Steering Wheel Removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 04-29-2004, 10:29 AM

The saga continues...

As some of you may recall, I recently bought a '69 GMC that's in great shape. It's been sitting for a while, so everything needs to be "loosened up". The big issue was the 3 speed column shift, but now its working.

NOW, the issue is the 4-way flasher. While I was working on the column shift I said to myself, "Hmmm, I wonder if the blinkers work." I pushed in the little red button and they worked fine. The problem is that the button wouldn't come out. I pulled on it and the button broke off.

I have spare parts from another truck, but I can't get the #$%& steering wheel off. I tried the puller, I bathed it in WD-40, I tapped on the end of the puller when it was under tension, but nothing worked.

Help!

bigvinnie · 04-29-2004, 10:39 AM

had the same problem once, I just left the puller on it for a few days, came back and beat on it with a hammer every once in a while and tightened it a little more each time.... next time I came back it had popped off by itself.

sneakysnake · 04-29-2004, 10:47 AM

Crank down on the puller, leave the socket on the end of the puller so it wont flare the head and bop it solid with a 2lb hammer and hit it good ,no love taps, then try to tighten it some more then bop it again.

2low72 · 04-29-2004, 01:52 PM

Put your feet on the dash and yank

bluec10 · 04-29-2004, 02:44 PM

With my luck I'd end up in the box with a steering column in my lap.

2low72 · 04-29-2004, 02:52 PM

Yeah I was stupid in high school and did it that way. my foot slipped and went straight through my speedometer.

busterwivell · 04-29-2004, 04:22 PM

Spray some PB Blaster in there and let it sit overnight. That's what worked for me.

**COBALT** · 04-29-2004, 05:06 PM

One word: Kroil.

Next, get your puller nice and tap it with a 2lb hammer until it comes off. You're not deforming that center bolt are you? Is that what you're afraid of doing? Use a socket to cover the end of the bolt...just keep working it. It'll come off, but I would NOT recomend yanking it. It's a good way to get a chipped front tooth.

bluec10 · 04-29-2004, 09:08 PM

Putting a socket over the bolt is a great idea. Why didn't I think of that? I'm going to use that socket idea, a gallon of WD-40, and put the wheel under tension for a few days.

Longhorn Man · 04-29-2004, 10:04 PM

The WD40 is not a very good pentitrating oil, try the PB Blaster, or the Kroil...2 very good products.
You can always try heating up the hub of the steering wheel...even if you just use a propain torch, it'll help.
I wouldn't pull to hard, I've hit the back window so hard that I honestly thought i was gonna pass out.

bluec10 · 04-30-2004, 11:19 AM

Thanks Longhorn Man. I can't believe you are over 22000 - just a while ago the board was a-buzz with the fact that you were reachign 20000!

Steve 72 4x4 · 04-30-2004, 11:47 AM

I agree with Longhorn Man, Kroil is the way to go. And you are also right, it is amazing how many posts Longhorn Man has. Before I was a member, when I visited the board, he had a post on almost every thread that I read! Cool!

bigvinnie · 04-30-2004, 02:16 PM

ditto on the Aero Kroil, just used it last nite to help a friend pull a stubborn steering wheel.... I've had a can of this stuff sitting around for a long time and forgot I even had it...

after seeing what people said about it here, I took it over to the guy's place and sprayed it on the hub and let it sit for about 10 minutes... installed the puller, whacked the center bolt a couple times with a 3 lb. hammer and the wheel came off without a fight.

Crank · 04-30-2004, 03:08 PM

Yup. Had to take the wheel off something for some reason. Dont remember what it was... Wait, no it was my '77 Ambulance, tired of using a craftsman screwdriver to start it, anyway, Busted my self right in the dang forehead... That'll piss you off enuff to wanna screw your nice fenders or doors up. Lol.
Brandon

bluec10 · 05-07-2004, 01:01 AM

Don't want to flog a dead horse (or thread as it were) but that #$%^$#@ steering wheel still won't come off. I've had the puller on it for a few days and I've been hitting it with good penetrating oil every day.

I'm a bit leery about using heat on it, even heat from a propane torch. I don't want to melt all the plastic parts behind it.

I'm also concerned about using the big hammer approach - won't it mess with the bearings in the column?

