Compatible steering wheel bosses

[Jake]

I can’t seem to find much info on this online.
I’d like to buy a new steering wheel. What other cars use the same steering column shaft splines? Because no company shows a triumph Toledo boss, can I assume it’s the same as a dolomite or a spitfire or anything else?
Thanks!

[Jake]

Unusual not to get a flood of useful answers here! I must have found a tricky question. Here’s a bump to keep the question in sight

[cleverusername]

OK I will bite.

My guess is the reason you haven't got any replies is your original post isn't clear about what you're trying to achieve.

If you just need a new steering wheel, they are not rare, just buy one.

However if your goal is to replace the entire steering column, which is my guess based on your comment about splines, the question is why do you want to do this? Why not just get another Toledo column? Is there a particular modification you are trying to implement?

[Carledo]

I would have answered this sooner, but like to get my facts straight!

My own December 73 built Toledo shares it's spline with all later Dolomites and the MkII Triumph 2000. I managed, with some difficulty, to obtain a boss for a Momo wheel that I already had (6x70mm PCD) that was listed for T2000 by a supplier in Italy, it was his last one and cost me just under £30 UKP including postage. But i'm sure, if you wanted to pay enough you could order a similar one from Momo or other suppliers.

HOWEVER and this is the point i'm not sure of, I think it's possible that the earlier Toledos (before the late 72 facelift) had a different spline which may or may not be similar to the MKIII Spitfire one. Since you don't say (and possibly don't know) exactly how old your car is, I didn't want to give you a bum steer!

No doubt someone will be along soon enough to confirm or deny my theory!

Steve

[Jake]

OK I will bite.

My guess is the reason you haven't got any replies is your original post isn't clear about what you're trying to achieve.

If you just need a new steering wheel, they are not rare, just buy one.

However if your goal is to replace the entire steering column, which is my guess based on your comment about splines, the question is why do you want to do this? Why not just get another Toledo column? Is there a particular modification you are trying to implement?

Sorry if i wasn't clear, it wasn't my intention to be obtuse.
I simply want to replace the steering wheel on my existing column. It is a 1971 Toledo 1500. I don't really like the standard wheel and I fancy something a little more sporting like a Motolita or Prototipo.

Carledo- You have hit the nail on the head! the closest I can get is that the Motolita website says that the Toledo should be the same as a 2000/2500 in which case they do a boss for this called a B23. But my short experience has told me that whatever it is you buy, after waiting weeks and spending a fortune to get it through customs, usually when you unwrap it, it turns out to be wrong because my car is actually built with a 1964 wimbledon bus gearbox and a driveshaft from a Vickers Valliant. :O)
Fortunately i have you guys and this amazing resource to check against, and i am grateful for that.
So are we saying it should be the same as a Spitfire Mk3? Any advances?

[cliftyhanger]

OK I will bite.

My guess is the reason you haven't got any replies is your original post isn't clear about what you're trying to achieve.

If you just need a new steering wheel, they are not rare, just buy one.

However if your goal is to replace the entire steering column, which is my guess based on your comment about splines, the question is why do you want to do this? Why not just get another Toledo column? Is there a particular modification you are trying to implement?

Sorry if i wasn't clear, it wasn't my intention to be obtuse.
I simply want to replace the steering wheel on my existing column. It is a 1971 Toledo 1500. I don't really like the standard wheel and I fancy something a little more sporting like a Motolita or Prototipo.

Carledo- You have hit the nail on the head! the closest I can get is that the Motolita website says that the Toledo should be the same as a 2000/2500 in which case they do a boss for this called a B23. But my short experience has told me that whatever it is you buy, after waiting weeks and spending a fortune to get it through customs, usually when you unwrap it, it turns out to be wrong because my car is actually built with a 1964 wimbledon bus gearbox and a driveshaft from a Vickers Valliant. :O)
Fortunately i have you guys and this amazing resource to check against, and i am grateful for that.
So are we saying it should be the same as a Spitfire Mk3? Any advances?

Not the same as spitfire/herald etc.
It may be the same as late spitfire, I have a wheel on my toledo (1972) that I think has been on a late spit. I can check, but need a few days.

[SprintV8]

I know this will be a really stupid question
But have you tried looking at the Rimmers Website as there’s Steering wheels with bosses listed.

