Replacing 57 T-Bird steering wheel

Sid

Sid

Well-known member
I am in the process of installing an aftermarket 15" steering wheel on a 57 T-Bird. The problem I am having is the stock steering wheel and steering shaft has an alignment spline at 12:00 position. The aftermarket steering wheel does not have this therefore it does not want to slide on. The dealer of the wheel say's it is a force fit and just put the nut on and force it. The problem I have with this is the nut only grabs by about 1/2 it's thickness and I don't want to compromise the threads. Has anyone had this experience before?
 
Sid, just wondering, can you carefully use a file on your New wheel,
to try and match the alignment spline area, so you don't have to force it on.











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I recently put an aftermarket 15" steering wheel on my 56 Bird.
We used a Tremel tool to cut the aligning grove into the splined portion of the steering wheel, it was quite easy.
I would be reluctant to force the new wheel onto the shaft.
 
I may try that. Just need to catch the right spline to keep the wheel alignment correct though. When you pay $400.00 for a steering wheel plus paint it you would just like it to fit propper.
 
I would go the dremel route also force fit doesn't work for me as you said mess up the shaft then you have real problems just wrap the wheel in masking tape to protect it from the metal shards marking the paint
 
The alignment spline on the shaft is low, the matching spline on the wheel is the one that is high and would need to be filed with a three cornered file to fit in a different position. The after market wheel with no guide spline will install in any position without any filing.
To install the new wheel ensure that the splined hub is free of any protective coating that may have been applied during the manufacturing process. Next polish the inside of the hub. To do this I use some Scoth-brite on the end of a short length of steel fuel line in an electric drill. Next use a toothbrush sized wire brush on the splines of both the wheel and the shaft. With some emory cloth polish the area below the splines on the shaft, it appears to be slightly tapered. Apply a little smearing of silicone grease on the shaft and you should find the wheel will go on a little further. Before tightening down find an area, parking lot/quiet road, where you can drive straight and stop without moving the steering wheel. You can now pull and recenter the wheel. May take a couple of attempts for best results. Be sure to locate the smooth segment of the wheel at the top. I also recommend transferring the turn signal canceling ring from your old steering wheel. The one supplied with the new wheel is not sprung steel, and will be loose if you stretch it even a little during installation.
Hope this helps, good luck.
 
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