Summer is just around the corner, and many of us are gearing up for long road trips or hitting the trails. Whether you’re planning an epic cross-country journey or an off-road adventure, you’ll want a comfortable steering wheel. The factory one isn’t horrible but leaves something to be desired. Fortunately, YotaVerse has the perfect solution.
These premium options are designed for maximum comfort and style. You can expect top-notch quality and a thoughtful design tailored to meet every driver’s needs.
In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step installation as this is a fairly involved process. Pay close attention as you’ll be working with the airbag harness, something you don’t want to reinstall incorrectly.
Note: This steering wheel does not retain the heated functionality.
Table Of Contents
Overview
Compatible with 2012-2023 Tacoma, 2014-2023 4Runner, and 2014-2021 Tundra models, this is a versatile upgrade. Designed with an OEM Toyota core, it ensures a perfect fit and full functionality of all buttons and the airbag.
The black perforated leather provides a high-end look while enhancing driving comfort. The beefier hand grips at the 9 and 3 positions offer optimal control, while the semi-flat bottom design gives it a modern and sporty appearance.
You have the option to pick a black or red stripe, and the red stitching comes standard.
Installation
The installation is incredibly straightforward. So long as you follow all of the steps below, you shouldn’t have any issues.
Important: Remember to disconnect the battery to ensure no one gets injured by an accidental airbag deployment.
Tools Required:
- Impact Wrench
- Philips Head Screw Driver
- Flathead Screw Driver
- T-30 Bit
- 10mm Socket
- 3/4mm Socket
- Torque Wrench (Optional)
- Chalk (Optional)
1. Disconnect Battery
Before getting started, you have to disconnect the battery. This will prevent an accidental airbag deployment, which could cause serious injury.
Using a 10mm socket, remove the negative battery cable from the battery terminal and place it over a rag. You want to ensure that there will not be any contact between the cable and the battery.
2. Remove OEM Wheel
Before removing your stock one, make sure it is straight. We marked a line with chalk across the steering column module and the airbag. This ensured that we installed the new wheel perfectly straight.
Use a flathead screwdriver and pry the covers off both sides of the wheel. Set them aside for reinstallation later.
Next, grab a Philips Head screwdriver and undo the screw towards the top. Repeat this on the other side. This will detach the airbag.
Now that the airbag can be pulled out, disconnect the wires from the steering wheel. There will be two yellow tabs on two separate connectors that you will need to pry out. We used a flathead to do this.
Then, pull the ground wire out of the airbag to fully release it.
Once the airbag is removed, begin removing the steering wheel. First, remove the bolt in the middle of the wheel with a 19mm socket.
Next, disconnect the white and black connectors pictured above. This will release it from the column.
3. Swap OEM Parts Over
We found it easier to remove everything completely to remove the pieces that needed to be transferred to the YotaVerse wheel. However, it can be done with the steering wheel still attached to the steering column.
Swap over the OEM components to the new steering wheel, starting with the backside of the airbag.
On the factory steering wheel, remove the (6) Philips head screws circled above to swap over the trim pieces and cruise control lever. Gently pull the trim pieces and lever out of the stock one and set them aside.
4. Install New Wheel
First, slide the cruise control lever back into place, ensuring everything aligns correctly. Then, reinstall the screws to secure the lever.
Next, grab the trim pieces, align the tabs on the back with the holes on the YotaVerse wheel, and snap them into place. Once they are secured, begin hand-tightening the screws.
Next, reinstall the new steering wheel back into your truck, ensuring the lines you drew earlier match up. Use a 19mm socket to reinstall the center bolt.
This is optional but I highly recommend using a torque wrench and torquing it down to spec (37 ft-lbs./30 Nm).
Next, reinstall the airbag and the connectors. Double-check to make sure everything is secured.
Finally, reinstall the screws on both sides and slide the covers back on.
Then, reconnect the battery to test the steering wheel button functionality.
Initial Thoughts
Right off the bat, I was super impressed. It felt super sturdy and high quality. Not only that but the craftmanship was amazing.
One feature I absolutely loved is the strategically placed grips for resting your fingers while driving. This thoughtful design element makes driving much more enjoyable and feels great in the hands. The leather is also smooth and feels very high quality. Time will tell how well it holds up over time.
I also enjoy the vibrant pop of red. My Tacoma isn’t a TRD Pro, so it doesn’t have red accent stitching. This product adds that small flair that I was missing. The red contrasts beautifully against the black.
Is it Worth it?
This mod is fairly expensive, but for good reason. It’s made out of perforated leather and good materials, which tends to come with a higher price tag.
While it isn’t necessary, it’s unique and adds a little more comfort for long drives. If you have the money for it, do it. It’s also a great modification if you’re big on interior aesthetics. Fortunately, YotaVerse is also always running sales, so you can likely save some money if you can wait.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this was fairly easy to install and took about 20 minutes. I was a little weary messing with the airbag, but the OEM core and retention of OEM components gave me peace of mind. This looks great and feels even better when driving, making it an easy recommendation if you want to add a premium look to your interior.
