Anybody know how to remove the steering wheel on my 85 bird? I took off the horn cover, and this other metal thing. Removed the big nut... but no idea where to go from here. Honestly, I figured it would pull off but it didnt. I do not want to break anything.
Thanks.
You need a steering wheel puller. You can either rent one or buy it at any local auto parts store.
The puller has a large screw bolt in the center of a fixture which has slots on the ends to attach two smaller bolts to the two smaller holes on each side of the steering wheel nut. Once it is in place, you screw down the large center screw bolt and it pulls the wheel off the shaft.
Do not try the "stick the nut back on part way and smack it with a hammer while someone else pulls back on the wheel" method. I've replaced a steering column over that one.
Thats what I was going to recommend, Always worked for me except once. but the puller didn't work either it pulled the threads out of the holes. I don't beat the out of it, if it don't go with a couple of shots, I go to the puller then.
I have had it work for me since then, but I still wouldn't reccomend it. It only takes once to ruin it.
You can put both feet on the floor,pull real hard and rock the wheel side too side.
Works on all the new cars i've tried.
I just pull on it. Being nearly 300lbs last time I pulled one, I never had much trouble :hick:. I've lost some weight since then, but I bet I could still rock it and pull it off there pretty easily.
The right way would be to use a puller though.
CoogarXR
If you're going to try brute force pulling, make sure you leave the nut on a few threads. Otherwise you'll be eating that wheel if it comes off :hick:
But yeah, a steering wheel puller is the way to go...
dad is going through the same thing with his chevy truck. (he lost the keys) so know we are putting in a new lock cylinder. Stupid chevy! have to take the steering wheel off to do it. Its $15 to rent the puller from Autozone here in NC
I admit, I clocked myself in the forehead with the wheel when I was 18. :dunce:
I bought a craftsman steering/balancer puller for $20. Worth the money.
Ha, ha, ha... great advice everybody. Might just go with the puller cuz I have shiznitty luck. I would most likely ruin the steering column AND break my nose.
:)
KB
Haha, sounds like a plan.
I've pulled 2 87-88 TC steering wheels and an 83 heritage style wheel off the brute force way.
Granted they were all from the junkyard, and the steering column damage wasnt of too much concern.
My method (Redneck Method?):
Carefully pry the horn button with a flathead screwdriver~
Grab a a LARGE crescent wrench (Because i dont carry large socket sets with me to they yard most of the time) and loosen the retainer bolt, while being careful to not gauge the steering wheel or anything with the huge crescent~
Jump in the drivers seat, get your guns out and wrestle that sucker back and forth>side to side>kind of twisting it like your steering super hard until it pops loose (And hopefully not in your face).
:mullet: