New steering wheel

tblountman · Sep 23, 2022

So I finally got around to having the zen steering wheel installed.....not for the faint of heart as a 2-3 hour job turned into a 6 hour job (by the dealer). These things are definitely custom made and aren't a perfect fit....they had to do some grinding on the back plate and some other adjustments to make it work but it is a fine piece once done.

Elarson6772 · Sep 23, 2022

tblountman said:
So I finally got around to having the zen steering wheel installed.....not for the faint of heart as a 2-3 hour job turned into a 6 hour job (by the dealer). These things are definitely custom made and aren't a perfect fit....they had to do some grinding on the back plate and some other adjustments to make it work but it is a fine piece once done.

I’ve been working with Zen for a couple months to get their TRX wheels right and ready to install without tweaks. I had gotten mine a few months ago and sent it back as it was far from being ready to install. We exchanged pics, measurements, and they got pieces and parts that go on the wheel to do test fitting with my help.

Long story short, I just a couple days ago received what should be their first “ready to install” TRX wheel. We shall see this next week when I get time to install.

stubright · Sep 23, 2022

Got mine installed about a week ago. Went back and forth with the company since I ordered which was in march. When I received the first wheel it was no where near fitting properly. Sent it back and now fits, but now the issue is when turning the wheel, there’s a clicking sound and I was told It has something to do with the clock spring and steering wheel being too short. It’s a bummer and kind of annoying. If anyone knows anything to do to adjust please inform me.

Elarson6772 · Sep 23, 2022

stubright said:
Got mine installed about a week ago. Went back and forth with the company since I ordered which was in march. When I received the first wheel it was no where near fitting properly. Sent it back and now fits, but now the issue is when turning the wheel, there’s a clicking sound and I was told It has something to do with the clock spring and steering wheel being too short. It’s a bummer and kind of annoying. If anyone knows anything to do to adjust please inform me.

Who did your wheel?

stubright · Sep 23, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Who did your wheel?

My dealer, they tested it a couple times they claim. Installed new wheel, making the noise took new wheel off and put stock wheel back on and no noise. Repeated this process 3 or 4 times.

Elarson6772 · Sep 23, 2022

stubright said:
My dealer, they tested it a couple times they claim. Installed new wheel, making the noise took new wheel off and put stock wheel back on and no noise. Repeated this process 3 or 4 times.

Sorry, I meant who made it?

stubright · Sep 23, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Sorry, I meant who made it?

Oh my bad, It's from Zen

Elarson6772 · Sep 23, 2022

stubright said:
Oh my bad, It's from Zen

Well that doesn’t give me hope about installing mine after working with them for months either. Did you talk to Zen about it?

Scott_in_FL · Sep 23, 2022

So these wheels are a bust it seems? I don't know that I want to be grinding the mounting plate to get something to fit only to find it still binds on something.

stubright · Sep 23, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Well that doesn’t give me hope about installing mine after working with them for months either. Did you talk to Zen about it?

It's incredibly hard to get in contact with them. I wish there was a phone number I could call, but I'm always having to email and hear back about 5 days later in most cases. It's just frustrating.

GeorgeSRT2020 · Sep 23, 2022

Anyone looking to sell there OEM steering wheel send me a DM ?

tblountman · Sep 23, 2022

stubright said:
Got mine installed about a week ago. Went back and forth with the company since I ordered which was in march. When I received the first wheel it was no where near fitting properly. Sent it back and now fits, but now the issue is when turning the wheel, there’s a clicking sound and I was told It has something to do with the clock spring and steering wheel being too short. It’s a bummer and kind of annoying. If anyone knows anything to do to adjust please inform me.

That was one of the problems with mine....exactly that...was hitting the clock spring. They took it back off and put it side by side with the stock and saw what was hitting and did some grinding and made it work.

stubright · Sep 23, 2022

tblountman said:
That was one of the problems with mine....exactly that...was hitting the clock spring. They took it back off and put it side by side with the stock and saw what was hitting and did some grinding and made it work.

My dealer was so leary of even doing the install on it, as they hate dealing with anything aftermarket. I am going too ask my service manager if they could look into it.

