Steering Wheel Woes

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ivancrx

Well-Known Member
Posts
601
Location
Burton on Trent
Hello

First newbie question.

I have a 1990 Defender 90 Truck Cab and in my fantastic wisdom thought I don't like the steering wheel lets change it.

It was an old tatty 4 spoke what I now know is a 36 spline wheel, was being the main word there, someone had obviously tried to remove it before as there was 2 snapped off bolts in it where a puller would normally be fitted. I tried a puller, hammer and various other tools to remove it with no joy, it was almost as if it had been welded on.

I am not one to be beaten though my trusty air grinder with a very thin blade soon cut through the old wheel and off it came no damage to the shaft all good.

On to my new wheel, second hand off eBay put it on the shaft and you have already guessed it, it was too big and spins around on the shaft, first lesson on land rovers 2 different types of wheel 36 spline and 48 spline. Bit stuck for ideas at this stage, new wheel too big, old wheel buggered.

Back to ebay, I have now purchased a Mountney wheel and boss, I know this brings the wheel closer to you but I needed something, I have now fitted the boss but it has movement in it almost like it isn't seating correctly on to the shaft, and when the wheel is fitted it doesn't feel safe, so much so I won't use it.

Now the silly question time, has anyone had this problem before and how can it be rectified, does any one have a steering wheel that will fit or recommend one that will fit safely or do I now have a lovely drive ornament?

Any help would be most appreciated.

Regards

Ivan
 
I have had a couple of Mountney bosses in the past and use one now and they have all been fine, if your doesn't fit then I guess it is worn (was it brand new?) as there should be no slop in the splines whatsoever.

Assuming it is the solid alloy boss then that will be for the Mountney "classic" range of wheels, good functional wheels and very cheap.
If it is the skeleton type boss then that will be for the more widely available "6-hole" pattern which is the type favoured by the majority of the aftermarket wheel manufacturers (Mountney also sell them). I've got a Mountney boss fitted at the moment with a Momo wheel but the boss is very shallow meaning the wheel is no closer to me than normal and the stalks are still within easy reach for my wife (who has small hands).

 
In that case there is either something wrong with the boss or the column.

If the column looks ok then the most straight forward way is to get another boss (beg / borrow / buy) and try that, if that also is loose then I would suggest the wrong boss or something is wrong with the column.
 
.... I've got a Mountney boss fitted at the moment with a Momo wheel but the boss is very shallow meaning the wheel is no closer to me than normal and the stalks are still within easy reach for my wife (who has small hands).


Litch, do you have any links to the boss and the wheel? I like the look of that! :)

Thanks!

Good luck with sorting the steering wheel ivancrx
 
The wheel is a Momo Race 320 black leather (RCE32BK1B), I believe they also do a 350mm version (mine is the 320mm hence the model number).

The boss is a modified Mountney item.
It started out like the image below but I had the steel skeleton cut & re-welded and it puts the wheel much closer to the stalks, the rubber cover is then just trimmed back to fit.
There is no weakening of the structure and there is still plenty of room for the column top-nut.

 
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