Ninety Steering Wheel

Folks,

After fitting some bucket seats I find it a bit difficult to get in and out as the existing steering wheel prevents leg movement. I'm looking to fit a new steering wheel but I'm unsure about getting one too small. I'm looking at 13" Any comments about fitting one too small from previous experience or pitfalls to watch for?

Thanks in advance.

I have run both 12 & 14 inch wheels on my 90 for years now and found each of them ideal. Assuming you have PAS there are no issues such as heavy steering etc so it really is down to your own personal preference but remember, what suits one person doesn't mean it will suit you.
Personally I think that you won't go wrong with a 13 or 14 but if you REALLY don't like it sell it and buy another, the boss remains the same so it is only the wheel you will be replacing.
The quality of the wheel is important, apart from build quality there is the comfort to be considered as well. Mountney are good and very reasonably priced. Raid were very good but I don't like the latest ones (don't think they are a patch on my old one). Momo are very good but also expensive, I am now running a Momo D35 and can't fault it.

Looking at fitting a smaller steering wheel to mine as both son and I had a run out to matlock and back and we both comented on the lack of room you have in cab with the std steering wheel so it something else to put on the list

I have just taken my 13 inch wheel off and replaced it with 14. Its still a big improvement on the original but just feels better to me then the 13 inch did. I agree with Litch though, the quality is important. It does nt feel good when its flexing.

Thanks guys,
Just what I wanted to hear as was worried about a "go kart" type experience.

Might be a dumb question but what steering wheels are compatible for a defender? Cheers

Westwood8055 said:

Might be a dumb question but what steering wheels are compatible for a defender? Cheers

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Most people look at fitting aftermarket wheels and for that you need a boss to fit the column, with the correct boss fitted the range of wheels available is very large.
Essentially there are two different fitments. The Mountney "Classic" Range which are very reasonably priced, comfortable and well made for the money (plus a very popular LR fitment). After that you have the generic "6-hole" pattern which will allow you to choose a wheel from a much larger range of manufacturers such as Mountney (M-type only), Momo, Sparco, Raid, OMP etc. The cost & quality depends on how much you are willing to pay plus you also have to decide on size, shape, material, padded / non-padded, flat, dished etc.

I drive the series 3 with a 13" mountney and no power steering... after that the 13" sparco on the defender seems featherlite lol

Cheers Steve

What spline would I need for a 1990 defender 90? How do I check?

To be 100% certain just remove the wheel and count the splines, it will be either 36 or 48.

There is SOMETIMES a lot of confusion about what boss fits what and to make it worse, on older vehicles you can never be certain that the column won't have been changed at some point hence why it is just easier to count them. You are going to have to remove the wheel to fit the new one so no big deal.
If you just want to go ahead and order a boss without checking, Mud UK have a good guide on their steering wheel section.

When I first replaced mine 15-years ago I got a lot of good information from Mountney (I rang them direct) however when I went to buy the boss from Demon Tweaks (Mountney don't sell retail) I was given the runaround.
DT told me that the boss I was ordering was DEFINATELY incorrect for my vehicle and that as it was a special order they wouldn't take it back WHEN I discovered it didn't fit. They went on the say that LR owners always got it wrong and were a pain to deal with. Needless to say that as I had already removed my wheel and counted the splines it was ok however I have never bought from DT again.

Cheers for reply and informative Answer, another newbie question, how do you remove the wheel haha

Personally I spent 10-minutes in the garage and made a puller myself however you can buy them for about £10.
See these on Ebay:- 121265217394 or 171208745214

I undid the nut, until the nut stood proud if thethreadss and walloped it with a copper mallet to shock the wheel free. Worked in 30 secs, and was free.

I will make one up looks easy enough, gonna give it a go tomoz when I finish work, cheers

undo nut, leave it on the last few threads and a good yoink worked for me.

What's average price I'm looking at then for a bose and half decent 14" wheel?

timtheenchanteruk said:

undo nut, leave it on the last few threads and a good yoink worked for me.

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DEFINITELY leave the nut on Unless by a good yoink you mean ......

Wheels easy to get off. Take nut off then push the top of wheel away from you whilst pulling the bottom. Mine comes off every time that way, usually with a whiggle

Litch said:

Personally I spent 10-minutes in the garage and made a puller myself however you can buy them for about £10.
See these on Ebay:- 121265217394 or 171208745214

Click to expand...

i did the same thing but was a bugger to get off snapped the welds twice till it popped..

Westwood8055 said:

What's average price I'm looking at then for a bose and half decent 14" wheel?

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i got a 15inch mono from ebay boss/wheel £47