I have a 91 chevy camaro....Nothign will get this damn steering wheel off. First, I tried a conventional wheel puller. One of the bolts broke off in the steering wheel. Tried to drill out the bolt....couldn't get it and moved on to next idea. Next, I tried to just pry it off. Nope. Then I tried hitting the steering wheel shaft with a hammer to try and break it loose (after penetrating oil). Nope. Finally, today I use a 3-jaw gear puller (the big one). I positioned it perfectly. I ended up stripping about 3 inches of thread on the gear puller bolt and the wheel would not budge.

What do I have to do to get this stupid wheel off without damaging my column? Its like it welded on. I thought for sure the gear puller would get it off.

Anyone with similar problems or advice?

 

Please don't shoot me for asking this question, because I am pretty sure you did follow these steps. But, did you turn the ignition key and release the steering wheel so there would be a little side play and lastly (this is where the shooting would occur), did you remove the locking ring and 7/8" nut from the steering column?
Please call 911, there has been a shooting,

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don't worry...not packing iron today. I did not unlock the wheel via the ignition key. I guess I was figuring that since I was pulling straight up, I didn't need any free play. Do you think it makes a difference when the wheel is locked??? I don't know.

The nut that holds the wheel to the column on mine is actually a 14mm and yes I took that off.

Locking ring? I never came across one. Where is it?

Thanks for your help.

 

The locking ring if one is installed, is on the column over the nut. It is there to prevent the nut from backing off. I don't know about in your case, but it did make a difference when I had to pull mine off. Something about side pressure on the splines causing it to bind a little. I also had my wheels turned straight ahead.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hmmm....I think I'm going to have that broken bolt drileld out and try again with a conventional wheel puller but with stronger bolts.

I'll make sure both wheel are straight.

 

If you try to just pull on it again, wear a full face helmet.
I yanked mine off and hit myself in the face with the wheel.

 

Ahhh Zepher,

At last, the truth comes out about why you have such a strange expression on your face in your avatar!!!!!! J/K

I also saw Ice Age and

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sometimes a puller seems to be the only way. But personally I've removed quite a few and never needed a puller. The technique I use is you grab the steering wheel in sorta like a bear hug. I put my forearms behind both sides of the wheel and "hug" it, then you pull backwards while rocking side to side. The side to side motion helps wiggle it free of the splines while you're pulling. I don't consider myself exceptionally strong and only weigh 170 lbs., and I've always managed to get them off using that method. Give it a try and best of luck!

 

Ill try that on my girlfriend tonight!!!!

HAHAHAHAH!!(*@*)@(@)

 

tried the 'bear-hug' technique...nothing. Damn. This sucks. My steering wheel looks like crap already beacuse I pulled the airbag off. Gotta get this this off. I'm gonna try and remove that broken bolt and just use a stronger wheel puller. I already tried to easy-out the bolt but I could not even penetrate it with the drill.

 

yea i had a prob with mine too then one day i just got real pissed off at it and smacked it with a wrench a couple times. i went out the next day and yanked on it and it came off so easy and fast that i got hit in the face with it too (fu@kn wheel)!

 

I had the same problem with my wheel when I was replacing the column and the wheel, I sheared off a bolt in the wheel, and ended up having to go to the hardware store and getting the strongest bolts they had, but then it just came right off. Dont know if that would help or not, the bolts arent that much though.

 

Did you drill out the shaved bolt yourself (cheapo chain auto parts store crap)?

 

This must be a Camaro thing because my wheel came off with a puller the first time. Sorry I can't be more help