Changing to a late model steering wheel ??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

nu2-72 · 08-10-2003, 08:38 PM

Picked up a late model steering wheel for the 72 this weekend. (It was either smaller wheel or give up beer)
I popped off the horn button and there was nothing in there. Took the one off my 90 and it has a wire with a spring contact on one end and a spade on the other.
What all is required to make this wheel have a working horn?

Hutch · 08-10-2003, 08:51 PM

nu2-72,
I used a small piece of insulated wire about three inches long with a spade connector on one end and an alligator clip on the other.
The spade connector attaches to the horn button side and the clip attach's to the existing wire that comes through the column.
I was just going to use this as a temporary fix but it has been two years and it has never failed.

Have fun

Longhorn Man · 08-10-2003, 11:25 PM

I took the stock late model horn wire (I know you don't have it, but a 10 min walk through the junk yard should net you one).
Anyways, I took the late model stock one, and shaved the 2 nipples off of it and shoved it into the hole on the horn slip ring. and connected the other end to the button. Worked every time.
One thing I would like to add too, and hopefully it isn't too late, you need to retain the slip ring that came on your column. You see on the picture, that they are not all the same. The black one is off of a van tilt column, the center one is from a 92 S-10 (where my current wheel came from) and the one on the right is from a 69 - 72 non tilt. If you look at the one on the right, the bottom (as viewed) is tapered. That part rides on the bearings located in the upper portion of the column. I installed the one that came with the wheel (center) and there was nothing holding the bearings down, so they popped up and caused all sort of headaches for me.
Try to locate the bearings without buying them from a catalog...no junk yard will sell them to you if you ask for them. I had to go in, rip them fro a burb, and then come out and get my ass chewed from the parts guy for breaking down a unit that gets sold as a whole assembly. (at least he ended up giving it to me for free)

nu2-72 · 08-31-2003, 09:58 AM

Hutch, computer crashed before I got a chance to see this. I did as you and used a bullit connector and spade. Works great. Thanks.

08-10-2003, 08:38 PM	#1
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Changing to a late model steering wheel ??? Picked up a late model steering wheel for the 72 this weekend. (It was either smaller wheel or give up beer) I popped off the horn button and there was nothing in there. Took the one off my 90 and it has a wire with a spring contact on one end and a spade on the other. What all is required to make this wheel have a working horn? __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

08-10-2003, 08:51 PM	#2
Hutch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Grapevine, Tx. Posts: 2,142	nu2-72, I used a small piece of insulated wire about three inches long with a spade connector on one end and an alligator clip on the other. The spade connector attaches to the horn button side and the clip attach's to the existing wire that comes through the column. I was just going to use this as a temporary fix but it has been two years and it has never failed. Have fun __________________ John Hutchison Grapevine,Texas 68 1/2 t swb 68 Mustang 69 Jaguar 71 1/2 t swb 88 Supra CompTs6m 93 Escort GT 2005 Corolla XRS

08-10-2003, 11:25 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	I took the stock late model horn wire (I know you don't have it, but a 10 min walk through the junk yard should net you one). Anyways, I took the late model stock one, and shaved the 2 nipples off of it and shoved it into the hole on the horn slip ring. and connected the other end to the button. Worked every time. One thing I would like to add too, and hopefully it isn't too late, you need to retain the slip ring that came on your column. You see on the picture, that they are not all the same. The black one is off of a van tilt column, the center one is from a 92 S-10 (where my current wheel came from) and the one on the right is from a 69 - 72 non tilt. If you look at the one on the right, the bottom (as viewed) is tapered. That part rides on the bearings located in the upper portion of the column. I installed the one that came with the wheel (center) and there was nothing holding the bearings down, so they popped up and caused all sort of headaches for me. Try to locate the bearings without buying them from a catalog...no junk yard will sell them to you if you ask for them. I had to go in, rip them fro a burb, and then come out and get my ass chewed from the parts guy for breaking down a unit that gets sold as a whole assembly. (at least he ended up giving it to me for free) Attached Images

08-31-2003, 09:58 AM	#4
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	Hutch, computer crashed before I got a chance to see this. I did as you and used a bullit connector and spade. Works great. Thanks. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide



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