Aftermarket steering wheel

[pgc]

Has anybody bought or used a aftermarket wheel? Your thoughts?

[special-K]

Do you mean the reproductions of the originals?

[pgc]

Yes

[LockDoc]

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I bought one of the original size ones in black for the '71 Chevy 4x4 Longhorn project. It looked and worked good but it felt a little flimsy compared to the originals. Someone on here said that the 15" version felt a little more firm as far as flex than the 17" size. I'm thinking about purchasing one of the smaller ones for the '72 Dually, which I drive a lot..

LockDoc

[jocko]

Agree w/Leon - same impression w/aftermarket 17" (stock dia) wheels. I've had a couple, and all were flimsy - don't believe they have the metal core of the originals - which is why pristine, uncracked originals demand a high price. I'd still buy an aftermarket 17" wheel over a non-GM wheel, I just prefer the original look and feel. I haven't owned a 15" one, but yes, they should be less flimsy, even if constructed the exact same way as the aftermarket 17" ones. One aftermarket wheel I do like is the cushion grip 3-spoke that some of the dealers sell - but still prefer the stock wheel over anything.

[special-K]

I bought a reproduction wheel for a '72 back in '04. Looked great but was noticeably more flimsy on the rim. That wheel developed a crack at high noon which separated enough to see the rod stock core of the rim. It was about 1/2 the gauge of original and I'm sure the reason for the more flexible feel. I'm sure the extra flex is why the material cracked. Then a new batch of wheels were produced that were said to be more stout. I have never used one so can not comment on that. But that is what I heard back when they came out, an improvement. Haven't heard much of anything else since. I'll say for a restoration that gets carefully driven a reproduction steering wheel will work just fine