Aftermarket Steering Wheel blues

[mrgmhale]

I have been introduced to a gal who recently purchased a 1973 Mustang, in Canada, who is having an issue with her steering wheel. The horn is not working, and she see sparks near the horn area of her current wheel. Even before I say a phot I figured it was likely a Grant brand aftermarket steering wheel with the problematic mounting hub when it comes to working well with providing a good hor circuit. A photo is embedded. It looks like a nice wheel, despite its electrical issues. What do my fellow Mustang enthusiasts recommend? I am leaning to recommending replacing with a nice oem, even if it means restoring it. If nothing else it is likely the oem wheels have a good horn conductive set of rings that tend to be quite reliable.

 

[jscott]

My car had a pos Grant wheel when I got it, same problem. I went with this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6HQ39...4JO9XM0T&psc=0&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Cleveland Crush]

Thats a nice looking steering wheel. Why not simply purchase the Gtant horn button kit. Comes with all the internal electrical components. Easy and inexpensive fix. My experience has been the Grant horn electrical contacts are a bit sensitive to excessive horn amp draw. Your friend's Mustang horns may be pulling too much current/resistance and have burned thru the copper contact disc under the horn button (easy fix).

 

[jscott]

I purchased a new Grant horn button when I got my car, same result, it sucked.

 

[Bobby]

I purchased a new Grant horn button when I got my car, same result, it sucked.

I solved mine but I had to reach so deep in my pocket that I was in my socks. I bought a repro rim blow steering wheel from Kentucky Mustang. I got it in 2019 for $300. Now they’re close to $900. Works well and all of the sudden the steering wheel lock works! Very strange!

 

[giantpune]

Maybe its just me, but I hate that all these aftermarket steering wheels are tiny. My recent purchase came with one. It feels like you're driving around a toy. The little steering wheels block your view of the dash, too. The car manufacturer designed things so you can see the gauges. When you run a small steering wheel, you obstruct your view of the cluster. I had to get on ebay and get something sized for an adult.

 

[Spaceman]

I agree, my tiny steering wheel is on the list of things to be replaced when I can find a good deal on a new one.

 

[midlife]

I like the smaller steering wheels, as it is an easier fit to my "spare tire" and they typically have thicker rims, which makes it easier to grab.

 

[Bobby]

Maybe its just me, but I hate that all these aftermarket steering wheels are tiny. My recent purchase came with one. It feels like you're driving around a toy. The little steering wheels block your view of the dash, too. The car manufacturer designed things so you can see the gauges. When you run a small steering wheel, you obstruct your view of the cluster. I had to get on ebay and get something sized for an adult.

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Agreed! The Rim Blow repro is much wider and I now have full view of the cluster no matter what angle the tilt is at. One problem…..Nova steering wheel?????

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Mine came with a Grant wheel and I wasn't likely to find an original wheel. I like the wheel but had issues with the horn rings. The "Amazon" Grant steering wheel kits were rubbish and after 2 kits I used some of the new bits and the original ring. Once sorted and working out what should be earthed and what shouldn't it all works fine and I haven't had any issues since. The photos show the Grant wheel, not a small one and the new rings with lumps of solder on the contact areas.

 

[giantpune]

One problem…..Nova steering wheel?????

Yep, folks are putting those little toy steering wheels on all the classic cars, no matter what brand.

 

[jscott]

well I like my wheel, 1" smaller then the stock wheel. Easier to drive and my car is a driver. Guess my console with cup holders and my backup camera is also not "correct", oh well.

 

[Cleveland Crush]

Yep, folks are putting those little toy steering wheels on all the classic cars, no matter what brand.

Our cars actually are toys

 

[Spike Morelli]

If I remember correctly, when I used to work at a Mustang restoration shop many many years back, there were issues with aftermarket steering wheels even back then. They can be a big pain. One thing I can recall, is that on some installations, the steering column required loostening and required being slightly mooved up or down, to work with the aftermarket adapters. I chuckle when I see an old GT-350 with the horn switch on the dash. Apparently Shelby didn't want to screw with making the steering wheel horn button operable

 

[Sheriff41]

The sport steering wheel from early-80s Ford trucks are nice replacements. Be sure to get the one that uses the center button for the horn. The ones out of some Ford cars don't have the contacts since the cars used the turn signal stalk for the horn.

 

[turtle5353]

I bought an aftermarket replacement one from Don at OMS. It was a prototype but very nice. I can’t remember who makes it but it was nice.

 

[mrgmhale]

All good info, of course. Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions.

 

[Sheriff41]

The sport steering wheel from early-80s Ford trucks are nice replacements. Be sure to get the one that uses the center button for the horn. The ones out of some Ford cars don't have the contacts since the cars used the turn signal stalk for the horn.

This is a mustang version:

 

[Bobby]

Maybe its just me, but I hate that all these aftermarket steering wheels are tiny. My recent purchase came with one. It feels like you're driving around a toy. The little steering wheels block your view of the dash, too. The car manufacturer designed things so you can see the gauges. When you run a small steering wheel, you obstruct your view of the cluster. I had to get on ebay and get something sized for an adult.

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Back in the day, all the steering wheels were large diameter. Hanrdly any cars or trucks had power steering and the larger steering wheels gave extra leverage for manual steering.......of course everyone really did have power steering......it was called shoulders and bicepts!