Mountney list a Boss Kit for the Dolomite and Stag as MB 066.
The other Triumphs are MB029.
I don’t know the difference

There’s both bosses on E Bay
Depending where you are you could get a cheap one just to see if it fits.

[Jake]

I'm going to physically count the splines some time this week. Ordering a cheap one to check isn't really an option post Brexit, now as an expat Finn, I have to pay a fortune for postage and import duties not to mention the time you have to wait. So ideally I'd like to get it right first time! There appears to be pre and post 1977 Spitfire hubs, I'm sure a physical inspection will help things along. No such thing as an off the shelf part with these cars!

[xvivalve]

Measure also the diameter of the column; when my Interceptor was written off, I salvaged its Mota Lita steering wheel and replaced it with either a Dolomite or TR6 one (I can't remember which) as whilst the spline numbers were the same, the diameters were different. Being the Spring of 2003, I cannot remember which.

[edit: having just offered the Mota Lita up to a Dolomite column, I can confirm the Dolomite is the same diameter and spline number as a SIII Jensen Interceptor, if that helps?

I also have a small diameter used Mountney wheel with a Dolomite sized boss that would be available]

[Carledo]

OK, I think I have a definitive answer.

I've had a close perusal of my Toledo parts list which does indeed show an early and later style steering column with a body number change point.

HOWEVER, the steering wheel is the SAME part number (309012) for BOTH applications, early and late. So 1 size fits all!

NOTE, the difference is that the upper column on early cars has the Herald style, 2 piece column, with collapsible clamp structure in the middle of it, the later car has a solid one piece column.

Steve

[Jake]

Ok, so the Toledo steering wheel splines are all the same! that helps. In that case, for future reference if anyone needs it, taken from the Moto Lita website:

The B23 hub is suitable for the following cars:

Triumph 2000 1970 onwards
Triumph 2.5 1970 onwards
Triumph 1300
Triumph Toledo
Triumph 1500
Triumph Tornado

Interestingly then, it's not the same as a Dolomite...

[Carledo]

Ok, so the Toledo steering wheel splines are all the same! that helps.

Interestingly then, it's not the same as a Dolomite...

I have a T2000 boss on my 78 Dolomite Sprint. So, in theory at least, If the boss fits a 2000 it will fit a Dolomite and also if it fits a 2000 it will fit a Toledo (from the catalogue) ergo it will fit all 3!

On the other hand, I also have a '72 1500 FWD here that has an old Mountney wheel on it which needs to go as all the plastic cowling has gone and it only has 2 screws and nuts holding the wheel on. Unfortunately it's resisting all my efforts to get it to part from the column at the moment. Perhaps this is the difference and it's so small a difference that you can MAKE it fit if you are sufficiently determined (or heavy handed enough) Thinking about it, the first time I fitted the 2000 boss to the Sprint it was quite tight, which I put down at the time to it being new, however pulling it on and off a couple of times to get it accurately centred has freed it up and it now slips on and off with minimal effort. I need to get a puller on the 1500 and if that fails, i'll cut the blanketty blank thing off with an angle grinder!

Then i'll find out if a Dolomite wheel is the same!

Steve

[Jake]

The dolomite shows as a different boss,

The B23A is a standard Moto-Lita 9-bolt boss, available in polished or black finish.

This boss has a PCD of 101.6mm

The B23A is suitable for the following cars:

Panther R10
Triumph 2.5 1971 onwards
Triumph Dolomite
Triumph Sprint
Triumph Stag

How much practical difference there is between a B23 and a B23A, I have no idea!

[SprintV8]

The dolomite shows as a different boss,

The B23A is a standard Moto-Lita 9-bolt boss, available in polished or black finish.

This boss has a PCD of 101.6mm

The B23A is suitable for the following cars:

Panther R10
Triumph 2.5 1971 onwards
Triumph Dolomite
Triumph Sprint
Triumph Stag

How much practical difference there is between a B23 and a B23A, I have no idea!

Why not send a Email to Moto Lite with your vehicle details.
They may even give you the technical specifications for each boss.
Complete with you Wimbledon and other non standard mods and see what they come up with.

Depending on which Steering Wheel site we are all going on we appear to be getting conflicting answers.

[Steve28]

Mini steering wheels fit so there is plenty of choice out there.