How to remove the steering wheel?

[RammJaeger]

My new steering wheel from Dave at DMCMW is due to arrive tomorrow, and I was wondering if there was any instructions or how-to on taking the old wheel off? I searched the forums and couldn't find anything.

[Michael]

Just pull off the pad and remove the nut. You will have to manhandle the old wheel to get it off but just be patient.

I basically just grabbed the wheel and pulled a constant force for a few minutes and it finally worked off the spline but mine is a refurb so it hasn't been frozen there for 30+ years. Might want to put a little PB plaster on it tonight and let it sit. When you're pulling and it does come off don't hit yourself in the nose with it, also resist the urge to pry it off as you can easily damage the covers and stalks.

[Flash66]

You can get a universal SW puller from any auto parts store for around 12 bucks. No chance of damaging or bending anything. Couple of turns and it's off.

[mluder]

Just pull off the pad and remove the nut. You will have to manhandle the old wheel to get it off but just be patient.

I basically just grabbed the wheel and pulled a constant force for a few minutes and it finally worked off the spline but mine is a refurb so it hasn't been frozen there for 30+ years. Might want to put a little PB plaster on it tonight and let it sit. When you're pulling and it does come off don't hit yourself in the nose with it, also resist the urge to pry it off as you can easily damage the covers and stalks.

Do NOT remove the nut completely if you use this method!!! Unless you'd like to lose a couple of teeth or knock yourself unconscious. If the wheel is jammed on there and your pulling on it and it suddenly gives way it's headed right for your face with a lot of force.

Loosen the nut so that you have some room for the wheel to back off the shaft but so that there's enough threads engaged to hold the nut in place.

Better way - Get a steering wheel puller. They're relatively cheap. Only problem is the bolts they come with are typically too short. I ended up using a couple sections of threaded rod (all-thread) and a couple of coupling nuts.

[RammJaeger]

I've got a SW puller so that parts no problem. I just didn't want to damage the steering wheel pad if there were some hidden screws or clips or something. But you all are saying the center pad just pulls straight off?

[Tillsy]

I've got a SW puller so that parts no problem. I just didn't want to damage the steering wheel pad if there were some hidden screws or clips or something. But you all are saying the center pad just pulls straight off?

Sure does.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I have used a puller a few times. I've needed to re-tap a few holes to larger threads since they stripped out. Some people have good luck using an air hammer hitting the center stud while pulling on the wheel.

[RammJaeger]

Does anyone know what size the nut that holds the steering wheel in? I don't think I have a socket that size, so I will most likely have to go out and buy one. I'm assuming it's metric? Also, does anyone know what size the bolt holes are that you screw the bolts in to remove the steering wheel with the puller? I have a puller, but I was going to run by a hardware store and pick up the right size bolts in case I don't have them.

[David T]

Does anyone know what size the nut that holds the steering wheel in? I don't think I have a socket that size, so I will most likely have to go out and buy one. I'm assuming it's metric? Also, does anyone know what size the bolt holes are that you screw the bolts in to remove the steering wheel with the puller? I have a puller, but I was going to run by a hardware store and pick up the right size bolts in case I don't have them.

Most steering wheel pullers are too large to fit properly for the Delorean. I made one up out of a piece of round stock and drilled 3 holes in it. Two for the puller screws and one for the jack bolt. One way to remove the wheel is while you are pulling on the wheel up and away from the floor you strike the shaft hard and quickly with a large hammer. I do not endorse this method. You can do too much damage. Before you remove the wheel you should make some marks so you can put it back in the same spot. The puller bolts I used are 1/4-28 X 2 1/2. You must thread them in all the way or you will just pull them out along with the threads. No biggie, just drill and retap to a larger size. 1/4" is kind of small anyway and they should have been -20 because when you thread into a casting a courser thread is stronger.

[RammJaeger]

Most steering wheel pullers are too large to fit properly for the Delorean. I made one up out of a piece of round stock and drilled 3 holes in it. Two for the puller screws and one for the jack bolt. One way to remove the wheel is while you are pulling on the wheel up and away from the floor you strike the shaft hard and quickly with a large hammer. I do not endorse this method. You can do too much damage. Before you remove the wheel you should make some marks so you can put it back in the same spot. The puller bolts I used are 1/4-28 X 2 1/2. You must thread them in all the way or you will just pull them out along with the threads. No biggie, just drill and retap to a larger size. 1/4" is kind of small anyway and they should have been -20 because when you thread into a casting a courser thread is stronger.

Do you know what thread and bolt the stock steering wheel is intended to be removed with? I would assume that it is metric, not standard. I really don't want to damage the stock steering wheel's threads as I take it off. I also have no tools, nor experience with drilling/retapping threads, so I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. In other words, what is the "proper" way to do it with the right size sockets and right size bolts?

Also, I'm still interested to know what size the large nut is.

[David T]

Do you know what thread and bolt the stock steering wheel is intended to be removed with? I would assume that it is metric, not standard. I really don't want to damage the stock steering wheel's threads as I take it off. I also have no tools, nor experience with drilling/retapping threads, so I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. In other words, what is the "proper" way to do it with the right size sockets and right size bolts?

Also, I'm still interested to know what size the large nut is.

