There is a guy parting out a totaled '91 or '92 Maxima and selling the steering wheel. The the steering wheel is the air bag type, mine is not and I want to replace it, its pretty beat up...Will this steering wheel fit on my car??

Hey there, I really don't think an airbag wheel will fit on one what wasn't equiped already with one from the factory. It's because you don't have the proper connectors for the airbag to even work. I might be wrong, so get a second opinion. You also mentioned that it was all beat up. Why would you want a raggedy wheel in your car?? I replaced my GXE wheel with a sweet azz 300ZX wheel. I would suggest you go to your local junkyard and get yourself a nice Z32 or Max SE wheel. I think all Nissan wheels are interchangable.

Take care,
ICE

No, I think you misunderstood....

My current steering wheel is raggedy, not the one I wanna buy. And I don't wanna use the airbag, plus he doesn't have it anyway....SO to answer my question, he said he thinks it a '92 steering wheel...He said the dimension is 15-3/8" inches.

Hmmm, sorry for the mixup. Anyway, The wheel will more than likely fit, but now you have to find a cover. If the cars are both the same model, then maybe you can use the cover off your original wheel, but to tell you the truth, I really don't know for sure.I think its just too much trouble. If you want to just change the wheel for a more sportier one then just call the junk yards in your area. I got my Z32 wheel is very nice shape. Wheels usually sell for $50, maybe less.

I'm not really sure about the exact diameter of the wheel, but I can tell you that the Z32 and 240SX wheels were smaller.

I think the Z32 wheel feels and looks the best. Its full leather and very thick. Sorry I don't have any pics scanned.

Take care,
ICE

If it's an air-bag steering wheel, then it's a 1992. That was the first year for air-bags in Maximas. The bag/center cover, I believe, is one-piece. I don't think you can just get the cover.

I'd also get a 240SX or a Z32 wheel in your situation.

Any particular year I should look for...or should I just look for a year like mine a '90......

Well I believe the 240SX and 300ZX wheels looked the same. The difference between the two is that the 240SX has a center cap that reads "NISSAN", while the 300ZX wheel reads "Z". Just look for a wheel with NO airbag. I believe Nissan started putting bags in '92, so any year below that will work. I would call around to your local junk yards and ask around. Oh, and make sure that the wheel you buy has cruise control buttons because not all nissan wheel have them.

Now get your **** up and build a hot rod!! lol

Take care,
ICE

There are three things that determine steering wheel interchangeability (assuming you don't want a functioning air bag):
1) mechanical - the dimensions of the tapered shaft on the splines on the steering shaft. (probably all the same)

2) Turn signals and horn - The non airbag wheels have three slip rings on the back to carry the electrical signals and two tabs to cancle the signals.

3) Cruise controls - there is a connector in the steering wheel hub that has to mate up to the new wheel, which aof course, has to have the cruise control buttons.

Early 240SX wheels say Nissan on the hub and later ones (still with out air bags) have a chrome "Z". These wheels are a direct bolt in replacement. Probably any Nissan wheel from the same era, with cruise control buttons, will be a direct replacement. I would look for wheels that came out of SE versions of the cars. Models to look for would be: 300Z, 240SX (both of these will always be leather), Maxima, Stanza, Sentra, 200SX. Depending on what you like you can look for 3 or 4 spoke wheels.
I have an early 240SX wheel in my 90 GXE. Now, the leather used for covering the wheels is not vat dyed, so the black may be worn off (the other type dying is about the same as paint, and is the most common type of dying in cars). Kiwi, Elite, liquid shoe polish does a good job of restoring the black finish.