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Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:32 pm

Im looking for a wheel for my april 1955 standard.

What differences if any are there between years??

Are there just a splined version? or a keyed version like very early T2's?

is there just one splined version/size?

Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:09 pm

1946-48 have a full rounded ring, but has a groove in it
1949-55 have a dished outter ring
1956-59 have a full rounded ring

1946-48 is this type:

1949-55 is this type:

1956-59 is this type:

Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:15 pm

Thanks for posting the pics.

So what differences are there in splines if any?

I read somewhere that there where two different ones.

One up to 54' with less splines
And one up to 63 with a lot more then the earlier one.

So if there are three styles, and my april 55 needs the
"1949-55 have a dished outter ring" then am i looking for A One year only wheel? IE. A 49-55 wheel with the 55-63 splines??

Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:22 pm

Up until sometime in 1956, Type 1 steering wheels had 24 tooth splines

Then VW doubled the number of splines to 48 tooth to facilitate minute adjustments of the wheel when installed.

The steering column shaft itself continued with having only 24 teeth

1960-later used a much finer splines and do not interchange with earlier cars

Wed Sep 09, 2009 11:05 am

RareAir wrote: Up until sometime in 1956, Type 1 steering wheels had 24 tooth splines

Then VW doubled the number of splines to 48 tooth to facilitate minute adjustments of the wheel when installed.

The steering column shaft itself continued with having only 24 teeth

1960-later used a much finer splines and do not interchange with earlier cars

thanks again for the quick reply.

In this particualr case at the moment im talking to someone who has a 3 spoke wheel, but he doesnt know what one he has.

from those pictures i now understand the exterior differences.

and now:
up 56' were 24 splines
and up to 59' were 48 splines

so how many splines are the latest 60's wheels that i cant use?

is it just 48 finer splines or more splines then 48? if its more it would be simpler to just narrow the search to strictly 24 or 48 splines.
rather then trying to explain the differences over the phone or email and hope they understood me correct.

Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:06 am

Does the post 55 small spline horn button fit the pre55 large spline wheel?
I assume they are the same but would love to hear it from the pros

Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:01 pm

As far as I know, a 48 spline wheel fit on 24 spline stem, but not the other way.

Sat Apr 30, 2016 10:39 am

Kjell Roar wrote: As far as I know, a 48 spline wheel fit on 24 spline stem, but not the other way.

A Pre '59 48-spline steering column/spline does not exist

Sat Apr 30, 2016 10:41 am

volksartist wrote: Does the post 55 small spline horn button fit the pre55 large spline wheel?
I assume they are the same but would love to hear it from the pros

Not a pro, but No. The housing on a 1950-55 horn button is larger diameter. The center push on a 1950-55 horn button is smaller in diameter. No parts are interchangeable between 1950-55 vs 1956-59 horn buttons

Sat Apr 30, 2016 11:40 am

RareAir wrote: Kjell Roar wrote: As far as I know, a 48 spline wheel fit on 24 spline stem, but not the other way.

A Pre '59 48-spline steering column/spline does not exist

I know. And have mostly wrong depth.