Steering Wheel

[Paul]

We are planing to replace the steering wheel.  The steering wheel is big for my belly. Our wheel measures 20" and was think of going down to 16".  Has any one down sized and to what size did you go to.

   Paul

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Paul,

I went from a 22" factory wheel to a 20" VIP wheel.

VIP makes whatever size you need..
http://www.vipwheels.com/WEB%20PAGES/PRODUCTS_MAIN.HTM

Good Luck
Nick-

[Lin]

I'm with Nick.  VIP makes nice wheels and the non-leather ones are quite reasonably priced.  I think ours is 18 inch.

[RJ]

Paul -

From a safety standpoint, going smaller than 18" may not be a good idea.

You'll need all the leverage/control you can muster if you blow a front tire at freeway speeds.

Far better to reduce the size of your belly than reduce the size of the wheel.

Healthier, too!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[lostagain]

A smaller wheel might hide some of the dash gauges. My new 5C came with an aftermarket smaller wheel that hid some gauges. I went back to the stock big wheel. I like it a lot better. Feels better too.

JC

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Like JC, my 5A had a smaller after market wheel that i traded to somebody for an original wheel that looks and feels much better to me. 

[HB of CJ]

FWIW, my old Crown had TRW power ASSIST steering and could safely be driven with the power steering pump not working as I did sosss from Sacramento CA on up into SW Oregon.

Was told that it was designed that way sosss the driver could still deliver the kids.  The steering wheel was also very big which really helped driving with no power steering.  Defaulted to Armstrong.

After I replaced the steering pump and belts, the steering was very powerful; one could turn the wheel lock to lock with only two fingers; the bus actually raised and dipped a little bit sitting still.

The big wheel certainly helped a lot.  I dunno if a smaller wheel would have allowed me to drive the bus with only manual steering.  But...with intergal full power steering nowadays, it doesn't matter.  HB of CJ (old coot)

[gus]

I've been thinking about changing to a smaller wheel for my Sheppard system because the large original requires a long reach and is too close to the panel. My panel has been modified, much to my disappointment, so that is probably part of the problem.

I looked at VP wheels on the website but don't like the modern leather/plastic covered or two spoke ones at all.

Could some of you guys who have changed wheels post some photos of them? I would really like to get one that at least looks something like the original four-spoke one. thanks.

HB,

Power assist systems are actually manual until the wheel has been turned quite a bit - so when you are traveling down straight roads you are strictly manual. They are really great in town or parking lots though.

[luvrbus]

Gus, checkout your truck chrome shops I have bought steering wheels at these 2

www.bigrigchromeshop.com    they sell the Hana steering wheel

www.kvtruckaftermarketparts.com          they sell Bell I think  


you can wayout ( to wayout for our age) steering wheels or basic LOL VIP is not the only place to buy steering wheels


good luck

[gus]

Thanks, I'll give them a look.

[bevans6]

What is the hub spline standard for MCI, does any one know?  Or what truck model crosses to it?

Brian

[red jenkins]

it has 36 spline

[statedrive]

I went to a smaller steering wheel on my 76 Prevost and I felt more left/right movement....so I went back  to the big old killer....Dave

[buddydawg]

I enjoy my 22" steering wheel.  Big Bus, Big Wheel!

Anyway, I dont have power steering so the big wheel is a necessity.

[Lin]

When buying a steering wheel, make sure you get the right horn wiring setup.  A Peterbuilt and a Mac have different ways of doing it.  The Gillig column I have takes the Mac type wheel.  VIP has both.