How does the huge steering wheel work for you folks?

[mikec4193]

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So I have never driven a Morris Minor but I just bought my third project Morris Minor and I am wondering about the huge steering wheel that sits about 2 inches from the front windshield...I am wondering do guy swap them out for something a little smaller in diameter but a little thicker ring on it maybe??

I want to enjoy driving this car so I am looking at things that might not work for me...the huge steering wheel has me scratching my head a little bit...

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

MikeC

[59Elva]

The pickup cab is pretty tight even for a short guy. On my first pickup I installed a smaller, flatter Spridget wheel. Since the turn signal switch was broken I also used the Spridget switch and surround and incorporated the horn and high beam function as well. Pretty easy swap that eased egress and gave a more arms out driving position.

[myoldjalopy]

Hi Mike,
It works fine for me and I can't see any real advantage in changing it for something aesthetically unsympathetic to the car's original design. But why not wait until the car is back on the road and decide how you like driving with the existing wheel then? You say you have never driven a Minor, so you may like it!

[mikec4193]

Hi Mike,
It works fine for me and I can't see any real advantage in changing it for something aesthetically unsympathetic to the car's original design. But why not wait until the car is back on the road and decide how you like driving with the existing wheel then? You say you have never driven a Minor, so you may like it!

I am thinking the same thing too...the last older vehicle I drove was a 1968 VW bug...the oldest heap I have ever driven was a 1947 Willys Jeep CJ2A...it can not be any worse that bucket of bolts was...I restored all the mechanical parts on it too

I might add a steering wheel cover to the stock one first and see if that helps with the gripping of it...

MikeC

[svenedin]

It IS a big steering wheel. No doubt about that.

Do drive the car before you consider changing for a smaller wheel. At low manoeuvring speeds (parking, 3-point turns etc) the steering can be very heavy and you need that big wheel.

To me the big steering wheel is absolutely integral to the character of the car and I personally think expensive wooden rimmed steering wheels look silly in a Morris Minor but great in an MG sports car.


Stephen

[mike1864]

I find that the large, thin steering wheel is a constant, tactile reminder to me that I'm not driving my modern car. And therefore to drive accordingly (especially in respect of braking effort and stopping distances!).
Yes, I know there's the acoustic reminder too!

[myoldjalopy]

As OP Mike has admittedly never driven a Minor, and wonders if it cannot be worse than the 1947 Willys Jeep he previously restored ("the oldest heap I have ever driven", he says) I think he may be surprised at how light and efficient the steering and road-holding is in a Minor. After all, it was the light and precise steering that drew much praise from motorists when the Minor first came out.
Plus I agree with Stephen about the steering wheel being integral to the character of the car.......I really don't think there will be any advantage in swapping the steering wheel for something that will simply look incongruous in the nice, early model which Mike has now acquired.

[jaekl]

You'll also notice that the wheel is angled outward along with being tipped up. After a bit, you won't feel odd.

[Chief]

the huge steering wheel has me scratching my head a little bit...

If your head is being scratched by the steering wheel, then your whole driving posture is needing sorted.

You'll probably drive yourself mad with "what-ifs" that you'll most likely find weren't worth considering once you actually get driving, I had no problems switching between my instructors Mk4 Polo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Polo_Mk4) and the Minor (the nicer car to drive ) when learning to drive and there was no problem with the wheel (even doing pull-push steering - AI says in America you call that drag-link steering).

[RustAndMagic]

I like the size of it, it's perfect, and as already said, you need it sometimes when you drive slow, it is a matter of taste of course, but I would never change it to something else, even the same size, it is part of the cars personality.

I think the Morris is very comfortable to drive actually (I am 183cm tall), I have no problem driving for long distance.

[moggiethouable]

I like it.
Given there is no power steering it is practical, as it is wider steering is lighter, although the rack and pinion set up is not too heavy anyway, but a smaller steering wheel will make turning a more muscular affair.
It also fits my Disklock. 42cm from memory.
Looking closely at yours, is it damaged, there appears to be a slot on the right hand side in the photo, or is that my poor eyesight deceiving me ?

[RustAndMagic]

It is pretty common to get cracks, the metal core expands more than the plastic outside and away you go

[myoldjalopy]

It is pretty common to get cracks, the metal core expands more than the plastic outside and away you go

Yes, very common. Some have made repairs with varying degrees of success with epoxy type fillers. I might do mine..........one day!

[jagnut66]

Hi,
The 'huge' steering wheel doesn't seem anything out of the ordinary once you have been driving it for a while.
Like others have said on here, it's all part of the driving experience, I like it and won't be changing mine, it would spoil the whole aesthetic.
Araldite resin deals with the cracks very well, if you are so minded. There are posts on here about repairing cracked Bakelite steering wheels.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[mrs.smith2012]

Funny people always ask me how I manage with Nellie’s HUGE steering wheel, and honestly I don’t really notice it…. I don’t really notice the lack of power steering either in fact, on the odd occasion I do jump in the modern, I find the steering in that odd.

I can imagine if you are extremely tall there isn’t a lot of room under there though!

[geoberni]

It is pretty common to get cracks, the metal core expands more than the plastic outside and away you go

The metal core might be a small factor, but it's more likely the general stress on the Bakelite having been in use for many times it's original design lifespan of perhaps a maximum 15 years or so.
I regularly handled Bakelite items in the 1970, that had been manufactured in the 1950s, and they were easily damaged.
Bakelite is a hard but inherently brittle plastic; its molecular chains form a rigid, cross-linked structure that cannot melt or flex.
It has excellent strength and heat resistance, but lacks flexibility and can easily crack, chip, or shatter if dropped, for example.
Anyone who's looked at RB106 Regulators at Autojumbles will have seen the high percentage that have damaged casings.

Basil's Steering Wheel was already wrapped in plastic cord when I got him almost 8 years ago and I've never had the inclination to remove it in case I find the wheel is seriously cracked, or that I don't like the feel of a 'standard'. As I was at the Sheringham for the Eastern MMOC Rally a few weeks ago, I took the opportunity to ask a few fellow Splittie owners if I could have a feel of their car's wheel for grip and general 'feel'.
And It wasn't particularly different to Basil's wrapped wheel, ...so perhaps this winter the plastic cord will get removed and I'll repair whatever damage it's hiding.
Image from 2017 a couple of months after I got him and had replaced the Speedometer due to busted odometer gearing.

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[Mr. V]

I used to drive my car like a maniac and loved the large wheel. With a good rack, good front suspension and 145 tyres the feedback from the front wheels is sensationally good.

[jmk2g40]

I have a 1959 4 door series 3 with the banjo steering wheel and I love it, it’s all part of the character of the car and love the look of the banjo steering wheel

Not sure if all different steering wheels are of the same diameter though.
Makes driving feeling direct and light when pottering along country lanes

And parking nice and easy in my opinion.

[Mervin]

I have a cover on my steering wheel, stretches slightly to fit, only to protect it and afford a better grip.
It did feel strange at first being thicker.

[mrs.smith2012]

I have a cover on my steering wheel, stretches slightly to fit, only to protect it and afford a better grip.
It did feel strange at first being thicker.

I took Nellie’s steering wheel cover off recently to clean and restitch it.. it’s a thick leather one. Driving with no cover atm as it’s far too hot to sit there stitching it back on and the steering wheel feels so skinny! Proper old school… I quite like it, although her cover will be going back on because I like that too