A vehicle steering wheel has an armature which defines a structural circular steering wheel. The armature has a depressed central body portion providing a well for an air bag canister. A center pad which supports the air bag canister in the well extends across the well between the spokes, with a gap between each spoke and the edge of the pad. A spacer is provided between each spoke and the edge of the center pad so that the gaps are of equal width. The air bag canister is mounted to the body portion of the steering wheel by pins extending through openings in the body portion and conical springs surrounding the pins. The openings are substantially larger in diameter than the pins to permit the pins to shift radially and facilitate exact centering of the pad with respect to the spokes to maintain the gaps of uniform width. This mounting of the canister also accommodates shifting of the canister when a marginal portion of the center pad is depressed to close a horn switch and sound the horn. The springs, being conical, urge the pins to a centered, at-rest position with respect to the openings even when the springs are distorted by radial shifting of the pins.