The puller screws are 1/4-28. The length is dependent on the puller you use. That is what the holes in the steering wheel are tapped for. I don't have the size of the nut handy

[NightFlyer]

i don't have the size of the nut handy

m14

[DMCMW Dave]

The puller screws are 1/4-28.

7 millimeter. 1/4-28 is closed enough.

[David T]

7 millimeter. 1/4-28 is closed enough.

I suggested using 1/4-28 instead of 7mm-1.00 because it is a much tighter fit. I have pulled the threads out using 7 mm. Sometimes they are on really tight. Another "trick" is to tighten the jack bolt and then strike it with a hammer to shock the wheel off. All depends on how much of a fight it gives you. Some will come off once you loosen the nut!

[RammJaeger]

m14

Sorry if this is a noob question, what size socket is an M14 nut? Is that 14mm?

[NightFlyer]

Sorry if this is a noob question, what size socket is an M14 nut? Is that 14mm?

Correct :smile:

[Josh]

Correct :smile:

Don't try and understand the metric system, silly Americans.

[NightFlyer]

Don't try and understand the metric system, silly Americans.

That's wrong - isn't it?

Is it a 22mm socket/wrench for an M14 nut?

http://www.cwfasteners.co.uk/spannerandkeysizes.htm

[NightFlyer]

Trust me - it's not just the metric system that I suck at :eek7:

Usually, I just try out the sockets/wrenches that I have until I find the one that fits the best :biggrin:

[RammJaeger]

I got the new steering wheel in. It was indeed a 22mm socket - I had to go buy one. I used 1/4-28 bolts with the steering wheel puller to get it out. I had to buy longer bolts, as the ones that came with the puller weren't long enough. It took 4 inch long bolts. Thanks everyone for your help.

[rdarlington]

Forget the puller. This was addressed elsewhere on the site, but I'll post what was recommended and what worked for me. Hold the top with your left arm, bottom with your knees, and BZZZZZZZZT the dimple in the center of the steering column with the pointy attachment from an air chisel. It worked like a champ and took under one second to knock loose. Of course, you'll need to take the nut off and do your best not to ding the threads.

The $15 tool at AutoZone worked fine.

-Bob

[RammJaeger]

Forget the puller. This was addressed elsewhere on the site, but I'll post what was recommended and what worked for me. Hold the top with your left arm, bottom with your knees, and BZZZZZZZZT the dimple in the center of the steering column with the pointy attachment from an air chisel. It worked like a champ and took under one second to knock loose. Of course, you'll need to take the nut off and do your best not to ding the threads.

The $15 tool at AutoZone worked fine.

-Bob

The puller worked fine for me and I would recommend it to others. The wheel came off with no drama at all.

[rdarlington]

Then you got lucky. Much of the time they just strip out the threads.

-Bob

[RammJaeger]

Then you got lucky. Much of the time they just strip out the threads.

-Bob

I made sure and screwed them in all the way, and it got really long bolts to make sure they could go in really far. Maybe that made the difference.

[NightFlyer]

It was indeed a 22mm socket - I had to go buy one.

Yeah, sorry about that - I don't know what I was thinking in my first response. At least I got it right on the second attempt :biggrin:

[Andrew]

I used a harmonic balancer puller that I picked up at Sears almost 20 years ago along two high quality bolts (can't remember the size or pitch off the top of my head, but I think I found the answer by searching on here) and washers. I had to go to a speciality bolt store to find bolts which were long enough as the largest ones at Home Depot were still way too short. The trick is to get bolts which are long enough to bottom out in the steering wheel. With every less thread you grip, the changes of stripping the wheel increases.

After a few turns of the puller the wheel gently disengaged from the splines and I was able to remove it by hand. I don't know whether my wheel had ever been off previously, but I do know that I hadn't previously removed it in the 16 years I've had 4194.

Hope this helps!

[Ryan King]

Steering Wheel pullers are a waste of time and patience. All I used was a long extension (Or a Tap will do) on the shaft of the steering column and tapped away with a hammer. That knocked mine loose right away after a metric s@&t ton of failed attempts with a puller.


Forget the puller. This was addressed elsewhere on the site, but I'll post what was recommended and what worked for me. Hold the top with your left arm, bottom with your knees, and BZZZZZZZZT the dimple in the center of the steering column with the pointy attachment from an air chisel. It worked like a champ and took under one second to knock loose. Of course, you'll need to take the nut off and do your best not to ding the threads.

The $15 tool at AutoZone worked fine.

-Bob

^Same basic concept.

[Tillsy]

I used a harmonic balancer

Likewise - have used this for old steering wheel, the boss adapter, and even removing front rotors. Just grab a couple of appropriately sized bolts, slot them in with appropriately sized washers either end to grip the object, and then turn the main bolt a couple of times... comes straight off no effort no fuss.

[Some guy]

Here is some pictures of what i used last night. Screws from home depot and a puller from an auto parts store. All together $285692857020

[Farrar]

Don't try and understand the metric system, silly Americans.

As a friend of mine who worked at Lockheed and NASA used to say, there are two kinds of countries in the world: those who use the metric system, and those who put men on the moon. ;-)

[Tillsy]

As a friend of mine who worked at Lockheed and NASA used to say, there are two kinds of countries in the world: those who use the metric system, and those who put men on the moon. ;-)

LOL - ironic given NASA use metric!

[Farrar]

LOL - ironic given NASA use metric!

He was a chemical engineer -- humour was not his strong suit. :P