Hi,

Looking into changing steering wheel...
wanted your opinion on Grant wheels, good/bad, what to look for, etc.

From what I can tell, the obvious difference is the 5-bolt (Grant) vs 6-bolt for the others.

was thinking on 1 of the 2 models (if I go Grant) ... both are 350mm
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/129/
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/128/

Otherwise, I'll go w/ Momo wheels w/ similar design:
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...l?view=featured
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...ompetition.html
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...uark-black.html

Thanks,

http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/139/

I've had this one (or one similar) since '97 or '98. It's held up fine except for the splines in the adapter. There is some slop that developed after taking it off a few times and it will eventually loosen the large nut that holds it to the steering shaft. It never gets to the point of coming off since you feel the slop first. I just retighten everything every few years... I'm sure a new adapter would fix it.

I have the second grant wheel you linked, the corsa GT. Love it, I think a smaller steering wheel and good drivers seat should be the first mods on any 4th gen that is built to handle.

Eugenio, I went with a Momo MILLENIUM EVO. Looks and feels like a quality piece.

http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...lenium-evo.html

I have driven cars with Grants, and they did not seem as nice.

I got my grant like the 2nd on you linked in 1997 when i first got my Camaro... In fact it might have been my first mod since the stocker was trashed

I must like it because i don't even think about it. It has held up well, maybe the only prob is some dryness to the leather which could have been prevented with some oil.

I've had both Grant and Momo and can say I definitely prefer the Momo in all aspects. Quality, fit, finish, adapter design, not rusting after 6 months.

I never realized steering wheels where 200+ does the quality really show for a $200+ wheels vs. lets say a $120-150 dollar wheel. If you can't tell by my post I still have the stock steering wheel from the titanic in my car.

My friends car has a cheap wheel on it, and the material it is made out of is so thin, the wheel actually flexes. Wouldnt want that for my car.My grant is nice and stiff, and has none of the problems sparkles described. It's been on the car for years.

I've had a Grant wheel in my car for over 10 year and I won't say that it is the best quality, I can't say that I have had any problems with it ether.
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/41/

I've also been using one of their bolt on quick release hubs, which hasn't given me any issues ether.

I adapted a factory wheel to a Grant quick-release adapter, and have been using it probably for 5 or so years now. Love it! I know that wasn't the question, but the quick-release hub was mentioned.

I was looking for a smaller wheel, but I have to agree with others that most of the Grant wheels look cheap (and are, relatively-speaking), but Momos are kind of at the 'I'll wait until other projects are paid for' price range.

also the big question I'm asking myself is if I get a D-shape wheel (flat on the bottom)... will i regret it ?
I don't see it becoming an issue, since i'm not a drifter.

My top contenders in D-shape:
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/129/
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...l?view=featured
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...l?view=featured

What I like of Grant (all black)
Apart from that... have a tendency for the Eagle. ... but tomcat looks like good grooves for fingers.
If no D-shape, there is:
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/128/
http://www.momousa.com/tuning/steering-whe...ompetition.html

My buddy just recently decided to part with the Momo Mod 88 that was in his Lotus Exige. I picked it up for $100. It's the first suede wheel I've owned and I love it. The others you posted just look to ricer to me, but to each his own. I bought the NRG quick release and short hub adapter off Amazon. All together, I've got just under $300 in all of it and am extremely happy considering I've been dealing with the sun rotted leather air bag wheel for the last 3 years.

http://www.momousa.com/store/index.php/racing/mod-88.html

Not saying you should do what I do, but a D ring is pretty nice if you are bigger like me or have a cage and don't want a quick release.

As far as the Grant stuff, that was just my experience with the one I bought 10 years ago brand new. They may have gotten better since then.

The flat bottom wheels are a carryover from formula cars, where the cabin is extremely cramped and the leg clearance is needed. A formula car also has quicker steering and the driver keeps his hands in a fixed grip, no shuffle or hand over hand to get around a track. For a production car, esp on the street with parking lots and such, I would think that the flat bottom would be annoying, and the hands would either miss the wheel or have to search for it when you need more than 90deg of steerage. I've never tried one, so YMMV.

Suede is nice for a race car using gloves, but will mat up with hand oils and look terrible after use without gloves.

