Water cooled steering wheel on Super Beetle?

emersonbiggins

Will a steering wheel off of a Rabbit, Fox, Jetta or GTI, fit on a 79 super beetle?
Is there any clearance problems with the wiper switch?

Wheel examples
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=781558
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=534591
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=546341

Bruce · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject:

Yes. 924 and 944 too.

Here's the one I have on my car:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/911-Porsche-4-spoke..._500wt_775
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mnussbau · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

I tried fitting a Fox wheel on my '74 convertible. It fits the splines ok but won't clear the wiper switch. You'd need to remove the wiper switch and fashion a replacement.
_________________
Mike
‘74 bug vert
Parts...

ashman40 · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject:

FYI - My '75 RHD came with a '71-style turn signal so it could clear the early style steering wheel that came stock. The steering column has the late style end with smaller 24mm(?) nut holding the wheel down.

You might be able to use a '71 turn signal switch to fit that steering wheel.
_________________
AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road Sad

}
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

emersonbiggins · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

I bought a Fox steering wheel but don't have it yet. I will find out what needs to be done. I was wondering about the wiper issue.

I wanted this wheel

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

But didn't bid enough so I ended up with this one.

[/img]

73veedubya · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:46 am Post subject:

when did they change the splines i have a 73 super and i had bought a 4 button gti steering wheel and the splines were smaller on the wheel than on my car

Bruce · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:07 am Post subject:

in 74 the splines got smaller.
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Bruce · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:09 am Post subject:

73veedubya · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:50 am Post subject:

emersonbiggins · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:37 am Post subject:

In the classifieds there is Mexi Beetle steering wheels for sale and they look like the Fox steering wheels.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=614804

Mexi Beetles are not supers so maybe the wiper / washer lever clearance issues aren't there.

Gary · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:42 am Post subject:

mnussbau · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject:

emersonbiggins · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:37 pm Post subject:

eviloval · Samba Member Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 208

You can use a watercooled steering wheel up to the MK2 (I've been told you could use any watercooled steering wheel but I have not confirmed it). Anyways, I've installed a 92 GTI wheel into a 74 super. Here's what I did to do it:

-You will need a small spline steering shaft. These are found in mid year 74's and up super (don't know about standards). The 74 uses a steering box....the 75 and up use a rack and pinion. The steering shaft from a 74 is 1/2" smaller in length than a 75 and up. The extra 1/2" is right where the shaft connects to the steering arm. Don't bother trying to swap shafts from a steering box car to a R&P car unmodified since its not going to fit without modding something. Since my car is a late 73 it had the wrong shaft....and when I test fitted my 78 shaft that is where I noticed this issue. I had to use the top of the 78's and the bottom of the 73's to make it work (I also did a little reinforcement since I didn't want the weld to fail...after all this is the steering shaft...so what ever you do make sure it will not fail). I will be doing this again for my 72.....when I do I will use a 74's shaft and not do any cutting/welding.

With your modded shaft (or if your lucky you have a small spline shaft to begin with) you will be able to bolt on an watercooled steering wheel up to 87 as well as porsche 924 and 944 wheels (don't know what year for those). The best way to make sure is to look up a GRANT steering wheel hub. If the hub is the same model # as one that would be used on a 75 thru 78 super beetle its a direct bolt-on.

http://www.grantproducts.com/showapplications.aspx?year=1975&make=VOLKSWAGEN&model=BEETLE you can see here that model # 3568 steering wheel installation kit is what you would use on a 75 super

http://www.grantproducts.com/showapplications.aspx...GOLF%20GTI and the same steering wheel installation kit is used on 87 GTI

Now...lets say you wanted to use a later Corrado/GTI steering wheel. What VW did was use an adapter sleeve (small spline inner....large spline outer) on an early watercooled shaft to fit that wheel into the MK2 cars. http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2059093 look at the 3rd and 5th pic down (it'll have 2 steering wheel pullers....at the center is the adapter your looking for). You can order them thru the dealer as well (about $35 to $40). Or you can find them in any MK2.....they are a major PITA to remove so if you want to save yourself a fight buy it from the dealer.

Once you have the adapter you'll have to slip it on the shaft (it will be a tight fit). After that the MK2 wheel will just slip on. You will have to modify the wiper arm stalk to clear the wheel. I ended up cutting it, and reshaping the cut piece and then reattaching it. Works fine....but a later mexi-beetle's stalk may be your best bet.

Here's a pic of it in my car:

Dakota Bug · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:46 am Post subject:

That looks sharp.

Antonio Trejo · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

Steering wheel (made in Germany, VW of Mexico factory option) on the Sedan 2004

This is the right shaft to fit this late steering wheel...

Ultima Edicion 2004 steering wheel (made in Brazil) with Wolfsburg logo

This is the stock steering wheel (made in Germany) on my old Edicion One Sedan 94´
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Parts VW
"From Volkswagen of Mexico factory..."
Genuine VW Sedan parts
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Genuine VW Type 2 watercooled parts

emersonbiggins · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

That is a beautiful steering wheel.
What does it look like from the back?
Will it clear the windshield wiper switch of a super beetle?

tundrawolf · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Just how hot does your steering wheel get?

mnussbau · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

The Mexican wheels fit because the wiper stalk is different. Can the wiper switch be retrofitted onto a '74-up U.S.-spec Bug?
_________________
Mike
‘74 bug vert
Parts...

Antonio Trejo · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

Sedan Edicion Especial 2004 with an aftermarket "deep style" steering wheel made by MOMO
_________________
Parts VW
"From Volkswagen of Mexico factory..."
Genuine VW Sedan parts
Genuine VW Ultima Edition parts
Genuine VW Type 2 watercooled parts


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Water cooled steering wheel on Super Beetle?
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