[iamitp]

Dear all,

I am starting this thread because I couldn't find any solution to my question on this forum or the internet. Shall be grateful if experienced members can pitch in.

Is there any way to adjust (manually, one-time) the steering wheel for reach, i.e. telescopic adjustment, in a car without such adjustments

One of the features sorely missed in the Creta 2020 is telescopic steering wheel adjustment, as has been mentioned in the official and user reviews. I have been thinking if there is a DIY method to manually adjust the reach of the steering by modifying the assembly and then lock it back in place. I'd like to move the steering wheel up a bit as I prefer a laid-back driving position. I am okay with not being able to move it back to any other position without opening the assembly.

Looking forward to ideas and suggestions.

[GTO]

Great question & I look forward to the responses as I'm very, very particular about my "perfect" driving position. Sometimes, I am finetuning my driving position even after 200 km with a new car. I take ergonomics very seriously.

While the technical experts reply, I just wanted to add that - as a rule - I don't make serious modifications in the after-market to those areas that are critical to safety. Brakes is one, the steering is another. In one of my cars, I wanted rear disc brakes, but then figured that the reliable factory-provided rear drums are preferred over disc brakes of suspect reliability from the after-market. So, tread very carefully with any mods to the steering hardware.

[iamitp]

Originally Posted by GTO

While the technical experts reply, I just wanted to add that - as a rule - I don't make serious modifications in the after-market to those areas that are critical to safety. Brakes is one, the steering is another. In one of my cars, I wanted rear disc brakes, but then figured that the reliable factory-provided rear drums are preferred over disc brakes of suspect reliability from the after-market. So, tread very carefully with any mods to the steering hardware.

I share your thoughts. Still curious about possibilities though. Maybe I could ask a technical expert at the Hyundai service station if such a modification can be done safely and without any fallouts.

[saikarthik]

I am not sure about the mod, but one time adjustment might either mean that you need to elongate the steering rod(if your reach is less) or shorten it, which connects to the wheel or the mount with bearing needs to be repositioned.

As @GTO said, it is a strict no no unless you can find some mechanic whom you trust with your life and even he might advise against it.

Another neglected topic while doing these kinds of mechanical changes is the electrical connections. So say if you go with elongation, then the wiring needs to be elongated as well (5 mm doesn't matter as harness has slack).
Now, looks pretty simple, but let me tell you what.
Steering side wires house airbag connections and no OEM or good FNG will tamper them, and in case if there is any airbag deployment issue during crash post mod, the OEM will not take your concern.

I advise you to adjust with steering tilt + seat position adjustment.
I know it is a trade off between your leg position to pedal and arm position to steering, but the way I see, it is the only option you have with current car.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Unless accompanied by an expert (and the authorized service stations), such modifications shall be avoided. But such modifications are possible, if done systematically.

For example, refer to the image below. The steering wheel fits at the end of a shaft in the steering column assembly. Let us call this shaft as "Steering shaft".

We can make a part (let us call it "Adapter") that fits onto this shaft end, replacing the steering wheel. The other end of the Adapter shall be exactly like the end of the "Steering shaft". The steering wheel will then be fitted on the "Adapter". Length of the "Adapter" depends upon how much you want to steering wheel to be closer to you. The "Adapter" shall be locked properly and secured onto the "Steering shaft" end.


While doing this, we need to cut and extend the wires of the steering wheel controls and the airbag. A properly made wire joints with shrink sleeve (not the electrician's tape) shall last over the life of the car.

If we don't want to interfere in any way with the stock car, then I can think of an add-on steering wheel, fitted on the stock steering wheel. This will be more complex to make and will look Jugad. Secondly, it needs to be dimensioned in such way as not to come in the way of opening of the airbag. Hence won't recommend it.

[ChoosetoCruze]

Originally Posted by iamitp

I'd like to move the steering wheel up a bit as I prefer a laid-back driving position. I am okay with not being able to move it back to any other position without opening the assembly.

THIS is why the test drive & car selection process needs to very carefully consider your driving comfort & good ergonomics to prevent these type of Frankenstein solutions.

Are you okay with the steering wheel & column piercing your skull & ribs/chest in the even of a frontal collision? In case you aren’t aware, most modern vehicles are fitted with a passive safety feature called a collapsible steering column. Mess with it & you are messing with your chances of survival, in case the worst ever happens. See link - https://carbiketech.com/collapsible-steering-column/

As advised below, that is what the seat adjustment is for. If it’s too low for you, consider using cushions/thicker seat covers. Again, this is why it’s extremely important to pick a car which suits your body shape & offers spot on ergonomics.

You may want to have a read of https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...-steering.html (What are the Pros & Cons of A Tilt Steering?)

Originally Posted by GTO

I don't make serious modifications in the after-market to those areas that are critical to safety. So, tread very carefully with any mods to the steering hardware.

+1

Originally Posted by saikarthik

It is a strict no no unless you can find some mechanic whom you trust with your life and even he might advise against it.

Steering side wires house airbag connections and no OEM or good FNG will tamper them, and in case if there is any airbag deployment issue during crash post mod, the OEM will not take your concern.

I advise you to adjust with steering tilt + seat position adjustment.

Forget about the electrical connections, messing with the physical steering column dimensions outside the OEM specifications may cause serious injury/death during airbag deployment as the OEM will not guarantee the airbag will be able to adequately protect the driver outside the intended design specifications.

This whole thing is a BAD idea no matter which way you look at it. Not without the required testing, atleast.

Forget about the aftermath of an accident, imagine if the job wasn’t done well & you find yourself with a detached steering wheel, mid way through a high speed corner, high up in the mountains/ghats.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

All one needs is a workshop manual and the relevant parts, to swap out and fit back, and we should have a perfectly working telescopic adjustment.

