Removable OEM Steering Wheel Possible?

[Deleted User 38384]

Something I've been pondering lately, having a removable steering wheel on my EcoDiesel.

The issue being I like the buttons on it, they are handy, and I would like to keep them functioning as they do.

I will be installing four point harnesses on both front seats sometime before March, so airbags aren't going to be an issue at that point anyways, because they won't be enabled.

I've been looking up a bit of information on the interwebs, and can't find a lot of information on anything that involves keeping the original steering wheel.

Does anyone have any experience with this subject and know if it's possible to keep the OEM steering wheel?

Or if not does anyone know of any aftermarket steering wheels which come with a multitude of buttons which I can use for the search/volume toggle buttons, cruise control cluster, the navigational/okay cluster, and the horn?

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[Ratbert]

I hate to ask, but why?

 

[dbp512]

I hate to ask, but why?

You can take the top off, you can even take the doors off, so why not this too? It would make for a nice, clean look when parked.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I hate to ask, but why?

The main reason is because I can.

No but seriously, the main reason is added security. I'm already looking into installing a starter on/off switch which I will put in place of where my antenna used to be. Figure nobody's going to be looking for a starter switch on the exterior of the vehicle.

As an added bonus if someone were to figure out how to turn on my Wrangler, it would beg the question, do thieves bring their own steering wheels?

 

[Ratbert]

As an added bonus if someone were to figure out how to turn on my Wrangler, it would beg the question, do thieves bring their own steering wheels?

I'm just imagining you walking around with a steering wheel!

 

[TheNewGuy]

I will be installing four point harnesses on both front seats sometime before March, so airbags aren't going to be an issue at that point anyways, because they won't be enabled.

Your insurance company is gonna bend you over hard if you get into a serious accident.

 

[BDinTX]

Ok I’m gonna say it…
Nobody is going to steal your Jeep.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Your insurance company is gonna bend you over hard if you get into a serious accident.

 

[GATORB8]

Looks like most of the quick releases only allow for a single horn ciruit. I'm sure there is something out there, but to replace the 15+ circuits on the stock wheel is going to take a hell of a disconnecting clock spring.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Ok I’m gonna say it…
Nobody is going to steal your Jeep.

 

[Beachcomber72]

The main reason is because I can.

No but seriously, the main reason is added security. I'm already looking into installing a starter on/off switch which I will put in place of where my antenna used to be. Figure nobody's going to be looking for a starter switch on the exterior of the vehicle.

As an added bonus if someone were to figure out how to turn on my Wrangler, it would beg the question, do thieves bring their own steering wheels?

Sadly yes, in some cases they do, it’s called vise-grip pliers lol.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

Sadly yes, in some cases they do, it’s called vise-grip pliers lol.

That is true.

So I haven't really stated this anywhere yet, but the idea of putting a off switch on the fuel tank pump on the EcoDiesel is after a little bit of thought processing, a really bad idea. As for now the Bosch CP4.2 HPFP and the recall replacement being the exact same thing, any sort of vacuum situation on that fuel pump will still shred it. So putting an off switch on the tank side of the fuel pump is not a good idea because if you forget to turn it back on in a situation where you've turned it off, your potentially creating that vacuum situation, AKA a really bad fucking idea.

So my other process which really doesn't pertain to this topic but does to certain extent pertain to the idea of intentional security inconveniences, I'll be putting a off switch not on the battery, but on the solenoid. When it's off you can't even start the car until you find that switch. With the steering wheel removed and the solenoid switched turn to off, how it will work out if someone wants to steal my Wrangler at any point in the future whether it's now or in 20 years, they will have to break the hood latch, which won't be too hard, you just bend it back and it'll probably break pretty easily. Then you got a hot wire the vehicle, at that point they'll probably realize that the solenoid is disconnected, they may spend some time looking around for it, if they find it now they'll have to pick the lock on the case I will have it in, it's going to be a steel case so not like they can just rip it off, though they can probably try but that'll take more time. at that point once they turn the solenoid on they'll have to apply vice grips to the steering wheel because they won't have a steering wheel. And then they can drive away at that point. It's not so much about making the vehicle theft proof, as much as it is making it really fucking inconvenient for someone to steal. It'll come down to which will take longer, them stealing my Wrangler, or me getting my shotgun and going outside.

All that being said, I'll let you guys know what I figure out. At this point research will only take me so far, more than likely I'll be yanking off my steering wheel yet again sometime in the spring when it warms up a little bit. Or if I get off really early one of these days in the slow months here at work, I might yank it off on a whim.

I'm not sure how many people on here know a lot about quick release steering wheels, but what it basically comes down to is the base piece which screws into the steering column, and then the piece that screws into your steering wheel. Wire connection points will typically go through the center of the disconnect plates and hang out in the center between the two when connected, and then obviously when disconnected you'll just have a wire hanging out on both sides.

So the issue ends up becoming, can I find a mount for the steering column side which will work with the Wrangler JL, and then the other question becomes does the JL steering wheel have a place to screw in the steering wheel side of the mount. And if not, is there enough space to drill holes in the steering wheel or for that matter in the mount itself.

Realistically speaking it should be doable with the right quick disconnect system. The question just becomes finding the right system.

At this point this will probably be a long-term project. But if I find anything newer figure out anything new, I'll post in this thread keep you all updated.

And hey on the plus side if this works out well in the end, and I find a clean way to make it look good as I do it, I just did all the legwork for anyone else who wants to do it in the future. Not that I'm trying to be a groundbreaker, I'm just doing whatever the hell I want to do, but it is kind of cool when you can go to someone and say how do I do this? Even better when they have the answer for you. ?

 

[Bobby Hank]

Some of you wheelers are straight up addicted to modifying your rigs.

 

[Ratbert]

Some Ferraris have removable steering wheels. That'd slide right in, right?

 

[Gregj]

Looks like most of the quick releases only allow for a single horn ciruit. I'm sure there is something out there, but to replace the 15+ circuits on the stock wheel is going to take a hell of a disconnecting clock spring.

Actually there isn’t that many wires, I count five if you don’t have a heated wheel. I believe it’s doable.

image swiped from eBay.
Gregj

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