what am I missing? How is the horn contact assembled on a 70 GS rallye wheel? If I screw down the horn contact all the way, the center circle contacts the steering wheel nut and the horn is on all the time. If I back the screws out and float the contact a bit, horn function works. If I remove the steering wheel nut and then screw down the horn contact all the way, it appears to function correctly. The contact bends and makes contact around the center giver pad. Before I go and file the center ring to not contact the steering wheel nut, I wanted to make sure how it’s assembled. Thanks Nick
Thanks! Forgot to upload my pics. Take a look. If I screw he contact all the way down, the nut hits and completes the circuit and the horn is on all the time. Am I suppose to float the contact a bit off the wheel?
Nick in your picture the contact is upside down look at a picture that I posted that’s the correct way it sits on the hub the horn button completes the circuit when you push it down.
I think I got it in correctly. The little L bracket that protrudes out the back is in contact with the spring and post.
Yeah, I still think I need to grind the inner circle a little bit. It’s hitting the steering wheel nut and constantly sounding the horn.
No washer under the steering wheel nut. Was looking at horn contacts online. It seems the ears that mount to the wheel have a slight bend. Can’t tell for sure.
I've dealt with a dozen different Buick sport wheels and never seen that issue. I've used both factory and aftermarket wheels, hubs and horn rings in about every possible combination and never ran into that. Can we see the back of the horn ring? Also, how thick is the nut? I don't believe any of mine are standard thickness.
About 0.290” thick and 0.865” with diameter on flat and 0.975” on points. Used a 7/8” socket. Inside dia of horn contact is 0.950” so it’s hitting the points of the nut. the distance the bottom contact sits down inside is basically the same distance down the nut is from the flat edge if the wheel. Both 0.130”.
I'll get out to the garage tomorrow and look at one of mine. I've had them on and off a dozen times in the last 12 months as I've been wrapping wheels.
Yes original nut. Purchased from a trust worthy source. Horn contact was purchased as a NOS piece for Buick about 15 yrs ago. maybe questionable. Steering column was purchased as rebuilt and was told it was for a Buick HOWEVER it doesn’t have the curve bottom piece that I’ve learned Buick columns to have which was for the PRNDL linkage wire in the Speedo. So I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. I was told all A body columns were the same from the vendor. All the outer lengths, dimensions appeared to be the same with my old column to the rebuilt. Didn’t realize until a year later after I had it painted and went to install. I was thinking of taking mine apart (someone on V8 posted how to take them apart) so that I can grind the inner diameter a little bigger. If I mess it up, I can take a ride to NPD (National Parts Depot) and pick up another contact for a Chevelle/GTO.
Nick, is that a factory hub you’re using or reproduction ? Here’s pictures of my car and the bolt is nowhere near the horn contact. You may have to find a thinner bolt so it won’t hit the contact.
No washer behind the bolt...But looking at your pictures (Thanks by the way) it seems your contact appears to have a slight bend in the tab to raise it up a bit. I took a screen pic. Are you able to get a pair of calipers and measure the inside diameter of that circle? I think I was sold the wrong contact 15 years ago. Especially if the ears on your contact are bent slightly to raise it up a bit and if the inside diameter is different.
That's how mine looks. The nut is not a standard thickness nut for the diameter. In Stage 2's picture, there are at least 6 threads visible. On the one that blows all the time, I'm seeing on couple of threads from what I can discern. The nut on my column measures about .312 thick on my original 1971 column. Here's pics of my original column and my all repro parts except for the actual steering wheel. Hub, horn and spring are all repro.