Much better idea!

[saikarthik]

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

While doing this, we need to cut and extend the wires of the steering wheel controls and the airbag. A properly made wire joints with shrink sleeve (not the electrician's tape) shall last over the life of the car.

It is not just the proper procedure @Rahul ji, increased wire length(I know it's minor) with joints(junction resistance) increases the resistance of loop which can limit the deployment and raises a fault code. The airbag unit has some calibration and resistance value is one of them, if it changes then airbag warning lamp will glow and will not deploy.

[SS-Traveller]

Hyundai sell all their Creta versions in South Africa with tilt and telescopic steering wheels.



Which essentially means the design and components for telescopic adjustment are already in place, just that Hyundai India are not giving them to Indian customers.

All one needs is a workshop manual and the relevant parts, to swap out and fit back, and we should have a perfectly working telescopic adjustment.

One-time adjustment? That would be a jugaad!

[srini1785]

Originally Posted by iamitp

Is there any way to adjust (manually, one-time) the steering wheel for reach, i.e. telescopic adjustment, in a car without such adjustments

As many members have pointed out, Possible but not recommended.

It depends on the type of steering the car has, two types come to my mind.

1. Direct linkages type: Includes the older type direct linkages and also the hydraulic power steering.

2. Indirect or Fly by wire types : Electronic steering systems which operate through a servo motor.

In type 2 , its possible to probably do some engineering solution to include a telescopic adjustable steering. However this should not mess with the angle sensor input to the ECU which controls the servo rotation settings.

So, all in all , not worth the effort. Just get an adjustable seat be done with it. Don't mess around with the steering.

[Rahul Bhalgat]

Originally Posted by saikarthik

It is not just the proper procedure @Rahul ji, increased wire length(I know it's minor) with joints(junction resistance) increases the resistance of loop which can limit the deployment and raises a fault code. The airbag unit has some calibration and resistance value is one of them, if it changes then airbag warning lamp will glow and will not deploy.

In that case, we need to check if any slack is available in the wire length. Such slack will eliminate a need for cutting the wires.

I too advise that the OP finds some other way to meet his ergonomic needs, instead of making modifications.

[Jaggu]

You will have to see if there is a telescopic unit available under Hyundai parts bin like SS-Traveler has shared above. If so use the same, apart from this modifying a steering column is not recommended from safety and warranty stand point.

[iamitp]

Originally Posted by saikarthik

Another neglected topic while doing these kinds of mechanical changes is the electrical connections.

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

While doing this, we need to cut and extend the wires of the steering wheel controls and the airbag. A properly made wire joints with shrink sleeve (not the electrician's tape) shall last over the life of the car.

Originally Posted by ChoosetoCruze

This whole thing is a BAD idea no matter which way you look at it. Not without the required testing, atleast.

Originally Posted by saikarthik

increased wire length(I know it's minor) with joints(junction resistance) increases the resistance of loop which can limit the deployment and raises a fault code. The airbag unit has some calibration and resistance value is one of them, if it changes then airbag warning lamp will glow and will not deploy.

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Hyundai sell all their Creta versions in South Africa with tilt and telescopic steering wheels.

All one needs is a workshop manual and the relevant parts, to swap out and fit back, and we should have a perfectly working telescopic adjustment.

Originally Posted by srini1785

In type 2 , its possible to probably do some engineering solution to include a telescopic adjustable steering. However this should not mess with the angle sensor input to the ECU which controls the servo rotation settings.

Originally Posted by Rahul Bhalgat

In that case, we need to check if any slack is available in the wire length. Such slack will eliminate a need for cutting the wires.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

You will have to see if there is a telescopic unit available under Hyundai parts bin like SS-Traveler has shared above. If so use the same, apart from this modifying a steering column is not recommended from safety and warranty stand point.

Thanks so much everyone for the valuable technical inputs. I agree that an after-market mod/jugaad which involves tampering with the wiring/sleeves/other mechanical and electrical parts is probably not worth the trouble and safety risk.

However, at least from a theoretical perspective, I'm still curious to know if this mod can be undertaken with minimum risk. The fact that Hyundai sells the Creta with Telescopic adjustment in South Africa as well as the fact that the Creta's platform-cousin Seltos also offers it, also makes me wonder if such a function is built-in to the current vehicle frame and only needs to be 'enabled'?

Assuming the SA Creta and Seltos have more or less the same dimensions, doesn't that mean the vehicle's safety features are not compromised in the most extended steering adjustment?

Sorry for a layman's crude understanding, but if an extensible steering shaft exists in the assembly, would it still be as risky to 'pull it out' a bit? Would it still skew ECU calibration if the angle wasn't changed at all?

[fordday]

I doubt if the reach adjustable steering column is already present in the car but not 'enabled'.

Below is a picture of Octavia steering column from Briskoda. You can see inner rod moves in and out from the outer cylinder and the groove keeps both of them aligned. U joints are at both ends.

[1.2TSI7DSG]

Even if you find the mechanic who can lengthen/shorten the steering column, you are going to affect the "collapse" phenomenon of the column. This may affect the safety and the airbag behaviour. I would strictly avoid it.

[batladanny]

Originally Posted by 1.2TSI7DSG

Even if you find the mechanic who can lengthen/shorten the steering column, you are going to affect the "collapse" phenomenon of the column. This may affect the safety and the airbag behaviour. I would strictly avoid it.

Was about to mention this point. Lest we forget, Ayrton Senna's death was caused by a steering shaft modification which, on crashing, punctured his helmet and caused the head injury.

So be very careful when performing such modifications since how it behaves in a crash would be impossible to predict.