How bad are the reproduction steering wheel?

[Tuff Gong]

I'm having trouble finding a decent OE saddle steering wheel. I may end up going aftermarket but I have heard they are really flimsy. Anybody recently purchased one and have feedback

[tim71]

Originally Posted by Tuff Gong

I'm having trouble finding a decent OE saddle steering wheel. I may end up going aftermarket but I have heard they are really flimsy. Anybody recently purchased one and have feedback

I purchased a 15" aftermarket steering wheel that I'm very satisfied with. Due to being 2" smaller than OE, I probably can't compare it's sturdyness to a 17".

However, my 15" has an original appearance and is not flimsy at all. It seemed small immediately after the switch, but now it feels normal to me. Being on the larger size, I like the extra room the 15" provides.

Maybe someone can flip the photo, every photo I try to post to forum loads upside down and I can't get them to flip

[jocko]

all the aftermarket ones I've purchased were 17" and were indeed flimsy, they work, but they flex fwd/aft if you push/pull on them very much. I don't believe they have the metal core of the originals, but not certain. They work fine though - as you've noted, originals getting hard to find in good condition for a reasonable price. You might consider buying one of the cracked/separated originals that sell for cheap and repairing as many have done. Minor repairs can become invisible if done correctly. Good luck. If anyone has found a vendor that sells new ones that have the quality/'strength of originals, I'd love to hear about them. Something may have come along in the last few years that I'm not aware of.

[Joesjunk]

Original black steering wheels seem to be easier to find. I would paint a black one before buying a repo wheel. They are awful to say the least.

[Tuff Gong]

I'm not very skilled at painting so I'm not sure how long that would last.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by tim71

Maybe someone can flip the photo, every photo I try to post to forum loads upside down and I can't get them to flip

Member cercid posted this....

LockDoc

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by tim71

I purchased a 15" aftermarket steering wheel that I'm very satisfied with. Due to being 2" smaller than OE, I probably can't compare it's sturdyness to a 17".

However, my 15" has an original appearance and is not flimsy at all. It seemed small immediately after the switch, but now it feels normal to me. Being on the larger size, I like the extra room the 15" provides.

Maybe someone can flip the photo, every photo I try to post to forum loads upside down and I can't get them to flip

Where did you get the 15 inch wheel?
I’ve been thinkin about going back to the Factory wheel, and like your reasoning.

[tim71]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

Where did you get the 15 inch wheel?
I’ve been thinkin about going back to the Factory wheel, and like your reasoning.

I purchased mine from Cooper Restorations in Marion, IN. They are available from most of the aftermarket truck companies and I think these companies are all selling the same wheel .

[697498chevy]

Tim71 , is your truck manual steering ? If so , is it harder to turn ? THANKS !!

[tim71]

Originally Posted by 697498chevy

Tim71 , is your truck manual steering ? If so , is it harder to turn ? THANKS !!

My truck has power steering, so no issues for me. I’d have to guess that the smaller 15” wheel would be harder to turn, especially when stopped or going slow.

[697498chevy]

Thanks , Tim !

[hewittca]

For reference, I just swapped from a 15" wheel to a reproduction 17" wheel on my manual steering '72. I noticed two things immediately. The larger wheel helped significantly in steering ease and overall enjoyment of driving. And, the reproduction wheel is indeed VERY flimsy, as noted above. I'm not sure what the internal structure element is, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out there is nothing at all. It's not a matter of if, but when the whole top half of this wheel cracks. It works fine for me and does look pretty good, but the hunt is on for an elusive OEM blue wheel.

[697498chevy]

Thanks , that's kinda what I was thinking . I could use the extra room with a 15" steering wheel but worry it would too hard to turn . Thanks again !

[Steeveedee]

Maybe out of the box of what you were asking, but I got the sport steering wheel from LMC. It isn't flimsy, but the wood wasn't done right, and split away from the pieces next to it.

[Tuff Gong]

I was going to replace the wheel before I put my truck up for sale. After seeing the responses I think I'll just sell it with the wheel I have on it now and let the new owner decide what to do.

[CKfan]

Nice to know about the 15"s, had thought about getting one.

