Im in the process of removing the steering wheel and lowering the column to change the lock cylinder and ignition switch. I rented a puller kit from Advance auto but none of those bolts with thread in the steering wheel more than 1/2 turn. My question is can anyone recommend a different puller kit to buy? Or if anyone knows the right bolt sizes. I dont really want to run all over town renting puller kits from all the different autopart stores.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/46-piec...set-69889.html
does it look like this.
Why Rent,You should have just bought one for this price.

 

no its not anything like that one. however that one is on my to buy list from harbor frieght. the only reason I dont have that one is cuz I dont live close enough to the nearest one to make a trip down just for that.

 

It's a good tool to have in your shed.
The one you rented,did it look like this
http://www.harborfreight.com/steerin...set-68982.html

 

I have used this one before.


The bolt size should be 5/16-18x4 1/2 inch (unless mine got mixed up. lol)

 

@manta guy, yes it was like that one but didnt have quite as many pieces.

And Scorpner thanks for the bolt size.

 

Went and rented a puller kit from autozone and had the steering wheel off in 5 minutes. For what ever reason advances didnt have the right bolts. One of the bolt holes was damaged as well, looks like someone has had the steering wheel off at some point in the past.

 

Good to hear.

 

ok guys i kinda ran into another problem with this lock. I got to the lock cylinder and unplugged it at the bottom of the dash. I then tied a piece of string around the end of it and tried to gently pull the wiring out from the top, but the connector and string broke off from the bottom. Is there an easy way to route the wiring from the lock back down to below the dash that Im just completely over looking?

I wasnt really wanting to tear the column down any further, but I dont see an easy way to route that connector all the way down there with the other wires in the way.

 

Maybe this will help you out.

 

Thanks for the diagram, Im still scratching my head on how to feed that wire. I'll mess with it again tomorow maybe. I know theres got to be an easy way of doing that.

 

I can't really help much but to say to be careful not to force it too much, and that from what I recall I've had to loosen things up and/or reposition to allow the connectors to pass through. Been a while so I don't remember specifics.
Also, the parts are old, and the plastics can be brittle. Take your time.
Watch for pinched wires too.

 

Dude, the harness goes out the bottom. The easiest way to work on the column is to pull it from the car then chuck it in a vice. As for getting the harness back in, forget the string and flip the column upside down then it falls back into place.