beetle steering wheels

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 30 Aug 2008, 3:31 pm

#666715

does anyone know if the beetle had a different diameter steering shaft spline that the steering wheel mates to for different years??
ie.. split window different to oval.. oval different to 58 - 65.. etc..
i have a steering wheel which i was told was suited to an oval beetle... but it is the wrong diameter where the spline is.

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro

Adsman Officially Full-On Dubber

393 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 30 Aug 2008, 4:27 pm

#666724

Yes the number of teeth on the shaft changed a few times. For future its best to count the number of teeth on your shaft and buy based off that.

What my garage isn't messy........Well chaos is a form of order isn't it?

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 30 Aug 2008, 4:43 pm

#666726

afaik theres 3 spline types with bugs
theres the semaphore bug style pre 60
60-73 and 74 on tapered spline water cooled pattern

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 Aug 2008, 11:49 pm

#666803

blutopless2 wrote:i have a steering wheel which i was told was suited to an oval beetle... but it is the wrong diameter where the spline is.

You should change the steering shaft to a 1968> shaft which is collapsable in an accident...
then any wheel from 1960 to 1973 should fit...

naturally, the early banjo type wheels won't fit..

the early ones probably have the larger?? shaft??

Aftermarket steering wheels for 1960-73 are the easiest to find...

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 31 Aug 2008, 5:30 pm

#666876

may i just jump on the end of this thread and rather then starting new one i will just post in a related topic.

What size socket am i needing to undo that nut that attach's the wheel to the column?

Thanks in advance
-M

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 31 Aug 2008, 7:28 pm

#666913

what model bug?
the 60-73 are 32mm from memory
and 74 on is 27mm but dont quote me been ages since i took one off

blutopless2 DAMSLO

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 31 Aug 2008, 7:49 pm

#666928

Adsman wrote:Yes the number of teeth on the shaft changed a few times.

so did the number of teeth determine the size of the shaft also?? ie.. the teeth of the spline are the same size and pitch?

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 31 Aug 2008, 7:50 pm

#666930

mm its a 68 but i tried the 32.. it was too big i will go finr a 27 and give it a go thanks.

-M

blutopless2 DAMSLO

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 31 Aug 2008, 7:52 pm

#666931

Joel wrote:afaik theres 3 spline types with bugs
theres the semaphore bug style pre 60
60-73 and 74 on tapered spline water cooled pattern

would you know the number of teeth in the spline for each type??

the wheel i have has 36 teeth.

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro

njg02 Seriously Crusin Dubber

145 posts · joined May 2005 · 31 Aug 2008, 8:44 pm

#666958

27mm on my '73 type 3.

71 super in progress.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 31 Aug 2008, 8:48 pm

#666962

ah ok looks like im arse about then

i got steerign wheels with both splines after 60 bluetopless
ill do a spline count tomoro arv for u

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 31 Aug 2008, 8:56 pm

#666967

Joel wrote:what model bug?
the 60-73 are 32mm from memory
and 74 on is 27mm but dont quote me been ages since i took one off

the only difference is the 71-72 sbug they have a different one again. as i remember

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 31 Aug 2008, 9:20 pm

#666973

barls wrote:
Joel wrote:what model bug?
the 60-73 are 32mm from memory
and 74 on is 27mm but dont quote me been ages since i took one off
the only difference is the 71-72 sbug they have a different one again. as i remember

I had a 71 Super years ago and I put a 73 steering wheel
on it .. the plastic collapsable one i have on My 68 beetle...

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 31 Aug 2008, 10:36 pm

#666994

all the boss kits ive dealt with have suited 60-73 bugs
i got one from a 62 that fitted my 71 superbug

blutopless2 DAMSLO

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 1 Sep 2008, 9:35 am

#667041

thanks joel.

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 1 Sep 2008, 3:44 pm

#667099

the steering wheels ive got that suit 60-73 have 40 splines

but i havent found one of the 74 on steering wheels yet
the original off my Lbug is kicking around somewhere but there easy to pick its a smaller shaft and it tapered
same pattern as used on water cooled vws right up to mk3 golf or maybe newer

hope that helps somewhat

blutopless2 DAMSLO

2,457 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 2 Sep 2008, 9:31 am

#667246

thanks... would it help if i post a pic of the steering wheel??? then maybe someone can tell me what era its from.
i dont know for sure if my oval still has the original steering column either...

see.... air and water do mix 😉

1974 1300
1997 MK3 Golf GL
2003 NB Cabrio
2012 Golf VI GTI
2014 Audi A4 Quattro