Derek Zoolander

Has anyone removed the PDK paddles from the back of a Sport Design steering wheel? There are a bunch of PDK wheels, but very few for manual. I want to know whether I can just remove the paddles from the back - I can live with a couple holes since they shouldn't be visible.

OKB

youll be the first, cut them off

Derek Zoolander

I want to know if they're just bolted on and if they can just be "unscrewed". I'm not ready to cut up a $700 steering wheel.

Or if someone can take a photo of the wheel with the silver trim removed to see if the paddles are bolted on...?

Zoefhaus

Bump for this thread - anyone managed to do this?
I have my eye on a SD steering wheel with paddles, for install in my 6spd 997.1.

Zoefhaus

Nobody?

Tj40

Ebay is your friend - Look at this ebay listing - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-Car...MAAOSwx-9Wvb58

Would appear there are 2 screws holding them in from behind. However if you check out the listing for the pdk paddle shift wheels there it looks like they are buried under some trim inside the steering wheel, so it might be a bigger job than it appears.

Hope this helps.....

nicogri

And it will ultimately left holes on both sides no matter what

Zoefhaus

Thanks Tj40 and nicogri, this helped me on my way!

I did some more research, and came to the following conclusion:

To remove the paddles, you need to remove the silver trim.
There are some different opinions on this; some say it's best to use kevlar wire to loosen the 10 white tabs (see picture below), others recommend heating the back of the wheel to get the trim off, and others just use prying tools and brute force.


Once the trim is off, you can clearly see that each paddle is fixed with 2 screws and one tab:



Seems pretty straightforward to remove the paddles once the trim is off, and I don't have the impression that it will leave large holes at the back of the steering wheel.

I hope this helps others who are looking for info on this!

Zoefhaus

I am still on the fence on whether to give this a try, or to just buy a 997.2 standard wheel for a manual car instead...
This in itself will already be a signficant upgrade compared to the triangular 997.1 wheel I have now.

Tj40

Glad I could help!
My 2c as you are still on the fence - just get a 997.2 standard wheel for a manual - taking the trim off might seem easy but there is plenty of scope for breaking tabs etc. Sometimes its not worth the hassle..
With a manual wheel you can always sell it again if you decide you don't like it.

Cheers

TJ

wjk_glynn

Thanks!

From the images you posted, I was able to find an original sources for others' reference. Here's a link to that video showing how to pull that trim (jump to the 5 min mark):


And then here's a link to the Agency Power webpage referenced in that video...

https://www.agency-power.com/how-to-...teering-wheel/


Edit: That website is now dead, but here's an image of where to insert the Kevlar fishing line such as:



Karl.

wjk_glynn

And if you have the button style PDK wheel, here's how to attack the front trim on that one (looks brutal):


Karl.

Zoefhaus

You're probably right.
I actually quite like the styling of the standard 997.2 wheel as well.
Only question is whether to go for the one with silver trim or black trim

Zoefhaus

Thanks, that's indeed where I got the screencaps from. I should have posted a link to the video.

wjk_glynn

BTW, here's a post with another technique for pulling the front trim from a PDK Paddle wheel...

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-turb...l#post15844334

Karl.