spec. That was last spring so I'd need to go back to him. However I'm not going to waste his time (or mine) unless there are enough people genuinely interested. Oh, and they'll be at cost plus p & p. This is not me building up the retirement fund! []

I've put a post on the 968uk forum about this and here on the 968 register. Over to you guys!

 

[John Sims]

For those of us who like the modern, bent arm, wheel in the chest style this could be cool but I am a little worried/confused as to how it would work.

The standard arrangement IIRC is a boss assembly with a splined central hole, mounting on to the splined shaft with a retaining nut. Is this a whole new boss? This being the case you have to take your wheel apart? I am concerned as not all CS steering wheels are the same and some of us may not be identical to that which the adaptor was designed for.

 

[zcacogp]

With John on this one ... and I can't quite see the point of it either.

I've never had a problem with the reach of my steering wheel ... I have long arms and legs (but am not tall), hence tend to sit quite a long way back with the seat back quite upright.

Am I missing something?


Oli.

 

[John Sims]

If the steering wheel is where you like it there isn't any point. On reach adjustable steering columns I tend to pull the steering wheel out.

It is perhaps due to my poor driving style - I don't tend to feed the wheel [] but hang on to it and cross my arms [][][] as I was taught taking my race licence. To do this you need a full grip reach around the whole perimeter of the wheel. This being the case I like to try to get the top of the wheel at the distance where I could rest my wrist on it.

On the 944 you can end up too close to the pedals to heel'n'toe or too upright to fit with a helmet on.

 

[James_G]

Ironically, I'd be interested in a mod that enables the steering wheel to be further away from me, as it already feels like it's in my chest. With my sports seats I can't get out of the car without squeezing myself between the bolster and the wheel and as those who've met me will testify, I am quite svelte.

Anyway, would I be right in thinking that this spacer ring would fit between the wheel and the boss? Presumably you'd need longer "steering wheel to boss" fixings to account for the extra thickness being clamped down. It's for this reason that I think explains why it won't work on 4 spoke wheels, as they have an integral boss, so there is no ability to tailor the reach.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: James_G

I am quite svelte.

(Sorry James. I'm just jealous.)


Oli.

 

[Big Dave]

I initially did this modification for myself. Being 6ft 5" tall + with long arms+ legs, meaning the seat was all the way back on its runers. I found myself a long way from the steering wheel...
So i set about getting a spacer made to shorten the reach..
It worked that well that when other tall people sat in + drove my car, they ALL said, can i have one...
So i did a short run of around 5-6 units + sold them [just covering my costs.],,,to those that expressed an interest...
It will ONLY fit the Club Sport steering wheel. + Is ONLY for the taller driver who feels the wheel is too far away....
Not for all you "short arses"... who feel its unnessesary..[][][]
Richard got in touch with me about this , some time ago, asking if i didnt mind him getting some more made,,,after getting some interest from more people, he is only following up on this, + opening it up to you 944 chaps...

So what im saying, there is no need to shoot him down in flames....Because there IS a need for the taller chap....[][][][]

In the picture, the alloy part is the spacer behind the steering wheel...Bolted between the wheel + the hub...It came complete with longer bolts, so it was a "no brainer" to fit...
PS on the last batch i had made. I got them annodised in matt black, so it actually looked very "factory" when fitted....

 

[944 man]

Cheap at €29!

 

[Big Dave]

Looks like a good deal. So long as it fits the correct wheel + it also depends how much spacing it does..?? Ie how thick is the spacer..

 

[Big Dave]

Not wanting to seem negative,,
BUT ive never had much luck with contacting Powermarques...
Ever time ive tried i got an answer phone or told to call back later....
Maybee i just i called at a "bad time", but idve thought if your THE main FVD distributor youdve got your act together....
In fact i even contacted FVD direct + was told to call Powermarques....I went round in circles eventually ending in me going elsewhere.....[8|][8|][8|][8|]. Resulting in a lost sale for them....

 

[John Sims]

I have managed to speak to them, when I was looking at a Heigo roll hoop. Had quite a long chat (perhaps why others couldn't get through

[]) but I'm afraid the information I was given didn't quite tie up with that I obtained direct from Heigo. Granted, as a German company Heigo may have been taking an excessively conservative line.

The eccentric boss does seem strange. While I am sure it would be fine with a fixed grip style it must feel odd if you ever feed the wheel. It is one of those things that you will never know unless you try it and then it could well be like Marmite.

 

[RHT45]

These might help to show Big Dave's spacer. The advantages for me (at only 6'1") are that the wheel is higher, so I get in and out more easily, it's off my thighs so twirling the wheel is easier, and I can see the tops of the instruments. It's also closer, which I like.