Kart steering wheel and column: rules, setup and checks
Updated: 3 days ago
The steering is the control that connects you to the track: any play, any loose screw and any wrong wheel position is felt in your hands and in the lap time. Here is how kart steering is made, what the regulation says about wheel and column, and how to set the steering wheel position.
In short Under the CIK-FIA technical regulations the steering wheel must have a continuous rim, the hub must be fixed to the column with at least one M6 screw of grade 8.8 and a self-locking nut, and the column must have a minimum diameter of 18.0 mm, a minimum wall thickness of 1.8 mm and be made of magnetic steel, mounted to the chassis with a bracket and a joint and locked with a safety system. To bring the wheel closer you use a spacer, to change its angle an inclined spacer or an inclined hub.
Kart steering wheel and column: how the steering is made
• Steering wheel hub: it connects the wheel to the column: Maranello inclined steering wheel hub.
• Column: the shaft that carries the wheel movement down to the stub axles: Maranello R2.0 R25-31 steering column.
• Joint and support: at the top the column works in the Maranello steering column ball joint, held by the Maranello plastic column support.
• Locking: at the bottom the column is held by the Maranello steering column lock and the Maranello column lock ring kit.
• Steering rods: they carry the movement to the stub axles and end with ball joints, like the Maranello steering ball joint with nut.
What the CIK-FIA regulation says about wheel and column
• Steering wheel: it must have a continuous rim, with no obtuse angles (180 to 360°) in its basic shape.
• Hub: it must be fixed to the column with at least one M6 screw, minimum grade 8.8, and a self-locking nut.
• Column: it must be mounted to the chassis with a bracket and an articulated joint, and fixed with a safety clip system for the lower bearing nut and/or two collars between the brackets. It must have a minimum diameter of 18.0 mm, a minimum wall thickness of 1.8 mm and be made of magnetic steel.
• Rods: they may be adjustable with ball joints at each end, must be made of aluminium or steel and fixed with self-locking nuts and bolts.
• Devices on the wheel: no device mounted on the steering wheel, such as a display, may protrude by more than 20 mm or have sharp edges.
• Fixings: all steering parts must be joined with screws, with split pins or self-locking nuts for maximum safety.
How to set the steering wheel position
• Closer: the 15 mm parallel steering wheel spacer fits between hub and wheel and brings the wheel closer without changing its angle.
• More inclined: the 15 degree inclined steering wheel spacer changes the wheel angle to suit your position.
With your shoulders against the seat you must reach the wheel with your arms slightly bent. The complete position is in the guide to the kart driving position.
DD2: the gearshift on the steering wheel
On the Rotax DD2 the gearshift control is on the steering wheel: it is the Rotax DD2 steering wheel gearshift kit, part 281850. How to use it is explained in the guide to the Rotax DD2 gearbox.
Steering checks before every run
• No play: move the wheel back and forth and sideways: column, ball joints and lock ring must have no play.
• Screws and safety parts: hub screw tightened with its self-locking nut, column lock and lock ring in place.
• Wheel straight: with the wheels straight the steering wheel must be centred. To set the toe, lock the wheel with the steering wheel lock for toe setting and follow the kart geometry guide.
• After a crash: check that the column is not bent. Also read how to tell if you have a bent kart chassis.
• In the pits and in transport: protect the wheel with the Alfano A-561 steering wheel cover, for 32 cm wheels.
Genuine spare parts for the steering
As an official authorised Maranello Kart and Rotax dealer we only handle genuine spare parts. If you do not know which steering part your kart needs, message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What diameter must the kart steering column have?
Under the CIK-FIA technical regulations the column must have a minimum diameter of 18.0 mm, a minimum wall thickness of 1.8 mm and be made of magnetic steel.
How is the kart steering wheel fixed to the column?
The steering wheel hub must be fixed to the column with at least one M6 screw of minimum grade 8.8 and a self-locking nut, as the CIK-FIA regulation requires.
How do I bring the kart steering wheel closer or change its angle?
To bring it closer without changing the angle you use a parallel spacer between hub and wheel. To change the angle you use an inclined spacer or an inclined hub.
Source: CIK-FIA technical regulations (art. 4.5), Maranello Racing List 2026, Rotax 2026 spare parts list and New-Line Racing and Alfano product data sheets.
Questions about this topic?
Message us on WhatsApp: we answer personally, with the experience of people who live at the track. And if you want to drive a real racing kart, with Arrive & Drive you get into one of ours, ready on track. The right spare part? You will find it in the shop.
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Read also: Kart driving position: seat, pedals and steering wheel → · Kart geometry: caster, camber, toe and Ackermann → · Bent kart chassis: how to spot it and what to check →
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Author: Sergio, TKS RaceLab | Published: 18 October 2026
TKS RaceLab is the Italian online store dedicated to karting: spare parts, accessories and everything you need to get on track. With Arrive & Drive you arrive at South Garda Karting (Lonato), Franciacorta, Cremona or Ala and find your kart ready to go. No hassle, just driving.
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