TheSamba.com :: View topic - are early and late steering columns direct swap out?

Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:40 am

I have a 70 steering column in my 56. the PO had to hack some of the original curve to the left of the wiper and light switches to accomodate the ignition switch that is attached to the late column. But i'm not sure if they bored out the hole where the steering column hits the firewall.

aside from the hack mentioned above, are there any other things to look for that might have been done? i have a 56 column somewhere in the mail, and plan to get a turn signal assy and restore my 56 steering wheel and bring it back to orig.

wiring aside, can i just directly interchange the columns and be done with it? thanks for any info.

8) :D

Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:47 am

The early and late columns have a different number of splines, for one thing. What are you intending on doing for a steering wheel?

Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:52 am

i have an original early steering wheel from a 56, and i'm getting a complete steering column (column, tube, etc, minus the turn signal assembly). when that comes in, i'm looking to just swap out the late steering column for the correct one.

Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:00 pm

You'll need the steering column & tube. Don't forget the plastic bushing that supports the steering wheel inside the tube either. Later cars used a bearing, early cars use a bushing.

Thu Nov 27, 2025 5:31 pm

I have a 58 bug with no column. I got the car with most of it in boxes. I was wondering since it's so hard to fond a complete column and wheel is there a particular year that had the dimmer for the headlights on the column with still having the ignition key in the dash. The car needs to be wired anyway it is missing. It would be a fix I wouldn't mind doing. The car is somewhat modified anyway.
Thanks

Fri Nov 28, 2025 1:08 pm

66 & 67

Fri Nov 28, 2025 5:06 pm

Bruce wrote: 66 & 67

Also the 1960-65 switches if you can find the optional dimmer switch kit, or perhaps pull that switch out of a later non-functioning TS switch.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/techbulletins/e16.php