mowgli
22-02-09, 12:25 AM
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
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150037.jpg?t=1235261084
2. Locate steering wheel, remove ignition key & lock the steering, making note of the position of the wheel.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150033.jpg?t=1235260976
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.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150034.jpg?t=1235261040
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).
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150035.jpg?t=1235261182
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.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150036.jpg?t=1235261220
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.....
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150038.jpg?t=1235261261
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
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150037.jpg?t=1235261084
2. Locate steering wheel, remove ignition key & lock the steering, making note of the position of the wheel.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150033.jpg?t=1235260976
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.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150034.jpg?t=1235261040
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).
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150035.jpg?t=1235261182
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.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150036.jpg?t=1235261220
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.....
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/mowglinova/P2150038.jpg?t=1235261261