If you've installed an aftermarket wheel on an early Mopar, how did you route the horn ground wire that's inside the column?

The common install kits will have an adapter with a copper plate which rides against a small wheel (stock mopar) - this brings ground up to one side of the horn. The other side of the horn has a ground wire which runs down into the column.

Here's the dilemma ... because that ground wire is attached in the wheel (which turns) and the column (which does not turn) that wire has to be long enough to wrap around the shaft when the wheel is turned. That's a lot of wire to have in a small space !!

Somehow I don't think this is how the factory did it but the stock parts are long gone and the FSM doesn't show enough detail.

Any input here would be appreciated.

Iirc the wire in the column is hot not ground. The steering shaft is ground. The roller is hot and insulated from the column, the switch compete the circuit to ground.

I agree. I'm running a Grant Tuff Wheel and the adapter has a wire coming off the steering shaft adapter copper disc( it rides against the horn ground wheel that is part of the turn signal switch), runs through the wheel to horn button. It's plenty long enough.

There is another "ground" wire in the housing which should be used to complete the connection. Grounding would otherwise be through the shaft but should not be used because the shaft does not have a direct connection to the frame - it goes through a series of bearings and these do not provide an adequate mechanical connection. The top bearing sits in a rubber cup - no connection what-so-ever, through to the lower bearing which is plastic so again no connection, through the coupler which is packed with grease (not a good conductor) into the steering box which again has grease-packed bearings.

Basically if you ground it that way, every time contact is made the connection will want to fuse at whichever point the contact is made.

I doubt the horn sees much use BUT when it does you a) want it to work and b) not cause damage.

This is why modern cars use things called "clock springs".

Not saying grounding through the shaft doesn't work, I just don't think that's how the factory did it.

I have a ground wire in the column. Not sure if its factory or if I put it there 30+ years ago !!!

The stock steering wheel has the copper disc built in. No extra ground wire passes from stock wheel to ground. And it's a ground for a relay- very little current passed through it.

I don't think so. If that were the case you'd be creating a "short" when you press the horn - this would blow a fuse. If its a "ground" then you would just be completing the circuit when you press the horn. Hot goes to the horn relay.

I think !!

Horn Relay is wired: Violet(hot wire) to main power in- unfused
Green w/ Red tracer- out to horns
Black w/ White tracer- to Turn Signal Switch. And it is hot- ground wire to horn button. Push the horn button, the relay grounds and current flows from Violet to Green wire. Pull your steering wheel and check for yourself. Or use a test light anywhere along the Black wire.

HA! Now I remember what I did ... unlike a lot of these aftermarket wheels with metal horn buttons to carry the ground current, mine is plastic so it needed a wire. I though this wire went into the column but it doesn't, it goes from the horn to one of the three bolts on the adapter.

So thanks for all the input - which served to jog my memory !!

Grant in my 65 and it looks just like the pic posted.My horn works fine.Rocky

A ungrounded wire such as the wire for horn button will light up a test light. It is a circuit searching for ground. If it was hot, when you ground it it would be a dead short. This is why bad grounds in any circuit cause wacky symptoms.

Another example is the quick way to check car a old car for a draw on the battery. Disconnect batt ground put test light between cable and batt terminal. If it lights a circuit is on drawing amps when it shouldn't. Can't do this test with newer cars because some circuits designed to draw constantly.

Yes, that's what I was saying. But some people figure that because it lights a bulb it's "hot".

Pardon Me, just got to this.
That has got to be the stupidest statement I've ever seen posted on this site. You obviously have no idea what a circuit is. Where and who gave you your information about basic electrical principles?