I tryed to take off the steering wheel in the bird and after the airbag came out I noticed sombody else has already tried. In thier failed attempt they broke off a bolt from the wheel remover in the wheel. I tried doing it with just one bolt and it was a waist of time. So then I tryed to get the broken off bolt out by drilling and that just made things worse. So my question is how can I remove the wheel when a wheel puller is out of the question?
Im ready to chain the wheel to a tractor threw the back window but who knows what kind of damage I can cause doing that.

 

I believe what I did when I replaced my wheel (since I didn't have the correct puller) is used a pulley puller. I made sure the claw had enough of the steering wheel hub grasped, then started the torquing process and it popped off... that tractor thing sounds a bit scary, I'm sure the last thing you want is a bent steering shaft.
ps. do you have the right puller? I believe there are 2 types, one for non-airbag cars and another for air bag cars...

 

I have used a rubber mallet in the past, when the proper tool was not available.

 

As far as I know its the correct puller. Everything seemed to match up. But only being able to atach the bolt on one side and not the other only caused the one bolt I was using to bend. I even used the stongest bolt I could find.

 

I used something like this to remove my wheel. I had to drill 3 holes in the plastic hub/housing, but it worked...

 

i once traded steering columns with a guy (mine had bad electronics, and he needed his parts car to be a roller) and once i had the steering column out of the car, i placed it on a fence, so the column was hanging from the wheel, and a smacked the center bolt with a hammer a few times, column fell right out.

this is a bit labor intensive, pulling a steering column, but i would do it that way before i yanked it off with a tractor.

 

Yeh Ill bet that puller would work but what exactly is it called so I know what ask for? And where would be the best place to look first? I know if that doesnt work Im going to pull the column. The only reason Im going threw all this trouble is so I can get at the high beam switch in the colomn.

 

Three-jaw puller for pulling gears, sprockets, bearings, pulleys, etc... Harbor Freight or any place that sells tools. Ask your auto parts dealer if they'll loan it out.

 

Thanks y'all!

 

Is that a 6" or 8" puller?

 

I'm not sure, thats just a pic I found on ebay, but I'd go with a 8" since most of them are adjustable. Like elky said, I'm sure autoparts store loans them out as regular pulley/sprocket puller. Just describe it to them and they should know what you're talking about...

 

Your not gonna beleave this. I went ahead and ordered the pulley on ebay yesterday and put the whole steering wheel thing to rest untill I got the tool. Well last nite at work I was telling somebody about this whole thing. Well he suggested I just wiggle the wheel back and forth a few times and it should pop rite off. I figured he was crazy because I had tryed pullin the damn thing off with all my strength and it wouldnt budge. Well I figured I would give it a shot anyway. SURE ENOUGH! It popped rite off with hardly any effort at all. I mashed my knees this morning when I fell after trying to kick myself in the butt with both feet at the same time.

So the wheel is off and as I mentioned b4 the entire reason for the wheel comming off was so I could get at the high beam switch inside the column. I got the coil for the airbag out. Wasnt much to it. But does anybody know what I do to get the rest of that mess out without distroying the entire colomn?
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P.S Im gonna have a brand new 8" 3 jaw puller in a few days. Anybody wanna buy it?

 

Hey guys just to let you know if theres a autozone... or advance or who ever around your area stop in and i know for a fact Autozone carries steering wheel pulleys (like 3 types) and there inexpensive to rent and yes they rent them under there loan a tool program and basicaly you pay for the tool and once you bring it back you get all of your money back and it saves you the hassel!!!!! No lie!

 

I have an 89 IROC-Z and am awaiting doing my steering wheel as I need a puller...but my question is, do I have an air bag. I removed my horn cap and saw nothing behind it but the steering wheel center bolt...so would that mean I have no air bag? If so I might just go ahead and try the wiggle back and forth method...lol. Let me know guys about the air bag.

 

Your car should not have an air bag. Its kinda hard to miss when your steering wheel has a bulging pocket for a horn. LOL.

I would pull the fuse for anyone that is messing with an airbag.

 

Thanks......just making sure...bye bye old huge a** steering wheel. Welcome Grant GRT-415 13.5" Wheel. Thanks again.

 

Well, I have some diagrams etc., but they are for an 82 Camaro, without the airbag. Not sure how different the disassemby would be. The instruction are also borken down into standard and tilt steering columns. If you want to see the diagrams from the 82 shop manual, post what type of column you have, tilt or standard. Or see if you can find a shop manual for your model year.

The Haynes Manual I have does not describe how to remove replace the High Beam switch.

Dave