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steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 16:25
by rick
can anybody tell me which steering wheels fit 25's? im in the process of fitting/ getting some swivel seats (not vw) and i think my original 1980 huge wheel is going to be to big.
do wheels from golfs etc fit? or do i need something smaller from another bus?

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 16:32
by Rozzo
don't go there m8,,, they're nearly impossible to steer with small steering wheels on.
in most busses only the passenger side swivels.

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 16:57
by dink
I have a 4 button golf wheel in my t3, I run 205 fromt tyres, it's heavy on the steering
it's still drivable
you'll need a spacer on the bottum of the steering column bus, I used 2x 25mm lock rings, can be bought for pennies from your electrical wholesaler
you'll also need to extend the notches on the column for the steering lock to work, as you are effectivly making the steering cloumn shorter to get the replacement wheel to sit in the right place and work with the horn button connection

I think to be honest though even with a smaller wheel you'll not be able to rotate the swive seat around all the way


I have pictures somewhere, I'll dig them out

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 17:18
by AngeloEvs
I have a moutney that went on without mods other than a spacer. Wasn't sure at first but after week or two I wouldn't go back to the standard large one. Other problem is the smaller ones obscure the warning LED's and most peeps don't like that.

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 17:23
by rugchucker
Hi
Porsche 924/944 fit straight on, like others have said the steering is heavier. I actually like the bus wheel but then I'm still on the pills :?

Des

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 17:55
by peasant
The awful plastic wheel from the Transporter and the slighly more upmarcet caraveel weheel (without PAS) are both 45 cm in diameter.

The wheel from a Caravelle with servo is 42 and has much nicer padding. fits plug and play and is real nice

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 19:58
by rick
Rozzo wrote:don't go there m8,,, they're nearly impossible to steer with small steering wheels on.
in most busses only the passenger side swivels.

you forget mate that i dont have a caravelle wheel like yours. mine is huge!
a velle wheel would suit my needs but in the abscence of finding one, im looking into my options. as for only the passenger swivel, check out mr H's bus next time you see him :ok

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 20:07
by Pepperami
Don't go there. I had a mini steering wheel on until i had a dash fire caused by it.

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 20:16
by peasant
I've changed from Transporter wheel to caravelle PAS wheel recently (on a Syncro with no PAS). My only regret is that I didn't do so years ago

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 25 Apr 2009, 22:37
by dink
2 lock rings on the column, and some weld on the bottom of the lock plate, job done ;)
Image

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 26 Apr 2009, 00:10
by AngeloEvs
Pepperami wrote:Don't go there. I had a mini steering wheel on until i had a dash fire caused by it.

Heard this before so might be worth checking which are prone to this and why....!

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 26 Apr 2009, 02:37
by Rozzo
rick&ang wrote:
Rozzo wrote:don't go there m8,,, they're nearly impossible to steer with small steering wheels on.
in most busses only the passenger side swivels.

you forget mate that i dont have a caravelle wheel like yours. mine is huge!
a velle wheel would suit my needs but in the abscence of finding one, im looking into my options. as for only the passenger swivel, check out mr H's bus next time you see him :ok
mines the same size as yours m8,, just has padding round the outer ring is all. seen ians but i'm sure the drivers seat only swivels around 80 or 90 degrees.
with power steering a smaller wheel is fine but they're heavy enough to steer as they are without it. i spoke to a few folk with smaller wheels fitted and most had bought them like that and were looking for standard replacements. i dont think the extra weight of a camper and all the junk we carry helps too much :roll:

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 26 Apr 2009, 10:15
by peasant
On the Syncro (where steering gets pretty heavy when maneuvering at slow speed) even the 3 cm difference between the big wheel (45 cm) and the small wheel (42 cm) is noticeable. It gets compensated for however by the bigger padding (especially in comparison to the Transporter wheel) as you have much better grip and you can really grab the wheel. I would also advise against any wheel smaller than 42-40 cm in diameter, especially if one isn't 20 anymore and not packed with muscles but rather plagued by the onset of rheumatism and old age generally :mrgreen:

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 26 Apr 2009, 10:41
by rick
cheers fellas.

im looking at my options. in my o/p i didnt say enough about my intentions, im not looking for a "small" wheel, just a smaller one. that would still be vw and would be a generic replacement. the fire risk issue can only be down to wiring the horn etc and i wouldnt want to go down a route which required altering the wiring.

my question has been answered tho, my only real option is a p.a.s velle wheel to gain the inch or so i need. since i need to modify the seats/ runners anyway, im looking into ways now of dropping the mounting plates below the runners to get the height difference back that way. seems logical with all the space available under there. but, i need to do it in such a way that i avoid the batteries :ok .

p.a.s velle wheels might not be the easiest to get hold of and this post was really fishing to see if anyone might have dropped a audi 80 or golf wheel in without a lot of messing about. whatever i need to do will have to cause the least disruption as my camper gets used a lot and i dont want it off the road for any reason.

Re: steering wheels

Posted: 26 Apr 2009, 11:04
by Mocki
Rick, i have a golf 4 button gti wheel in mine, have had for the last 12 years, its not heavey with the correct wheels and tyres with the correct tyre pressures . Most people who think its too heavey have silly non t25 wheels and tyres on and not enough psi. You have a drive of mine next time we meet mate.
As for the fire thing, mines ok, its on the second van now, still no problem.
Its true it does obscure the dash pod a little, but then that most depends on your driving position, i sit faily straight up when driving.