Steering wheel knobs

Suicide knob

Q: Why is it called a suicide knob or Brodie knob?

Brodie knob refers to Steve Brodie, associated with reckless stunts. Suicide knob comes from the idea that the device can make it harder to control the wheel in an emergency, or from the risk of a spinning knob hitting the driver.

Q: What is a necker knob?

Necker knob is mid-century slang for the same steering spinner. One-hand steering left the other arm free, including for a date. Necking was slang for kissing or caressing above the neck.

A suicide knob is a steering wheel attachment that lets a driver steer with one hand. The same device is also called a Brodie knob, necker knob, granny knob, knuckle buster, spinner knob, or wheel spinner.

Quick facts

One-hand steering The knob rotates independently so the wheel can be cranked without a hand-over-hand grip.

Patented in 1936 Joel R. Thorp of Wisconsin filed the “Steering Wheel Spinner Knob” application on November 20, 1936.

No statewide car ban found A statute review found no 50-state ban for ordinary passenger cars. See the state law notes.

What a suicide knob is

The device is a small, independently rotating handle, often shaped like a doorknob, clamped to the rim of a steering wheel. A driver can keep a palm or fingers on the knob and spin the wheel through a full turn.

Before power steering was common, many cars, trucks, and tractors had heavy, slow steering. A spinner made it easier to make a tight turn, park, or work in reverse while the other hand ran a gearshift, throttle, or implement control.

They were sold in plain bakelite and metal, and also as decorative knobs with pictures, jewels, and inlaid designs. Today they remain common on forklifts, farm equipment, lawn tractors, and some boats. On highway cars they are still used as adaptive driving aids and as period accessories on older vehicles.

Browse the reference

Names and history

Brodie, necker, granny, knuckle buster, and the 1936 spinner-knob patent.

Read the names

Uses

Passenger cars, disability aids, forklifts, tractors, construction equipment, and boats.

See where they are used

U.S. state laws

The “illegal” myth, OSHA rules for some work equipment, and notes for all 50 states.

Check state notes

Safety

Oversteer, spinning knobs, clothing catch, airbags, and installation.

Read safety notes

OSHA note

Spinner knobs on certain construction material-handling machines are restricted unless the steering cannot kick back.

Read the OSHA rule

Common questions

What is a suicide knob?

A suicide knob is a rotating handle attached to a steering wheel so a vehicle can be steered with one hand. It is also called a Brodie knob, necker knob, granny knob, knuckle buster, spinner knob, or wheel spinner.

Are suicide knobs illegal?

A review of the 50 U.S. state motor vehicle codes found no statewide ban on steering wheel knobs for ordinary passenger cars. Cities can write their own ordinances. OSHA restricts spinner knobs on certain construction material-handling equipment. This is not legal advice; confirm current law before installing one.

Why is it called a suicide knob or Brodie knob?

Brodie knob refers to Steve Brodie, a nineteenth-century New Yorker associated with a claimed jump from the Brooklyn Bridge and, later, with reckless stunts. Suicide knob comes from the idea that the device can make the wheel harder to control in an emergency, or from the spinning knob striking the driver.

What is a necker knob?

Necker knob is mid-century slang for the same spinner. One-hand steering left the other arm free. Necking was 1950s and 1960s slang for kissing or caressing above the neck.