ND (2016+) Mazda MX-5 Miata - How-To: Steering Wheel Install 

Loosen the 21mm nut, wiggle the wheel until it pops off the splines, and THEN remove the nut.

Please don't stop the DIY projects! These videos are so helpful!!!

Thanks again for this video. I just replaced my stock steering wheel with the Ken Style as well. The hardest part was figuring out how to release the air bag springs. After that it was pretty much as expected. The trim kit is a worthwhile investment. I am also glad that I have an impact tool. I don't think I could have gotten the old wheel off.

Awesome guide. Only part I needed was the removal a reinstall of the airbag but this video covered those steps more thoroughly than any other I’ve found.

No need to worry about the negative battery wire touching the body, as that's ground. Just ensure the negative terminal is clear. No need to pull the fuse as the battery is disconnected. Don't remove the nut before prying the steering wheel, just have it loose. Add the tape after loosening the wheel but before removing the nut. The black inside of the wheel is a hardened rubber, so the trick is to ease the prongs out of the rubber - it's like losing your first teeth from gums. You want the prongs to come out straight. The outermost prongs of the side pods are most delicate, but you can actually get to these from behind the wheel- just push with a suitable tool and ease these out. Do a bit for this prong, then a bit for the other two, and keep repeating.

Thank you so much for doing this! This video is absolutely lifesaver! Even the aftermarket steering wheel’s instruction book is not as helpful as this video! Much love❤️❤️❤️

Thought I would mention my success since you and your video deserve all the credit... First, thank you! I would never have attempted ANYTHING near the airbag assembly were it not for this video. Suffice to say, my 2020 black RF Miata GT has a new Kenstyle perforated leather and carbon wheel (same as yours, but with the carbon top side, matches the Momo shift knob I installed). For newbs, watch it twice, then go for it! Be aware of the 3 servicing holes for the detent springs of the airbag/horn. They're under the three spokes of the steering wheel. All told, took me about 90 minutes because I was extremely careful. Plus, I was poking around with a small flathead screwdriver under the base of the horn for ten minutes before I realized the access holes were the place to be. Love the steering wheel quality, thickness (about a centimeter thicker, roughly 10% and VERY noticeable). Great video! Thanks again! Johnny V.

Tip when removing the steering wheel, keep the bolt in loose so if you do yank it too hard it won't hit you

Great video! I watched it twice before attempting the steering wheel replacement. I had some issues (a couple broken trim pieces and somehow I lost one of the horn springs) so mine is carrying over into a second day. However, I thought your video was first rate - it explained what to do is easy to follow steps. For me, the hardest part was the removal of the airbag module. I found the three holes easy enough, but somehow could not (easily) find the latch for the spring release. It took me about a half an hour of poking before I got it off.

Finally, a good DIY video for the ND steering wheel. Completely changes the look. Thanks!

Just fyi the object you called the center piece is called a clock spring... that thing needs to stay in exactly the orientation you as when you took off the wheel in if you get it out of it will mess up a bunch of your electronic stuff on the column.

Gotta say, the hardest part for me was actually installing the new wheel onto the steering shaft. It was just super snug after a couple mm of the splines. I was starting to get a bit nervous about the pressure I was needing to use on the outside edges of the wheel and eventually simply ensures the splines were engaged enough to turn the wheels and used the nut insert to fully seat the wheel. There was some grease on the splines from the manufacturer, but man I’ll for sure need a puller to get it back off as it’s effectively pressure fit now. Manufacturing tolerances are a thing though. My wheel is also unfortunately out of alignment with the splines

Great tutorial. Going to watch the steering wheel breakdown one now. Definitely feel better about changing mine now!! Great stuff!

This was an expensive video to watch. It made me order a new steering wheel for my RF. ;o) You’ll hear from me again, when it is installed. Greetings from Denmark

Tip when removing the trim pieces from the wheel, warm the plastics up with a heat gun/hair drier, everything should just slip right out

Thanks, helped me a lot! I put the steering wheel in the oven for easier installation and removal of the plastic parts. 10 minutes at 50 °C/122 °F and everything went easy.

Not strange, that’s the kind of stuff making us happy as the car is upgraded gradually.

Awesome walkthrough! Love how your video mentions the airbag fuse removal all other videos skipped this step and better be safe then sorry. Took me 45mim and got a new wheel on!

Super helpful. I just finished my steering wheel replacement on my ND. Thanks a bunch. Ended up snapping one of the outside pins of the plastic electronic things. The second one I took more time and it worked great. Had to go borrow a steering wheel puller for mine, it was on their good.

Thanks for the video and the great explanation in it. Now my decision has finally matured, to exchange the OEM steering wheel for another one and of course to assemble it myself. Greetings from Baden near Vienna, Austria.

I had the same peeve as you and changed to the same Kenstyle wheel too, along with the Kenstyle paddle shifters.

Another awesome video. A new wheel is a dramatic improvement. Thanks Chad!

I know you have moved on to other cars, but thanks for making this video

I've been looking forward to this video! Great content keep it up 👌👍👍

Will be doing the same on my 124, fingers crossed all the connections are the same so I can use your video as a guide!

uh oh.. forgot to reinstall the horn springs! Great video though.. and I might just take this on!

Oh! I understand but I would have liked to have the tool especially for that. No problem, I'll find something. Thank you very much for your help, it's appreciated.

just order mine! cant wait to install it!!

