Fox I cannot get this steering wheel off!

James V · Mar 23, 2019

Hi again guys. Trying to take the stock steering wheel of my 93 notch and it will not budge. I may be doing it wrong so let me tell you what I tried so far.

I used a puller tool and a ratchet
I put the bolt in and tried pulling on the steering wheel back and forth.
I tried hammering the bolt (which I probably shouldn't of done)

This thing wont come off. Any suggestions? Also as I was pulling the steering wheel, the whole steering assembly/column moved closer, is that normal that is can move like that? Thanks!

Wayne Waldrep · Mar 23, 2019

James V said:
Hi again guys. Trying to take the stock steering wheel of my 93 notch and it will not budge. I may be doing it wrong so let me tell you what I tried so far.

I used a puller tool and a ratchet
I put the bolt in and tried pulling on the steering wheel back and forth.
I tried hammering the bolt (which I probably shouldn't of done)

This thing wont come off. Any suggestions? Also as I was pulling the steering wheel, the whole steering assembly/column moved closer, is that normal that is can move like that? Thanks!

"I put the bolt in and tried pulling on the steering wheel back and forth."
Explain this please.

For the record, there is one short bolt right in the centre of the steering wheel that you remove and sit to the side. At this point you have an open hole in the middle of the steering wheel. Then you place the puller on using 2 long bolts ( one on each side). These thread into the two small holes on the wheel. The large center pin/bolt of the puller is then turned with a ratchet and the wheel pulls toward you and comes off. I do mine with my cordless impact and it takes literally 5 minutes. Hope that helps. If not, give more exact info and we can try again.
Oh, and nothing else should be moving.

CarMichael Angelo · Mar 23, 2019

For the record...there is the main shaft under the cover on the steering wheel that you remove exposing a NUT, NOT a bolt...on it. You remove the NUT.

When you remove the cover, there will be two holes that a puller bolts into. The threaded insert on the puller threads through the puller. Once threaded through the puller, you place the provided pivot end on the puller that threads against the main shaft that you removed the nut off of. Then you start to tighten down the threaded insert. That action will force the steering wheel to pull off of the shaft.

IF.... You are doing anything different from that,...smack yourself,...then take the car to a mechanic, and pay out the ass for somebody who knows how to fit a round peg into a round hole, to put a steering wheel on...Then sell the car to somebody else who knows how to use a steering wheel puller.

James V · Mar 23, 2019

Wayne Waldrep said:
"I put the bolt in and tried pulling on the steering wheel back and forth."
Explain this please.

For the record, there is one short bolt right in the centre of the steering wheel that you remove and sit to the side. At this point you have an open hole in the middle of the steering wheel. Then you place the puller on using 2 long bolts ( one on each side). These thread into the two small holes on the wheel. The large center pin/bolt of the puller is then turned with a ratchet and the wheel pulls toward you and comes off. I do mine with my cordless impact and it takes literally 5 minutes. Hope that helps. If not, give more exact info and we can try again.
Oh, and nothing else should be moving.

Maybe I'll try to take a video to explain the moving. When I pull on the wheel the wheel moved closer to me, like the whole assembly, ignition and all. I tried the puller, I tightened the middle bolt so much it bent the 2 side long bolts, but the steering wheel didnt budge.

Rdub6 · Mar 23, 2019

The smaller bolts should be pulling the wheel off as you tighten the large middle bolt. That pushes against the main shaft, and the smaller ones pull the wheel off. If those small ones are bending, something is set up wrong.

CarMichael Angelo · Mar 23, 2019

Rdub6 said:
The smaller bolts should be pulling the wheel off as you tighten the large middle bolt. That pushes against the main shaft, and the smaller ones pull the wheel off. If those small ones are bending, something is set up wrong.

Like,...the nut is still on maybe.

General karthief · Mar 23, 2019

Give us a pic of the wheel where the problem is.
if the two nuts that hold the steering column up to the dash frame are loose the column will move around like you describe

Wayne Waldrep · Mar 23, 2019

CarMichael Angelo said:
For the record...there is the main shaft under the cover on the steering wheel that you remove exposing a NUT, NOT a bolt...on it.

Sorry mine's an '88. It's a BOLT.