I just ordered a 17" in Saddle color (caps out of stock) from LMC. Will post when I get it to describe accuracy of color and strength.

[special-K]

The first repro steering wheels made about 20 years ago were crap. Flimsy and would crack showing the very undersized rod stock used for the rim. It was a couple years later that they got better but some keep the flimsy myth going. Must be a lot of the first ones still in vendors stock. There are threads from back then where people found the second run to be up to snuff.

The OEM black ones are easiest to find because Vans used them beyond '72. I believe through '78, the non-locking column vans

[jocko]

Tim, is there a good vendor out there that makes a solid wheel? I'm not familiar with a new repro that doesn't have the backbone of a noodle. The posts above about flimsy wheels (including mine) are from 2021, not 20 years ago - so I'm curious which vendor you're referring to - and very interested !!

[Cabrust]

Originally Posted by jocko

Tim, is there a good vendor out there that makes a solid wheel? I'm not familiar with a new repro that doesn't have the backbone of a noodle. The posts above about flimsy wheels (including mine) are from 2021, not 20 years ago - so I'm curious which vendor you're referring to - and very interested !!

I don’t know the vendor that makes mine, but I bought a 15” dark olive from CJ Pony last year for my daily driver. My truck has a lift on it (72 k10), I am a big man and use it to get into the cab. The steering wheel is solid, perhaps even more so than the original.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by jocko

Tim, is there a good vendor out there that makes a solid wheel? I'm not familiar with a new repro that doesn't have the backbone of a noodle. The posts above about flimsy wheels (including mine) are from 2021, not 20 years ago - so I'm curious which vendor you're referring to - and very interested !!

I never bought another repro after my craptastic purchase in '01. My post was based on what I read a few years later with several members posting they bought wheels from the improved run reporting the same type of review we see posted about the 15" wheels. I've also spoken with many who said they were happy with the quality. The 15" wheels were not even an idea back then. Definitely original diameter. Since I have no personal experience I have no argument to make. It must be that they were better yet, but in time proven to not be up to snuff, or people have realized still not as stout as original. I was surprised to see reports of recent wheels being flimsy after all these years since people reported they got better with no complaints. The first batch had rod stock that looked about 3/16", about half the gauge of original. On these newer wheels that are cracking how big is the rod stock? I'd wager only one company makes them. Maybe the second run ran out and someone reverted back to inferior materials again. I apologize for using the word myth. I didn't mean to insult anyone. I hadn't read through all the reported details in this thread. I'm surprised it's true the wheels are inferior after all the talk I've had with those happy with their repro wheels. Including some who have had both. I'm still hanging tight with the N.O.S. saddle wheel I bought in '91. That will go in my '72 when I restore it.

[jocko]

Thanks Tim, I'm with you - I'm hanging onto one precious black original I've hoarded away, its day will come.

[Cal10]

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[special-K]

Originally Posted by jocko

Thanks Tim, I'm with you - I'm hanging onto one precious black original I've hoarded away, its day will come.

Yep! I regret selling a perfect black wheel (NOS?) that I was fortunate enough to buy for way way way under it's value ($35). I sold it later because I don't see using it in my future. My '67 will have a black interior. This was a '69-'72.

I am anxious to see how xxx feels about the wheel he just ordered from LMC. I doubt any first batch wheels are still in stock anywhere. I'd think within 5 or so years those would have been filtered out. But I'm sure they were tossed out by vendors when the improved ones came out

[BlazerBill]

My 17” wheel, that was purchased 15 years ago, from LMC, is one of the flimsy ones as well.
One would think that with all the old oem wheels around, that they, the metal skeletons could be used as the base for new repops. There must be thousands of rotten oem wheels in garages, attic’s, shops & sheds. Why don’t they offer $ for cores? Who wouldn’t pay for the better quality of an oem 3/8” stock? Not like I’m the only person thinking of this!

[68 C10 Driver]

I would just get an old original steering wheel and restore it. Lots of videos on YouTube on how to do a steering wheel restoration. This is mine, very sturdy and I love the look of it.

Sorry purists, but at least it is period correct.