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72 super steering wheel...help needed!!!
71superbeetle - January 6th, 2009 at 10:27 AM

i have just bought a standard steering wheel with half horn ring, stupid me just found out my super bug is a 72 NOT a 71! do the old steering wheels fit these? mine has a 4 spoke rally wheel and it just doesnt suit my pink bug!:crazy:

vw54 - January 6th, 2009 at 10:38 AM

should do the spline may be the same size

68AutoBug - January 6th, 2009 at 02:06 PM

They ARE the same.....

1971 VW model year was from 1st August 1970 to 31st July 1971
1972 VW year model was from 1st August 1971 to 31st July 1972

Will fit - No worries....

LEE

71superbeetle - January 6th, 2009 at 02:10 PM

Thanks guys, i have been told by a couple of people it wont fit becausse of the collapsable steering column or something. I think i trust you guys more and will take the chance! Ta!

68AutoBug - January 6th, 2009 at 04:39 PM

Hi

All beetles from 1968 had a collapsable steering columns

I think the flat plastic steering wheel did start being used in 1972 year model... 1302s super

so the earlier dished steering wheel will Fit....

the steering column was made smaller in later years
not sure when....1303 or 1976 models.

I'm betting 99% that a dish steering wheel will fit....
Your 1972 Beetle..

LEE

Joel - January 6th, 2009 at 06:40 PM

if its a 72 bug then the old 2 spoke wheels will fit but u will have to learn how drive everywhere in a straight line

72 onwards bugs have the wiperswitch on the steering column and the 2 spoke wheels hit this when u turn the wheel

just for reference 60-73 bugs all have the same steering wheel splines and all after 74 are the same as watercooled vws up till mid 90s

71superbeetle - January 8th, 2009 at 01:56 PM

Ok...so now im excited i can fit one of these wheels, but im once again confused if my bug is a 71 or 72!!! It doesnt have a wiper switch at all on the column, just a button thing on the dash, only arm on column is the indicators. What the!!!!

barls - January 8th, 2009 at 02:13 PM

its a 71 then. they moved the wipers to the column in 72
also congrartes on owning a one year only model. although it does have its draw backs, ie the one year only parts

71superbeetle - January 8th, 2009 at 02:33 PM

ha! you got me all excited but then i was saddened by the next point you mentioned!!! it has a a flat windscreen and a 4 vent lid, does this still make it a 71?

barls - January 8th, 2009 at 03:17 PM

still a 71. they didnt go to curved screen till 73

Joel - January 8th, 2009 at 04:08 PM

the build date will be on the compliance plate
if it has the rotary dash mounted wiper switch then it would have had the old 2 spoke wheel originally
4 spoke wheel and column wiper switch both started together in 10/71

dont scare them barls LOL
the few 71 only parts are low back seats with T runners and the internal rear window vents, and 99% of supers dont have them any more and the other 1% only have remnants of them

71superbeetle - January 8th, 2009 at 04:27 PM

im a little more at ease now! Now whats this boss kit thing for the steering wheel? Im hopeless! What can u expect when i bought a pink bug though!!!

Joel - January 8th, 2009 at 05:32 PM

boss kit is the round part that attaches an aftermaket sports steering wheel to the column

they're only for aftermarket wheels
factory steering wheels its part of the wheel

sounds like your bug has a sports steering wheel

71superbeetle - January 8th, 2009 at 05:48 PM

yere spot on, has a sports steering wheel which isnt bad, i just like the look of the older ones. Are these kits easy enough to remove when i put the new wheel on?

barls - January 8th, 2009 at 06:10 PM

no just pop the centre cap then undo the bolt on the shaft. pull whole unit off. replace with stock unit tighten bolt.
i didnt mean to scare you, i was just point in out about some of the parts being rare but that only matters if you want to keep it 100% original.

71superbeetle - January 8th, 2009 at 06:17 PM

that sounds like something i could do!