Okay, I've gotten good responses on the replacement of steering wheel on my 96 as far as pulling original and replacing with 97 style...they both use 1st generation airbag...so will 97/98 airbag connections at wheel/steering column be a direct "plug-n-play set up or will I have to "modify connection? Same with cruise control connections (if I retain the 97/98 steering mounted "buttons") hooking up to 95/96 factory wiring. Just want to be absolutely sure of what I will face if/when I mount a 97/98 steering wheel. Anybody with actual conversion "experience"?? Thank you! Doug

 

im about to do this....i havent really eyeballed it but im fairly confident the harnesses are the same.
i'll look at it later today...im still waiting on a torx tool bit set and a wheel skin to arrive before i actually install it though. so probably next weekend.

 

PLEASE post your experience!!! I am really looking forward to your input...will be watching for ya!! Are you going to use the 97/98 cruise control "buttons" also?? Several of us are truly interested in this conversion- Thanks for any/all input. Doug

 

Yeah I'm planning on using the 98 cruise controls. Ill let you know this weekend. I'm not sure how to pull a steering wheel although I bought a puller/harmonic balancer...
Still gotta install my wheelskin before I put it on though. And get my torx bit in the mail too.

 

this has been done before, search if you can. I think it was a lot of money cuz you'll need an airbag and the wheel, also modification will be needed to enlarge some mounting holes for the wheel and electrical connections for the turn signal & headlite is different from 97/98. Make sure you get the SE steering wheel.

 

so far i've spent 120-ish. I have never ever heard of enlarging mounting holes or any sort of electrical connection problems.
I've got the se bag and SE wheel so we are about to find out and maybe someoen could sticky this information because theres a thread about it every couple weeks and theres never any detailed answers.

 

Chillin- Please let me know what you find during your install so I can get one definitive answer... PM me if you would! Do I add "enlarging holes" to my growing mystery of steering wheel swap...I thought all I had to be concerned about was electrical connections for the steering wheel airbag system (95/98compatible 1st generation airbags) and for cruise control. Hasn't anyone already/ever done this swap to give absolute/exact install (compatability)experience?? If they have; and posted...Please give me the thread to go to!!! I'm trying not to make this a riduculously overworked thread, but I believe a posting with absolute facts/actual swap experience would be a "treasured source"/ help to alot more 4th generation Maxi's than just me.
Thanks to all!! Doug

 

i got my wheelskin in today so i'll probably be installing the wheel tomorrow afternoon. i'll keep yall updated

 

not sure if you are still keeping an eye on this thread or not packerz but i ran into a problem. heres a link to the thread http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=508625. but long story short, it appears as if the clockspring needs to be replaced with a 1997-99 clock spring to fit the steering wheel on there. I will be buying one, either one ebay or on the forums as soon as i can get one. Ebay has had fair prices on them, dont even try the dealership though, i called and the price is like 250. what a rip.