I have no leg clearance issues, and I thought about the D-shape becoming an issue when i need to cross over my arms (more than 90' steerage).
So screw it... I'm going with a nice round shape... no need to reinvent the wheel (no pun intended)

It's now only between these 2
Momo Competition
Grant Corsa GT

I can snap a picture of that grant wheel in my car for you this afternoon if would help your decision.

if you don't mind... would be nice !

I have a Grant 1080 Evolution, which is no longer made, but I like it. Quality is good enough, but nothing to write home about. Definitely gets the job done and makes driving more enjoyable.

We were out working on the car today, and I had a look at the wheel. It turns out it IS a Grant wheel. It looks like this:



It's been in the car probably 8 or so years and looks pretty decent considering the age. Of course, we usually drive with gloves on, so that probably helps things a lot. It gets bonus points for the factory Firebird horn button fit in the recess for the Grant horn button. We don't use a horn, although I'm seriously considering installing one. It's amazing how people don't seem to hear us coming, or trying to back out of a parking spot.

This is on a 3rd Gen, though. IIRC, the wheel OD was equal to about the OEM wheel ID, so it's a little smaller, but not by much. And of course, it bolted right on the Grant quick release, which is almost a necessity with the Kirkey seat and roll bar.

I wanted a little bit of contrast without looking too ricer-ish... I have the grey/black f1 wheel:
http://www.grantproducts.com/products/view/139/

I'm fine with the looks/quality, but it is a vinyl wheel and it certainly leaves something to be desired in grip and feel. It is a heck of a lot cheaper though. I really like the size though I wish it had a little more set back. From the looks of it I figured it would be an inch+ further back from the factory wheel, but it's at most a 1/2" offset.

Gloves will help with that a lot. We use batting gloves. They're fairly light, well-ventilated (which is important where we autocross), easy to find, and cheap compared to other 'driving' gloves out there. They're not nomex gloves, but we're not even looking for those.

thanks to all...
looks like the Momo Competition is the winner.

Late to this party BUT I was running a GRANT 773



Just switched to a 1066



~DaVe

Why?

I just got a momo competition as well. I do not have the hub adapter yet. I read that you need to have the momo 2401 hub machined down is this true? Also are there any other adapters out there that will not require this?

I didn't have to machine my momo adapter but I it did have clearance issues so I took a bit of material out of the inside of the steering column cover. I forget how I went about that, it's been so long since I put my momo wheel in.

HOW TRUE!!

But, I have been able to keep my daily street driven Sparco 383 suede wheel alive for almost 4 years now just by brass, or stainless steel wire brushing it back to life at least once a week to keep the nap up.

I DO wear gloves (either suede palm Sparco karting gloves, or clarino/alcantara/microfiber M.W./Ringers mechanics or Remington shooting gloves) in the winter, and used to in the spring/summer/fall as well, until my kids mentioned that they were embarrassed to be seen in my car with me wearing them (something about looking like a "super nerd" or such, and hearing about it from their friends).

So now I just go bare handed in the spring/summer, and just brush up the nap MUCH more frequently, and am OCD about NEVER touching the wheel without washing my hands if they seem AT ALL 'greasy/oily'.

As far as quality/price point of wheels goes; IF I am going to go through the bother, legality/inspection/etc. issues of dumping the airbag, and taping over the resultant IC light, I AM going to use the TOP quality/feel steering wheel I can put on the car.

When this one finally gives out, and can no longer be brought back to life, I may try a Personal Grinta suede next.

The Personal and OMP wheels are nice, maybe a little higher quality, and price, than Momo. Here's an OMP Topmark with a Woodward NASCAR QD, set up for an E30

Whats the big deal about suede steering wheels? Leather and the comfort of my hands are the last thing on my mind when im in my car

It's the no slip GRIP one has when using a suede wheel with suede palm gloves, as it takes less pressure/hand tension to handle the wheel than with slippery smooth leather wheel/gloves.

But the FIA has even managed to mess this combo up since their latest specs for gloves seems to FORBID a full suede palm/finger glove in favor of various Pittards leather patch palm/finger gloves.

I've always liked the OMPs since they are one of the ONLY companies which offer a yellow centering stripe on their 'Monte Carlo'/T spoke style suede wheels.