Elarson6772 · Sep 26, 2022

tblountman said:
That was one of the problems with mine....exactly that...was hitting the clock spring. They took it back off and put it side by side with the stock and saw what was hitting and did some grinding and made it work.

Hey @tblountman I have the same clicking with mine. Any idea at all what they ground or adjusted to make the clicking go away?

tblountman · Sep 27, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Hey @tblountman I have the same clicking with mine. Any idea at all what they ground or adjusted to make the clicking go away?

Unfortunately, I am not much help.....all he said was they removed it again and laid both side by side and noticed a place on the back of the zen that was a little different and put the grinder on it and that did the trick.....sorry I don't have any more as this is what was relayed to my service advisor.

Elarson6772 · Sep 27, 2022

Well for anyone following this I found the issue with these Zen TRX wheels and the clicking referenced online as well as in this thread.

They don’t start with a TRX wheel for one as they would be outrageously expensive to then modify and sell. I assume it’s a standard Ram 1500 wheel of some trim level.

Long story short the taper behind the splines on the center of the wheel is NOT the same angle taper as the OEM TRX wheel. As a result the wheel doesn’t seat all the way on the steering shaft and in not doing so the white lever on the clock spring doesn’t get compressed and thus the clicking.

I’ve made Zen aware of the issue. Not sure yet what they will want to do. I can grind at the taper but there is no way for me to get a good smooth, correct taper on it by hand. The steering wheel has to seat a full .102” further to compress the lever and fully seat to the same depth the OEM wheel seats. Long story short…don’t buy one of these. I’m 8 months into this, on the second wheel from them as well. I suspect at this point I’m asking for a FULL refund and sending this back.

Corso923 · Sep 27, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Well for anyone following this I found the issue with these Zen TRX wheels and the clicking referenced online as well as in this thread.

They don’t start with a TRX wheel for one as they would be outrageously expensive to then modify and sell. I assume it’s a standard Ram 1500 wheel of some trim level.

Long story short the taper behind the splines on the center of the wheel is NOT the same angle taper as the OEM TRX wheel. As a result the wheel doesn’t seat all the way on the steering shaft and in not doing so the white lever on the clock spring doesn’t get compressed and thus the clicking.

I’ve made Zen aware of the issue. Not sure yet what they will want to do. I can grind at the taper but there is no way for me to get a good smooth, correct taper on it by hand. The steering wheel has to seat a full .102” further to compresses the lever and fully seat to the same depth the OEM wheel seats. Long story short…don’t buy one of these. I’m 8 months into this, on the second wheel from them as well. I suspect at this point I’m asking for a FULL refund and sending this back.

Thanks for the heads up. Was seriously considering this purchase

JBTRXNJ · Sep 27, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
Well for anyone following this I found the issue with these Zen TRX wheels and the clicking referenced online as well as in this thread.

They don’t start with a TRX wheel for one as they would be outrageously expensive to then modify and sell. I assume it’s a standard Ram 1500 wheel of some trim level.

Long story short the taper behind the splines on the center of the wheel is NOT the same angle taper as the OEM TRX wheel. As a result the wheel doesn’t seat all the way on the steering shaft and in not doing so the white lever on the clock spring doesn’t get compressed and thus the clicking.

I’ve made Zen aware of the issue. Not sure yet what they will want to do. I can grind at the taper but there is no way for me to get a good smooth, correct taper on it by hand. The steering wheel has to seat a full .102” further to compress the lever and fully seat to the same depth the OEM wheel seats. Long story short…don’t buy one of these. I’m 8 months into this, on the second wheel from them as well. I suspect at this point I’m asking for a FULL refund and sending this back.

Will they accept a core that you provide them? (Your original steering wheel?)

Elarson6772 · Sep 27, 2022

JBTRXNJ said:
Will they accept a core that you provide them? (Your original steering wheel?)

No idea. Based on their track record you would be without your wheel for months at best.

JBTRXNJ · Sep 27, 2022

Elarson6772 said:
No idea. Based on their track record you would be without your wheel for months at best.

No I was suggesting that YOU send them YOUR OEM wheel, deal with the clicking while they make you a good one.

You said they are using non TRX Ram wheels as a base…