Im looking at buying a 1.8iS n-reg - it has an airbag steering wheel - is it possible to remove these, as I have my own smaller momo wheel i want to use - I find the factory wheels too big. (1/00)
No problem in removing it. I have a 1.8 and did the same thing. You have to tinker a bit with the wiring for the horn though. (1/00)
I asked about this when I got my Mk2, and was told that you must replace an airbagged wheel with another one, if the original spec. of the car included a driver's airbag. At the very least there would appear to be implications for your insurance if you deleted a safety item! (1/00)

Then you need to do some work

You can't put a momo wheel on without the correct adaptor. A momo one does not exist that will fit straight on.

miata.net has some instruction what to do, but basically you need to get a momo adaptor, then drill some holes/minor machine work with a dremel bofore it will fit. The problem is the clocksping used to convey the horn/ airbag connections to the wheel - it will interfere with the adaptor without the work described above. You can allways swap airbag computer/sensors/steering column/shroud with somebody who wants an airbag in their car

You will also need to fool the airbag computer to extinguish the warning light by connecting a 2ohm resistor where the airbag once plugged in - or just remove the computer. (1/00)

You can remove it but there's some precautionary steps that need to be taken for safety's sake - check out miata.net.

You might need an adaptor boss for the Momo wheel - I had to buy one when I fitted the Momo wood wheel to my 98R Berkeley. Other than that, it just dropped straight on. Might be different for yours - it's a different year, but I doubt it. (1/00)
You can in fact remove the stock wheel and airbag. It is however a rather involved but not imposible thing to do. You will need a MOMO hub adapter model 5702 and it will require slight modification as will the clock spring mechanism and turn signal return. Also needed, a 3ohm 1 or 2 watt resistor for the airbag circuit, drill and a dremel tool. It's really not the big deal that it sounds once you're into the job. I have personally done this several times. two of the cars were my own and they function flawlessly. (1/00)
Well I know you can swap the airbag with a new steering wheel, most people do this after a crash, if they don't have the money to replace it. But I wonder, can I put the new wheel from Momo the one that is optional for the MK2, replacing my standard one? It will give me some knee-room undoubtedly! Do I get to keep my airbag or does it come fixed to the steering wheel? (1/00)
The air bag is integral to the steering wheel, the after market steering wheels will not allow fitment of an airbag. also, if you intend to remove the airbag mechanism, make sure you read the manual carefully since your dealing with what is effectively an explosive device. beware that this may also invalidate your insurance since you are removing a safety feature of the car. (1/00)
The airbag is attached by four 10mm nuts on the back side of the steering wheel. Once removed, the airbag will lift away from the wheel and has a nylon tether cord. On the back of the airbag there will be two connectors. They must be removed in order which is simple since the first one to be removed must be removed because it physically locks the other down and prevents its removal. As with any explosive device, once removed the airbag should be pointed black part away from the body.There is no way to fit the airbag to the MOMO wheel and modifications usually required are not very easilly reversable As for insurance, that may be a hairy issue. From my own experience, since the UK cars were initially issued without airbags and unless something has changed since my departure still not required by law (someone please tell me if that has changed!!) it seems as though it should not be a problem. Not that it matters but things here are a bit strange, the owner of a car may remove or dissable the airbags and the only thing that happens is whether the particular ins. co. gives a discount or not for the bag. (1/00)
No it's not required by law. The elise does not come with them, for instance. The mk2 by the way is a different situation as the steering column design is new. The standard 4 spoke plastic and the 3 spoke Nardi are interchangable, but the airbag modules are different too so you have to swap both. Mazdaspeed make a hub adaptor to allow a Momo type wheel to be fitted, including the connection to fool the computer. Thats the only way I have seen you can do it for the mk2, unless you ditch the horn - then you can use the standard momo adaptor with the clock spring removed. Indicator cancelling won't work either unless you drill some holes in the base of the adaptor to take the lugs from that mechanism. (1/00)
I am not as familiar with the Mk2 as I am with the Mk1 but if you can remove the clock spring and use the standard Momo hub, there is a good chance that apropriate mods to the clock spring and turn signal return which are needed for the Mk1 may in fact work for the Mk2?? in which case the clock spring could stay and the positive wire for the horn button would still be useful. With the Mk1, you would of course remove the brass and plastic ring from the bottom and enlarge the hole that the wire was through. There should be three wires coming from the clock spring, two for the airbag and one for the horn. there is a two layer plastic cover fitted to the clock spring where these wires come out and the outer cover only should be removed without damaging the second. when that is done the turn signal return has ridges top and bottom if you line up the turn signal return so that the pegs are lined up verticly These ridges must be notched so that clock spring can turn easily and frictionlessly. Originally these ridges will stop the clock spring from turning independently. If you are working with a Mk2 this may be of absolutely no help but having not seen, it sounds as though it may work. (1/00)