CarMichael Angelo · Mar 24, 2019

Wayne Waldrep said:
Sorry mine's an '88. It's a BOLT.

Sorry,....didn't know that they changed the fastener,.thought it was a word mis-usage...my mistake.

Regardless though..the puller should look like this when properly installed.

James V · Mar 24, 2019

CarMichael Angelo said:
Sorry,....didn't know that they changed the fastener,.thought it was a word mis-usage...my mistake.

Regardless though..the puller should look like this when properly installed.

That's how I had to, but as I kept ratcheting the center black bolt tighter and tighter, the 2 side bolts bent. The steering wheel is jammed on I think.

James V · Mar 24, 2019

General karthief said:
Give us a pic of the wheel where the problem is.
if the two nuts that hold the steering column up to the dash frame are loose the column will move around like you describe

I bet the previous owner didnt put the 2 nuts in to hold it. I'll have to check it out.

CarMichael Angelo · Mar 24, 2019

James V said:
That's how I had to, but as I kept ratcheting the center black bolt tighter and tighter, the 2 side bolts bent. The steering wheel is jammed on I think.

How did they bend? It's a straight pull. If anything, they should've stripped or broke.

Rdub6 · Mar 24, 2019

CarMichael Angelo said:
How did they bend? It's a straight pull. If anything, they should've stripped or broke.

Agree, those bolts would be stretching, not compressing to cause them to bend.
Pics of what you have, could help get right to the bottom of this....... maybe!

Ryuk · Mar 24, 2019

A picture sure would clear things up a lot.

Reddevil91 · Mar 24, 2019

No I pulled mine not to long ago with an autozone cheap rent a tool. I got the airbag block off which I kept thinking this thing is gonna blow up in my face! loosened bolt and removed, put the remover on threaded in the two bolts that fit and used the small spacer started cranking and the damn thing just busted off, bent one of the bolts. I ended up going to Home Depot, bought the same two bolts and this time I threaded the down as tight as I could get them, tightened the main center pulled part and it popped right off. I think I messed up by not cranking the two stabilizing bolts down as tight as I could get them.

James V · Mar 29, 2019

Reddevil91 said:
No I pulled mine not to long ago with an autozone cheap rent a tool. I got the airbag block off which I kept thinking this thing is gonna blow up in my face! loosened bolt and removed, put the remover on threaded in the two bolts that fit and used the small spacer started cranking and the damn thing just busted off, bent one of the bolts. I ended up going to Home Depot, bought the same two bolts and this time I threaded the down as tight as I could get them, tightened the main center pulled part and it popped right off. I think I messed up by not cranking the two stabilizing bolts down as tight as I could get them.

I'll have to try this. Because I think that's what happened to me, I could have tightened them more. Do you happen to remember the size bolts needed?

Reddevil91 · Mar 29, 2019

James V said:
I'll have to try this. Because I think that's what happened to me, I could have tightened them more. Do you happen to remember the size bolts needed?

Off the top of my head I don’t man, I know I kept the ones I bought and sent cheap bent ones back with the autozone kit.

James V · Mar 29, 2019

Reddevil91 said:
Off the top of my head I don’t man, I know I kept the ones I bought and sent cheap bent ones back with the autozone kit.

Thanks for the advice anyway. I'll make a home depot trip tomorrow to match the bolts up

Reddevil91 · Mar 29, 2019

James V said:
Thanks for the advice anyway. I'll make a home depot trip tomorrow to match the bolts up

Yeah that’s what I ended up doing, I just said screw whether they were right thread or not just sink them down as tight as you can. I think the mistake was not doing that and just sort or lightly cranking them down, and once the force was given they just snapped out.

Mustang5L5 · Mar 29, 2019

First time I pulled my wheel it was a bitch. The puller bolts broke. Ended up buying bolts, putting tension on it with the puller and striking the pulled into a column while a buddy pulled up. Was a pita

Fox I cannot get this steering wheel off!

James V

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

James V

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

James V

James V

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

Ryuk

I love your drawers

Reddevil91

James V

Reddevil91

James V

Reddevil91

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Fox I cannot get this steering wheel off!

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

I love your drawers

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency