steering wheel removal (i know how... but....)

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:33 pm

OK, i have a bit of a situation.i am trying to pull the steering wheel from my 87, and i cant get the dam,n thing off for the life of me!!!!!!!!
i removed the center steering wheel pad, both horn button, and the big nut. i put the steering wheel removal tool on it and started turnin it, but nothing happened, so i turned it more and more, it kept getting harder and harder, but the bolts jus bent! the steering wheel wasnt moving AT ALL!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS??

FTR: i am pulling the wheel to replace the ignition and out in an aftermarket steering wheel.

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:41 pm

there is a c clip right on top of all that jazz

donk_316 · Post by **donk_316** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

oh snap! you posted this here 15 min AFTER posting at the "nontechforum" and this one gets answered FIRST! Chalk another mark up for RFT.

Im not saying im right though...lol!

whipped · Post by **whipped** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:18 pm

heh... I think the c clip needs to be removed to remove the nut. I don't think there is one below that... Maybe it was just a crappy puller?

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:34 pm

FAN-FUCKIN-TASTIC

gots myself another problem now.

i have another column, but it isnt in as good of shape as this, and it dont have the ket lock on it. plus its pretty faded and surface rusty, so i really wanna use this one. im gonne try to "easy out" the bolt and grab a new one, but that shows how much the steering wheel isnt moving. AM I MISSING SOMETHING??

donk_316 wrote:oh snap! you posted this here 15 min AFTER posting at the "nontechforum" and this one gets answered FIRST! Chalk another mark up for RFT.

Im not saying im right though...lol!

yeah... im likin this place more and more, they have a ton more people, yet i always get answers here first.

also the clip is removed B4 the nut. and ive used the puller probably 4 or 5 other times with no problems but i think it is just a cheapy $20 or so.

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:19 pm

alright, i got the broke bolt piece out, drilled both of those holes bigger and tapped them so i could use some bigger bolts.

NOW... nothing is breaking, but i am literally turning purple trying to get the damn thing off. i put every ounce of my energy into tuning that damn center bolt, BUT NOTHING!!!! i let a shit ton of oil seep down around the center piece thinkin that may help, but still NOTHING!!!

this was suppost to be one of my 3 tasks for the day, but it doesnt look like ill be doing anything else today unless i get this damn thing off.

PLEASE HELP!! any ideas would be great.

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:42 pm

WELL!!!

flatened that out, sprayed the shit out of it with more oil, let it sit, sprayed it more, and then tried again, same results, got to the point i couldnt turn the center piece by hand any more, so i put a 6" pipe on the ratchet and turned it more, then stripped the threads right out of the main piece (that the center bolt threads into)

i dont care if i destroy the sterring wheel (i already fucked it up anyways)

there has to be something still holding it on, i tried EVERYTHING, from beating the center piece with a hammer to break it lose, WD40, and a "cheater bar".

whipped · Post by **whipped** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:56 pm

wow man... I have no idea. I'm almost positive there isn't anything holding it on besides the nut......... Maybe they've rusted together?

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:51 pm

well, i got pissed and took it into the road and punded it like 10 times with a 20lb sledge, didnt fix the problem, but i feel much better!!

so i took my old one (that i didnt want to use) and painted it up and slapped it in there, with the aftermarket steering wheel (i was basicaly trying to transfer the wheel from one column to the next) so it may not look quit as good (wll it looks better than the one i smashed with the sledge) but it functions and has a new ignition and steering wheel.

by the way, even after slamming the shit out of it with the sledge, the only thing that happened was me bending the steering wheel.

whipped · Post by **whipped** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:56 pm

they make 20# sledge hammers? What for? Railroad work? :blah5:

slow'n'steady · Post by **slow'n'steady** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:08 pm

they sure do, i dont know what is was "made for" but i got it for when i was busting up an old foundation to get it out of the way for the new garage.

InDeX420 · Post by **InDeX420** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:06 pm

I know what your going through...though I had removed my stock one off my 88...put on a firebird one..and now the firebird one is jammed...my puller tool is all mangled and still sitting on the wheel 6months later..good thing i dont drive that one...i did everything you did minus the sledge hammer...and no go..its like the shit welded itself on or something

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:37 pm

at that point you break out the acetylene torche and head up the stearing wheel hub so that it expands and lets go of the shaft