Front mounting sounds like a “pro feature”, but the real reason people love it is simple: it makes the wheel feel cleaner. Less twist, less resonance, more direct connection between what the sim outputs and what your hands feel.
This is a practical step-by-step guide for setting up an Asetek wheelbase with a front mount on a SIMGASM rig, without losing adjustability or ending up with a messy cable situation.
What you need (minimum parts)
- A stable cockpit foundation: SIMGASM Sport rig (most builds) or SIMGASM Pro rig (maximum stiffness and adjustability)
- A wheel mounting solution: SIMGASM Front Wheelmount + Asetek front wheelmount bracket
- An Asetek wheelbase: Asetek La Prima 12 Nm wheelbase, Asetek Forte 18 Nm wheelbase or Asetek Invicta 27 Nm wheelbase
Step 1: set your seat first (it decides everything)
Before you drill, tighten, or route cables: pick your seating position.
- If you want comfort and adjustability for long sessions: Core Recline seat
- If you want a locked-in GT posture: Atlas GT seat
- If you drive a lot of formula/hypercar and prefer a laid-back position: Atlas Formula seat
Once the seat is fixed, you can place the wheel to fit you, not the other way around.
Step 2: place the wheel centerline (the “sternum rule”)
As a baseline, aim the wheel shaft at your sternum. If it points at your face, you’ll feel tense. If it points at your lap, you’ll overload wrists and lose finesse in small corrections.
With a profile rig, you can fine-tune:
- Height: mid-chest is a good start
- Distance: elbows slightly bent at full lock
- Tilt: small tilt to keep wrists neutral
Step 3: build rigidity without losing adjustability
Front mounts can be extremely rigid, but only if the chain is rigid too. The quick method:
- tighten the mount evenly (no “one bolt fully tight” while others float),
- check upright movement by pulling the wheel at 3 and 9 o’clock,
- brace/align the uprights, then re-check.
If you want extra stability, add support hardware like large wheelmount side plates where it makes sense, rather than cranking damping in software.
Step 4: route cables like a serviceable build
A clean rig is not just aesthetics. It prevents accidental disconnects and makes upgrades painless.
- Leave a small service loop near the wheelbase so you can adjust without pulling connectors.
- Route power and USB separately if possible.
- Use the rig’s structure to hide cables instead of clipping everything to the outside.
For a full cable checklist, use: Sim racing cable routing guide (service loops and strain relief).
Step 5: lock your monitor position (your eyes need consistency)
If you’re running triples, don’t mount them to a flexible cockpit section. A stable freestanding solution like Apex freestanding triple monitor stand keeps your horizon steady even when you add tactile or motion later.
Recommended SIMGASM setup for Asetek front mounting
- Rig: SIMGASM Sport rig (best balance), or SIMGASM Pro rig (flagship stiffness)
- Wheel mount: SIMGASM Front Wheelmount + Asetek front wheelmount bracket
- Monitor stand: Apex freestanding triple monitor stand (triples) or browse SIMGASM monitor stands
- Useful add-ons: keyboard swivel mount and universal peripheral deck
After mounting, the next “big win” is consistent rotation and soft lock. Read our Asetek rotation guide to keep steering feel consistent across sims.
