Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Steering wheel

Hi, I am about to change the steering wheel on my 2000 4/4 for a wooden rim version. The factory fit wheel looks to be about 15". I was planning to fit a 14", but I am unsure if this will obscure the speedometer and taco. I'm not particularly tall so hopefully this won't be the case. Also does it make the steering appreciably heavier. I would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks.

Welcome to TM, Robrhi

Note that some steering wheel manufacturers quote a nominal size in inches (eg Moto Lita) but the actual OD can be as much as 1/2" different

Well, you'd better be sure your present steering wheel really is 15" and not 14" before you order - better take a measure. If it is 15", the upper part of a 14" ends up half an inch under what you already have, should not be that difficult to estimate. If it seems to cover the instruments, take note that Moto-Lita makes a 14" offset, check out their website. That said, I doubt that there is a problem. I am 180 tall (=six feet) and had no problems with 14". However, when I fitted power steering the steering column ended up a little lower, and then the instruments were partially covered by the rim. So I ended up with a 14" offset after all.
Of course the steering will be heavier but as the 4/4 tyres are relativly narrow, you should be ok. On my Roadster with it's very wide tyres I was not ok, so I fitted power steering, but that is another story.

Hi Robbie.
Thanks for your reply. My 4/4 is a Lowline so has the fatter tyres. That's why I was a little concerned.

Most people make do with 14", even I accepted it with fat tyres, 205/55 16. Heavy at slow speeds, ok when the car was running. Finally I fitted power steering, which totally transformed the car at all speeds and made it feel much safer. Anyway, the Moto-Lita 14" offset is worth checking out. Looks a bit odd in the pictures, hardly noticeable when fitted. Gives you one inch more room both at top and bottom. More space for your thighs, easier to get in an out. The rim gets a little low at full lock, but very good for normal driving. An overlooked item, in my opinion.

FWIW I find the thick rim wood Motolita 13 inch wheel still allows light but also quicker steering on my Roadster, which admittedly does have factory fitted electric power steering to assist with the 205 tyres. This despite the nominal diameter being closer to 12 inches as alluded by Jon (Coopeman). I don't think this makes it look too small though.



Easier access is another advantage.

Ihave two 14" wheels, both moto-lita. My car came with the standard moto-lita wood rimmed wheel and I found it to be too thin and unforgiving in use. you have to grip it too tightly and the hardness coupled with the thin profile and grips in the lower surface I found extremely uncomfortable, painful in fact. I was happy with the 14" rim size so I bought the leather covered rim option and it revolutionised the driving experience. I have to say the wood rim is more attractive if you have the walnut dash, the leather rim actually looking better on the metal or leather covered dash, but I would not go back. I would be interested to try the wooden thick rimmed option and would hope that on my car it gave the look and feel i would like but at the moment I really am over the moon with the leather rim!

Before I commit to a smaller wheel is there anyone out there that can lend me a 14" Motolita wood rim - possibly with a view to purchase if it's surplus? having fitted power steering to my 2004 Roadster some time ago I know it would benefit from a smaller wheel. However, since the main instruments are centrally placed I'm concerned that they might be obscured.

I recall that the Mk1 Aero had this problem. Coming down the M5 I put really my foot in and the needle disappeared at 80, reappeared at 120 and continued to 140 before I knew what was going on. It was only the congestion around the Bristol junctions that thankfully brought my average speed down, As I pulled up the split level section heading south a police car pulled up alongside and the driver made a very pointed effort at pushing buttons on the dash to let me know how close I'd come to, rightfully, losing my licence and possible my freedom. When I told this tale to a magistrate over the following weekend he told me that not seeing the needle after 80 would not have impressed him if I'd come before him in court.

To RichardV6 and Roady - I would be very sceptical to a 13" on a Roadster without power steering. I do not know what tyre dimension the thread starter has, but at least with the 205 tyres the handling will be heavy at slow and even meduim speeds. After I fitted power steering, however - 13" was what I wanted, but realized it would cover the instruments. Even with the 14" I already had, the instruments were partially obscured, due to the steering column ending up a tad lower. So 13" will most probably be too heavy on a non PAS-car with fat tyres and also cover the instruments. A 14" will be ok as handling goes for a non-PAS, but it might -as in my case -partially obscure the insruments. What will work in any case is the 14" offset, which I ended up with, very happy with that one.

Roady, you have a PM