Repro steering wheel?

[CG]

So I was reading a WTB thread on the 72 style steering wheel and someone mentioned that there is no steel reinforcement built in to a reproduction steering wheel. Does anyone know if this is true? Is the entire wheel made of plastic and bonded to the center hub? Since Ive never actually seen one is it also a faithful reproduction?

Really seems kind of unsafe if its just plastic.

[35boulder]

I purchased a repro wheel and it was true to the look but very flimsy. If you pressed in on the top of the wheel towards the dash it would bend in. Took it out and bought an original here on the site. Much happier with the original.

[special-K]

It is absolutely not true. Is this site turning into Facebook? That needs to get deleted. Of course the plastic/composite/whatever is molded around steel rod stock. In the early one I once had it was about half the diameter of original. And on a 10* morning I went out to it separated at hi-noon by about 1/8", so it had a crack I didn't realize was there. It was about 4 years old and I didn't drive the truck much at all each year.

BUT... That was the first ones offered and probably 10 years ago the were supposedly improved, or so those who bought them were saying. Let's see what those who have actual experience with these give their impressions.

[CG]

Ok so maybe the steel they use is just a smaller diameter. That makes me feel better (a little).

[jimer1964]

Originally Posted by CG

So I was reading a WTB thread on the 72 style steering wheel and someone mentioned that there is no steel reinforcement built in to a reproduction steering wheel. Does anyone know if this is true? Is the entire wheel made of plastic and bonded to the center hub? Since Ive never actually seen one is it also a faithful reproduction?

Really seems kind of unsafe if its just plastic.

Tim are you on Facebook? I troll Facebook on my wife's account! I agree my repo Cracked quickly.

[Orange67]

I was tempted to try a repop wheel for my 67, but reading reviews scared me away. My original is cracked in a few places, but not badly. Going to try my hand at repair.

[davepl]

Yes, the reproductions have a core of some kind. I wouldn't be so certain that it's steel, but it probably is. But if could also be "Ramen Noodle". They're pretty flimsy compared to the originals.

The grain pattern is also a but wrong, too "deep". But otherwise the look (and even feel) is close enough that for the price, I think the reproductions are a good value.

I tried to buy an NOS wheel from someone on the board and they wanted way too much. And I just paid $1000 for a red NOS wheel that fits Camaro/Impala/etc, but the truck wheels are more like a $400 piece to me.

Here's my comparison (with photos and so on) of the OER wheel to an NOS one, but this is for their car piece, not the truck units:

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.co...-wheel-in-red/

[special-K]

I recall it being about 3/16" where the OEM is what, 5/16"?

[davepl]

I'm not cutting mine open to find out, but probably. 1/4" or 3/16" rod in there are best, I imagine.

[jocko]

I'm going to guesstimate my repro had a core made out of a rubber band. Whatever the core is, it is NOT equivalent to a factory wheel. As stated above - it bends like it's spaghetti. That's why the originals in good condition are a sought after, expensive item, it's not because there is a part number associated with it. Will I use a repro, yes, I have. I do shell out for factory wheels when I can find them though.

[leddzepp]

I’ve used both. The oems are sturdier when you push and flex them real hard. I don’t normally drive around trying to push and flex my steering wheel though, so it doesn’t really matter to me

[special-K]

I had no issue with flex while driving the repro I used. It's plenty sturdy going roundy round. Like Zepp, I never wrestled with it, just took notice when first mounted when I checked for comparison. But it do blame the flex factor for the crack at 12 o'clock in 4 years. Must have been flexing more than I could tell or it was event, like a sudden stop or rough terrain.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I don’t normally drive around trying to push and flex my steering wheel though, so it doesn’t really matter to me

Ha, that’s funny, and a good point. I don’t either, but once I noticed it, it was like a scab that you can’t stop picking at.... I don’t mean to herd anyone away from a replacement wheel, they work fine and I have no problem using one. In fact, I should probably be saying how great they are so prices on originals will come down out of the moronosphere

[engineer_gregh]

I have one in my truck now. I didn't intentionally try and flex the wheel, I simply pushed on the wheel to sit up straight in the seat and quickly found out how flimsy the re-pop's are. Looks great but...

[Gromit]

There might be a crash test dummy element to the strength of these reproduction steering wheel reinforcements.

I have the OER one too and I noticed it was more flexible than my hopelessly cratered original; but thought maybe the flexiness was partly by design so that the repro would "give" in a crash.

OER seems to have spared no expense on the actual hub - that part I thought was better made than my original. Also they seem to have taken pains to offer all of the colors and at $200 or $250 I don't recall exactly - I'm glad they are on offer and would buy one again.

[EagleChief]

I'm going to bring this back up. I see the difference is reproduction is more flimsy than the OEM, but, is there a way to tell (visually, or by measuring) which wheel I have? I have not had the chance to "feel" an OEM wheel that I know of. So, I have no comparison.

Reason I ask, I bought a 67-72 wheel for my truck, but went with an 80's style wheel instead. Now, I'm thinking of listing the 67-72 wheel for sale, but not sure what I have - OEM or Reproduction.