Re: Steering wheel removal

["jtrealtywebspannet" <jtrealty@xxxx>]

[moderators note: I think this subject has come pretty close to being beaten to death so with this post I'm ending this subject line. Bruce B. this week's moderator]



When I have a car with a steering wheel that is difficult to remove I 
usually get them off in the following manner;
Put the steering wheel puller on and tighten up the screw so as to 
put pressure on the wheel, not so tight as to strip out the puller 
bolts,
Hit the puller screw with a heavy hammer, a couple of quick taps has 
never failed to break the steering wheel loose. I have never seen 
Lock-tite used on the wheel. The problem is the wheel is a taper-fit 
onto the steering shaft and sometimes they can be stubborn getting it 
to come apart. This trick also works on other taper fits like ball 
joints and tie rod ends, the secret there is to have it held securely 
so it can't move when struck with a hammer. I have also seen mechanics 
use an air impact but the thought of stripping threads scares me too 
much to do it that way.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757


--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "daveswingle2" <dswingle@xxxx> wrote:
> Well - sometimes. After about two hours of using a puller (stripped 
> out the holes!), using a brass punch while pulling on the wheel, and 
> lots of choice swear words, I actually had to drill mine off by 
> drilling along side the steering column enough to get it to let go. 
> (I was replacing it).
> 
> I've heard this story before, as well as "it comes right off". 
> Depends on how much locktite the guy at the factory put on it, or if 
> it has been removed before. The puller bolt holes are small and are 
a 
> very fine metric thread that is difficult to find in a bolt long 
> enough to do the job. 
>