Steering wheel bearings upgrade

Filed under Projects , Xbox 360

Changing the default plastic bearing in the official Xbox 360 steering wheel to a sealed cartridge bearing.

Parts Required:

  • Xbox 360 Steering Wheel
  • Sealed bearing race, 45mm internal, 75mm external, 16mm high. Available from RS Electronics, part no. 285-0778. www.rswww.com

 

An alternative bearing has been used on another mod by Prime NL who use the following: Serial : 61809-2RS1- Inner : 45 mm. - Outer : 60 mm. - Height : 8 mm.

Stage 1: Removing the old plastic bush

The Base of the unmodified wheel

Plastic leg/gripper panel removed.

 

Base cover removed

Steering wheel removed, you need to remove the cables which go through the centre of the spindle before you remove the wheel.

 

The original spindle in place.

Spindle removed from frame

The original plastic bush with lots of sideways play

New bearing race next to original plastic bush

Stage 2: Fitting the new bearing

Bearing fitted to front panel with super glue to hold central before the addition of fixing resin

The new bearing with resin glue and plastic shims round the edge to hold in place.

Trimming the plastic spindle to fit the 45mm bearing

Final reassembly, note the extra space between the mounting pillars and the motor plate. This could be reinforced with longer spacers if necessary but we found there is no movement if you tighten the screws evenly.

Pedal box fitted to the new frame.

Finished Steering Wheel and Pedal Box fitted to the frame.

Dec15

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Comments (10) -

8/5/2009 4:45:31 PM #

I have  a nintendo wii and thought that it was cool until I saw this piece of kit - is all this the standard xbox steering wheel or is the seat / foot pedal etc add ons which you added?

Homeserve

8/5/2009 6:04:28 PM #

The wheel and pedals are the standard xbox ones which i cut down so they would fit on to the seat and frame and added the bearing mods. The seat was from http://www.gameracer.co.uk/ and i modified it to fit the 360 wheel.

Brian

10/17/2009 5:08:50 PM #

I like your bearing upgrade for the xbox 360 wheel.  Having trouble finding the actual bearing.  Can you provide anymore contact info for RS Electronics (Phone, email)?

Thanks

Joe

JP

10/26/2009 6:14:40 PM #

I am ordering the bearing now.  I was wondering if there was any particular reason for the outer diameter or width on the bearing chosen?  I found a 45x58x7 or 45X68x12 and wondered if they would do better to replace the plastic bushing and have less of a gap?  Or do you need the width of the bearing to eliminate play?

Thanks for posting these instructions!!

Matthew

10/26/2009 8:55:59 PM #

I went with a wider outer diameter so it would spread the load on the plastic over a wider area. The higher bearing will also reduce the play in the spindle as it grips over a wider area.

Brian

11/16/2009 4:33:11 AM #

Great idea Brian, Tho when i looked into your mod i was a bit concerned the idler gear shaft was no longer supported in the front housing, Not sure how that will go in the long run. Anyway you've inspired me to have a  crack with the narrower 45x58x7 bearing as mentioned by Matthew, instead of mounting the bearing in resin, i've basically machined a big washer that houses the bearing and sits in behind the front housing, the washer is held in place by 6 screws thru the front plate into the washer (not too long to foul the gear).Doing it this way the motor plate still screws up to its original position and the spindle is rock solid, tho its yet to be tested as i'm suffering rrod!! Now workin on a remote shifter.
Cheers
Fallguy

Darren

11/17/2009 5:34:59 PM #

Ez Brian, having been inspired by your upgrade, i thought i'd do the same...however, my stuff don't go back together so good. I seem to have my bearing protruding passed (higher) than the plastic walls. It seems to be flush and at the same hight on your photo's. Please tell me i haven't royally mashed this mod up, (its not the only one i've done to this wheel). Is that free floating idler gear gonna cause me some jip? Can you suggest a stablizier for it? I appreciate your wisdom and advice on the matter. Good news is my steering colum ain't wobblin for no body now.  

Mo3glii

11/19/2009 1:43:18 PM #

Strike my last...got it together! Cheers, Feels great.

Mo3glii

12/28/2009 6:31:21 PM #

Can you tell me which kind of screwdriver I need to remove the gray base of the wkeel? It looks like a security screw but I tried T-9 and T-10 and it looks like they don't fit properly.
Thanks

Luca

12/28/2009 7:24:03 PM #

I had normal torx screws on mine but others seem to have the torx bits with the pin in the middle. You can often undo these using a small straight screwdriver

Brian

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