Pulling Steering Wheel

[FireTruck1984]

Any tricks to pulling a Steering Wheel if I don’t have a Wheel puller ? Without damaging the Wheel of course.
1984 C-10

 

[Big Chip]

Invite Mike Tyson over.

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[FireTruck1984]

Invite Mike Tyson over.

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“Theering wheel”

 

[mtnmankev]

You could try backing off the nut just until it's flush with the end of the threads, pull on the wheel with two hands, 180 degrees apart, and have a helper hit the shaft/nut with a SOFT hammer such as brass or copper.
A steel hammer can do some bad damage to the threads and shaft.

 

[Goldie Driver]

Buy a cheap wheel puller. Worth it.
Or, maybe some of the parts stores will rent one - ?

 

[FireTruck1984]

You could try backing off the nut just until it's flush with the end of the threads, pull on the wheel with two hands, 180 degrees apart, and have a helper hit the shaft/nut with a SOFT hammer such as brass or copper.
A steel hammer can do some bad damage to the threads and shaft.

Thanks I’ll try it

 

[mtnmankev]

If that works, and you need to go any farther into the steering column, you will need a lock plate depressing tool to get the circlip off to remove the lock plate.
The lockplate depressing tool will come with two adaptors, SAE and Metric so it will thread onto any steering shaft.

 

[Bextreme04]

Thanks I’ll try it

Rent one from a parts store. I know for a fact autozone has them for rent and it is free. Use your credit card to rent it and they just reverse the charge when you return it. If you use a debit card they will only give you cash back(which is annoying)

 

[animal]

Like @mtnmankev says. I usually back the nut off flush with the shaft, then put the flat side of a ball peen hammer on the shaft and while I pull with both hands 180 degrees apart have someone tap the other end of the hammer that is on the shaft. Usually comes off "fairly" easy that way.

 

[Doppleganger]

I rented one from AZ and it was so nice, I kept it. IIRC it was around $30?

 

[Dutch Rutter]

I ended up buying one on Amazon. Was about $30 if I remember right. Great tool to have in the garage. Sits right next to my core plug install tool set.

 

[mtnmankev]

And if you buy a decent puller, it also doubles as a harmonic balancer puller.
About 20 years ago, a friend quit being a mechanic for a living and gave me his Snap-on puller, it pulls harmonic balancers real nicely, and a steering wheel isn't even a challenge for it.

 

[RoryH19]

Autozone is my go to.
If you get the "full" kit it has the puller, lock plate remover and puller to remove the side pins by the tilt. That's needed to tighten the 3 bolts if you have a tilt column.
If you do have tilt, I would use lock tight on the 3 bolts. They are the reverse torx, e-torx.

 

[mtnmankev]

I would suggest that ANY puller one uses, spend a couple bucks and buy grade 8 bolts.
Have seen too many grade 5's bend or break off when trying to use the puller.
And ALWAYS oil the threads of the bolts and puller shaft.

 

[curbstone mech]

You could try backing off the nut just until it's flush with the end of the threads, pull on the wheel with two hands, 180 degrees apart, and have a helper hit the shaft/nut with a SOFT hammer such as brass or copper.
A steel hammer can do some bad damage to the threads and shaft.