Why do the steering wheels seem so big on these A-bodies?

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myasylum

myasylum

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I was driving my Duster today, and I thought... "Damn, these steering wheels are huge!! Is there a reason for this?? I thinking the car might be better off without power steering??

Thanks!
 
Mine is manual and I'm glad! Steers just like power steering but with just the right amount of road feel:-D



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Funny that you mention this....I'm worried about steering my manual gear box w/ a tuff wheel which is much smaller diameter....LOL
 
At my age p/s is mandatory lol!
I haven't had problems with either though.....
It's all in what you like.
I'll stay with my p/s and enjoy the ease of parking.....:-D
Tom.
 
The steering wheel size seems to look fine in the Duster pictured above. I felt the stock wheel in my Dart does have a large look and feel to me .

I purchased a Grant 13+inch wheel for it.Should have it today.I havent measured the stock wheel but its probably like 14 or 15".

I think the Grant wheel will have a beter look and feel in my Dart.Pics comming when I can.I wanted to be careful with size choice because I didnt want wheel that is too tiny either.I do have power steering so Im not worried about effort to turn it. Im sure it would be fine even if I didnt have PS.This Grant wheel should be fine..
 
My duster has manual steering and came with the factory cheapo steering wheel. Felt like I was driving a truck. Bought a smaller Grant wheel. Really like it. Sure, its a lot more effort in very slow speed manuvering, but other than that I like it.

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myasylum said:
I was driving my Duster today, and I thought... "Damn, these steering wheels are huge!! Is there a reason for this?? I thinking the car might be better off without power steering??

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I agree! Although my car is manual(69 B'cuda) the wheel is 16"! w/ a 4" dish. I'm looking for something different,maybe 14" w/same dish. Any ideas? Pics and install issues would help also. Don't mean to hi-jack,if you want me to start a new thread,please let me know!
 
I put a smaller diameter, flater profile wheel in mine too. I wouldn't have without power steering. I had to shorten the signal wand and alter its angle slightly. The original polyglass tires with their narrow footprint and hard side walls were a little easier in manuvering I'm sure. Fat radials and a small wheel with manual steering is a combination only for the young and strong.
 
My car has power steering with the Federal Pump (same one that came on the AAR cuda's) and I went to the Grant GT 13" wheel and its still very easy to turn. I wish it was as stiff as my 04 colorado's steering....that has rack and pinion AND P245 radials.
 
I'm using a grant wheel, about 13 1/2 inches. It's a copy of the 'Tuff Wheel" and I have power steering. It feels like I've a faster ratio P/S box. I love it! More steering input for less arm movement. It also stiffened up the feel of the steering.
 
It could just be my car, and the front end may need to be looked at, but the steering does seem really loose, and kind of sloppy. I just kind of chalked it up as, "Well that the 70's for yea!"
 
If you have power steering , try and pic up a tuff wheel , or grant makes a nice wheel works real nice with mopar center piece , i have three different wheels for my car plus original.

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myasylum said:
It could just be my car, and the front end may need to be looked at, but the steering does seem really loose, and kind of sloppy. I just kind of chalked it up as, "Well that the 70's for yea!"
Click to expand...

Your stock steering box is probably just worn out, though even from the factory they weren't that great. I got a Firm Feel Stage 2 P/S box and have yet to try it out but I'm sure the feel will be much better. Before I could drive with one finger on the wheel spoke. The steering wheels are big, but that's because it was cheaper to make one wheel for both the manual and power cars and it would've been too difficult with a smaller wheel and manual steering.
 
I have a Grant wheel in my Duster. It's smaller diameter than the stock wheel and at low speeds it's harder to turn, but in normal driving it works fine. The stock one does feel big in comparison.
 
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