Super good video thank you. I ordered mine, I may come back for advice. :)) From Quebec Canada

Thank you for your help, especially for the super well done video that I followed from a to z. Happy with the result! Best regards. Serge

Very good, step by step, thanks!

Excellent video! Looks great! Thanks

Surely you have less room for your legs with the replacement steering wheel? The flat bottom looks fantastic, but is the height of the wheel the same as the OEM? Just looks as if the bottom extremity is extended. Perhaps I’m incorrect. Great video though 👍

Nice job. Good demo. Thanks for sharing!

how did you get the actual airbag off its not shown is there somewhere to stick my tool in to release the three spring clips and what tool do you need ?? on the earlier mk3 mx5 it was two 10mm bolts much simpler

Thanks very much for this video. It really helped me swap the wheel on my car (I went for a guardian Designs Corsa-D (which I'm really happy with)). After watching the video once, and then stepping through it as I dismantled the old wheel, the job was really easy. The video and narration are very clear and simple to follow. (I've got to ask though, did you forget to transfer the horn springs? The notes about them seem added on and the springs are not fitted when you put the airbag back. ;) ) I found poking my screwdriver through the three holes to push the airbag release springs a little awkward but not difficult. Despite the clear shot of them on the removed airbag in the video, it was just a bit tricky to get my screwdriver on to them without really being able to see where they were on the actual car. Now that I have seen how it all fits together myself, I see that those springs locate on the three posts that also have the horn springs on them, so that makes it much easier to visualise what is going on inside the boss when pushing on the spring ends. It'll be much easier if I ever need to do it again. The advice to use trim removal tools is definitely good. There are quite a few bits that could easily be scored, scratched or otherwise damaged by screwdrivers (etc). For what it's worth, I did need to use a steering wheel puller (as mentioned in the video, it is likely to be situational). I actually had to crank the puller quite a bit and, judging by the way the wheel popped off, there would have been no way I would have got it off without the puller. Fortunately, I already had one. My car only has one airbag connection on the back (in addition to the earth). It has one yellow one right in the middle rather than the yellow and orange ones beside each other (as per the video). The removal procedure was the same though (black plastic retaining clip etc). I agree with the order of taking things apart (chrome ring, black plastic, then control pods). One additional tip is that once the black plastic is off, you can see slots on either side where the heads of two of the pins (on either side) for the control pods push through. Unfortunately, the slots are for the two easier to remove pins but it does mean that you can push a trim removal tool into the slots from the back and push those pins forward and out. Once they have started moving, the bigger, rounder and tougher pin becomes easier to move too. All in all it's not a difficult job but it was made even easier, and I was able to tackle it with confidence, thanks to this video.

That's a very nice wheel!!

How do you like the KenStyle wheel? Are you still enjoying it?

Very good, detailed video.

Does anyone know the purpose or function of the 3 copper pins inserted in the steering wheel? They're visible t 5:45. The seem to match with pins on the airbag cartridge. Thanks.

Super great video thought keep going!

Are the metallic looking pieces actually metal or are they a metallic looking plastic ... I think if I do this I might want to paint those parts a different color but would be helpful to know if they are actually metal or plastic to choose the correct paint?

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Hello, what is the name of the tool to remove the air bag, and where did you buy it. I can't find it anywhere. Thank you

That tape method is just genius! I will definitely use your tape method on my install! How much torque did you set for the bolt?

Looks great! Are you familiar with any aftermarket steering wheels that you’re able to pull in and out. Adjust the steering position is what I’m trying to get at. Thanks again. Currently have a 2018ND

Do you know if this wheel will accommodate the paddle shifters from the OEM wheel? My MX-5 is an automatic.

Almost 2 years later, are you still happy with the wheel?

Great video. I wish you would have stacked them when you did the comparison so we could see the difference in profile better.

Many thanks for the fantastic DIY video for when I do my install in a few weeks! My GuardianDesigns Corsa 330 and matching shift boots and e-brake handle in Ghost Gray stitching (to match the Auburn Nappa stitching) are in progress. That Kenstyle looks great. How does the diameter compare to stock and how well does the stitching match up with the OEM interior?

Thanks for the video! Think I might replace my steering wheel when she's put up for the winter (planning on doing a few things to her when she's put away), as like you I'm not a fan of the OEM wheel.

where is the test drive video plz

(Are you referring to 3:24 of the video?) Yes, exactly that. ;)

Man... you look like Bruce Willis!

How do you like this steering wheel after a year? I'm thinking of getting the same one!

Does this steering wheel work with NDs with auto transmission and pedal shifters?

Wait! I did not see you put the horn springs back on!

Do you break the vehicle guarantee by doing this ?

Did your wheel end up being slightly off center?

Is this a 2017 launch edition model?

What aftermarket steering wheel does everyone have?

Is it real leather or leatherette on Kenstyle?

Awesome

You forgot the horn springs!

Think the stock looks better which just reflects everyone has an opinion.

Still not clear on what happened to the horn springs....

You should have just gone with the better looking FIAT 124 spider and you wouldn't have wanted to change anything!

21:30 I think you made the same mistake I made, which is forgetting to slide back on the springs that keep the airbag module pushed out (and the horn de-activated). Guess you ended the video before you actually tested it, but you would've gotten the rude awakening of the horn going off as soon as you reconnect the battery. The module itself also moves way too much without the springs in place (as you can see in my video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gNj8tTkUgto.html ). I didn't figure out what I was missing until I went to the forums.

This is too much for this car.I dont like this.