Steering wheel removal?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 108
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From: Petaluma, CA
Steering wheel removal?
I know this sounds all kinds of ridiculous, but how does one go about removing the steering wheel from the column? I have removed the nut on the shaft, but can't get it to budge. is there a set screw or something?
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,876
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Some of these trucks came with two fine thread 5/16 hole tapped into the steering wheel, right next to the shaft hole. Some didn't. Many times there is a lot of crud that has accumulated over the years and have filled the holes, try digging around to find them. If yours doesn't have the holes you can easily drill and tap them and then use a steering wheel puller. If you do drill and tap, tap the holes out to a more common thread like 1/4-20, that's what I have done and it works fine.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 108
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From: Petaluma, CA
There seem to be 4 holes in sets of 2 on opposite sides on the sides of the steering wheel that are tapped. I dug around in there with a pick and could not feel anything.
There are no holes currently tapped in the steering wheel, I may just have to make a set. The hammer trick did not work, maybe i am being to gentile for fear of breaking it further.
There are no holes currently tapped in the steering wheel, I may just have to make a set. The hammer trick did not work, maybe i am being to gentile for fear of breaking it further.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Vancouver Island
If you lived in Canada, you could go into a Canadian Tire store and sign out a steering wheel puller for nothing. (Yep, a parts store that actually loans tools! But you're not encouraged to do repairs in the parking lot.)
Some Harbor Freight-style import tool store should have a cheap puller set.
Some Harbor Freight-style import tool store should have a cheap puller set.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
Yes, there is a special steering wheel puller you can buy for about $15. Basically it is a thick bolt with a fulcrum point on the end that goes through the center of a piece of bar steel which has two threaded hols for bolts to run into those on th esteering wheel.
As you tighten the big center bolt, it pulls the wheel off. Try e-bay! As a matter of fact here's a link!
eBay Motors: 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Ford steering wheel puller (item 360105967450 end time Feb-07-09 13:35:16 PST)
Good luck,
Julie
PS the top of the steering shaft is slightly tapered, and the wheel usually has a pressed on type of fit - be patient.
As you tighten the big center bolt, it pulls the wheel off. Try e-bay! As a matter of fact here's a link!
eBay Motors: 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 Ford steering wheel puller (item 360105967450 end time Feb-07-09 13:35:16 PST)
Good luck,
Julie
PS the top of the steering shaft is slightly tapered, and the wheel usually has a pressed on type of fit - be patient.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2006
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yea get a puller thats your best bet. we finally had to cut a slot in the side of the wheel down the side of the shaft on my 59 so i could stick a chisel in it a spread it to get it off it was stuck on so hard. However i was not using the wheel again or the colum for that matter but since u want to restore the wheel just be patient with the puller and get some good penetrating oil to spray in there to help unstick it if needed
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,641
Likes: 21
From: Poway, Ca.
Whatever you do, DO NOT beat on the top of the steering shaft with a hammer unless the threads are protected!!!!!!!! And that won't work anyway unless your steering box is unbolted from the frame.
I didn't realize you didn't have holes to mount the puller. This is an exact duplicate of a thread we did a couple months ago. You might want to read through this for some ideas and the solution:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ing-wheel.html
Good luck
J!
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