Removing Steering Wheel
- Thread starter sico24
- Start date
Willy Eckerslyke
Well-Known Member
My method, which might not be approved by everyone:
Undo the centre nut then screw it back on a couple of turns (to stop the wheel flying off and hitting you in the face). Pull the wheel towards you while a helper uses two hammers - a ball pein hammer held against the centre dimple of the column, a second hammer to hit the flat of the ball pein hammer with. So the ball is being used as a drift to tap the column away from the wheel. One tap is all that's ever needed.
The helper could use a conventional drift instead, but two hammers makes it easier to reach.
Undo the centre nut then screw it back on a couple of turns (to stop the wheel flying off and hitting you in the face). Pull the wheel towards you while a helper uses two hammers - a ball pein hammer held against the centre dimple of the column, a second hammer to hit the flat of the ball pein hammer with. So the ball is being used as a drift to tap the column away from the wheel. One tap is all that's ever needed.
The helper could use a conventional drift instead, but two hammers makes it easier to reach.
devilsplaymate
Member
Just a small health and safety suggestion before you strike two hardened hammer faces together (not really recommended :!: ):
Wear safety goggles, as you don't want shards of metal hammer particles taking your eyes out!!
I have had plenty of success by loosening the nut & leaving on by a few turns (as previously mentioned to stop the face getting rearranged), and rocking the steering wheel back and forth, and sideways to loosen the grip on the splines/taper.
Also, an alternative is to pour boiling water onto the steering wheel centre, leave for a few seconds and then try the above method of rocking it. The sudden change in temperature will hopefully break the seal.
Hope this helps
Glen.
Wear safety goggles, as you don't want shards of metal hammer particles taking your eyes out!!
I have had plenty of success by loosening the nut & leaving on by a few turns (as previously mentioned to stop the face getting rearranged), and rocking the steering wheel back and forth, and sideways to loosen the grip on the splines/taper.
Also, an alternative is to pour boiling water onto the steering wheel centre, leave for a few seconds and then try the above method of rocking it. The sudden change in temperature will hopefully break the seal.
Hope this helps
Glen.
Remove the retaining nut, and the star washer, then refit the nut a good few turns to stop the wheel flying off and hitting you in the face, and then I adjust the seat into a position where it supports me, and allows me to pull on the wheel with straight arms at 3 o/c-9o/c, with a side to side pull, using my legs in the footwell as the motive power. I've never had to resort to anything more.
Willy Eckerslyke
Well-Known Member
Safety advice is always good. But Mythbusters tackled this one and despite trying very hard to persuade hammers to shatter, they only managed to break a few shafts. No doubt there'll be eyewitnesses around who swear they've seen it happen, but it looks very much like a myth to me.devilsplaymate said:
Still, better safe than sorry.
