*HOW TO* Remove a gm steering wheel properly

[mowgli]

The steering wheel is the single most important control on a car.

The original Nova one is fairly big & ugly & needs swapping.

This crops up regularly in mechanical & always gets flooded with replies involving mates & large hammers. This method can result in damage to the steering column, which has a special deformable section which is designed to collapse the column into the dash in an accident.

Here is the correct method of removing a gm steering wheel:

1. Purchase a gm steering wheel removal puller, this one was about £11+vat


2. Locate steering wheel, remove ignition key & lock the steering, making note of the position of the wheel.

3. Pull off the horn switch, use a flat blade screwdriver to flatten the two locktabs on the special washer. Then using a 22mm socket, loosen the centre nut but only unwind it to the end of the threaded section of the column.

4. Fit the puller according to the manufacturers instructions, basically fit the two silver pins into the oval holes in the wheel boss & rotate them 90 degrees. Then by hand, wind the centre bolt until it is hand tight onto the centre of the column (there is a locating hole).

5. Using a 17mm socket, extension & ratchet, wind the bolt clockwise & the steering wheel will pop loose, it has a spring behind it, stopping when it hits the centre nut. Note, the splines can get very tight with age & it may take a lot of force, if it still won't undo then wrap some old towels round the wheel, boil the kettle & pour some boiling water on the centre. The Ally boss will expand quicker than the steel shaft & loosen it.

7. Undo the puller bolt, twist the silver pins back to their original positions, remove the puller. push slightly in on the wheel & undo the centre nut & washer, then remove the wheel. (I put the nut & washer back on to save them getting lost.) To refit the wheel, or a new one, simply put it back on the column in the same position as the original, push in & refit the washer & nut. tighten the nut & using a plier, put the lock tabs back in place. this is extremely important as a loose nut will cause the wheel to come loose. trust me, it has happened on the move before.....

[novalicous]

wheres the best place to purchase the remover?
good guide btw

[Bubba]

i got mine from mill auto. but u can get them cheap on ebay i think

[KPautomotive]

To be honest shaking the steerign wheel like a bloody nutter possessed is more fun!

haha

[John]

To be honest shaking the steerign wheel like a bloody nutter possessed is more fun!

haha

Lol, till you lose teeth

[KPautomotive]

Almost done that before... forgot to leave the nut on a few threads!

[John]

Almost done that before... forgot to leave the nut on a few threads!

My quote was from experience too . have since bought a kent moore puller.

[Benn]

I have a draper puller and it doesnt fit, the legs arnt long enough and the ends does fit thru the holes. Guess i got the wrong one.

If you leave the nut on a turn or two you wont lose a tooth.

Good write up dude.

[7ova]

Almost done that before... forgot to leave the nut on a few threads!

i think most nova owners have been close to a good smack
in the chops, when removing a nova steering wheel for the first time

you only do it once

[Plug]

i took the grinder to mine and in the middle of buying a new coloum