Longhorn Man · 05-07-2004, 06:14 AM

You could always just remove the column, and slide the whole wheel and shaft out of the column. Then you'll be able to replace your turn signal switch. (or upgrade to a tilt)

04-29-2004, 10:29 AM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Steering Wheel Removal The saga continues... As some of you may recall, I recently bought a '69 GMC that's in great shape. It's been sitting for a while, so everything needs to be "loosened up". The big issue was the 3 speed column shift, but now its working. NOW, the issue is the 4-way flasher. While I was working on the column shift I said to myself, "Hmmm, I wonder if the blinkers work." I pushed in the little red button and they worked fine. The problem is that the button wouldn't come out. I pulled on it and the button broke off. I have spare parts from another truck, but I can't get the #$%& steering wheel off. I tried the puller, I bathed it in WD-40, I tapped on the end of the puller when it was under tension, but nothing worked. Help! __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

04-29-2004, 10:39 AM	#2
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	had the same problem once, I just left the puller on it for a few days, came back and beat on it with a hammer every once in a while and tightened it a little more each time.... next time I came back it had popped off by itself. __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

04-29-2004, 02:44 PM	#5
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	With my luck I'd end up in the box with a steering column in my lap. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

04-29-2004, 02:52 PM	#6
2low72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cheyenne, Wy Posts: 555	Yeah I was stupid in high school and did it that way. my foot slipped and went straight through my speedometer. __________________ 2014 GMC Yukon XL (Wifey's) 2004 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z71

04-29-2004, 04:22 PM	#7
busterwivell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sahuarita, AZ USA Posts: 2,033	Spray some PB Blaster in there and let it sit overnight. That's what worked for me. __________________ Bill - Tucson, AZ 47 Chevrolet 2 dr sedan 56 Chevrolet 210 2 dr sedan 66 Chevrolet Malibu 2 dr 4 speed 71 Chevrolet C30 Longhorn 86 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (Sold) 01 Chevrolet Tahoe IM - BUSTERWIVE@aol.com

04-29-2004, 10:47 AM	#3
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Crank down on the puller, leave the socket on the end of the puller so it wont flare the head and bop it solid with a 2lb hammer and hit it good ,no love taps, then try to tighten it some more then bop it again.

04-29-2004, 01:52 PM	#4
2low72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cheyenne, Wy Posts: 555	Put your feet on the dash and yank

04-29-2004, 05:06 PM	#8
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	One word: Kroil. Next, get your puller nice and tap it with a 2lb hammer until it comes off. You're not deforming that center bolt are you? Is that what you're afraid of doing? Use a socket to cover the end of the bolt...just keep working it. It'll come off, but I would NOT recomend yanking it. It's a good way to get a chipped front tooth. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

04-29-2004, 09:08 PM	#9
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Putting a socket over the bolt is a great idea. Why didn't I think of that? I'm going to use that socket idea, a gallon of WD-40, and put the wheel under tension for a few days. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

04-29-2004, 10:04 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	The WD40 is not a very good pentitrating oil, try the PB Blaster, or the Kroil...2 very good products. You can always try heating up the hub of the steering wheel...even if you just use a propain torch, it'll help. I wouldn't pull to hard, I've hit the back window so hard that I honestly thought i was gonna pass out.

04-30-2004, 11:19 AM	#11
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Thanks Longhorn Man. I can't believe you are over 22000 - just a while ago the board was a-buzz with the fact that you were reachign 20000! __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

04-30-2004, 11:47 AM	#12
Steve 72 4x4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 10	I agree with Longhorn Man, Kroil is the way to go. And you are also right, it is amazing how many posts Longhorn Man has. Before I was a member, when I visited the board, he had a post on almost every thread that I read! Cool! __________________ The Heartbeat of America... Yesterdays Chevrolet

04-30-2004, 02:16 PM	#13
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	ditto on the Aero Kroil, just used it last nite to help a friend pull a stubborn steering wheel.... I've had a can of this stuff sitting around for a long time and forgot I even had it... after seeing what people said about it here, I took it over to the guy's place and sprayed it on the hub and let it sit for about 10 minutes... installed the puller, whacked the center bolt a couple times with a 3 lb. hammer and the wheel came off without a fight. __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project Last edited by bigvinnie; 04-30-2004 at 02:19 PM.

04-30-2004, 03:08 PM	#14
Crank Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 1,965	Yup. Had to take the wheel off something for some reason. Dont remember what it was... Wait, no it was my '77 Ambulance, tired of using a craftsman screwdriver to start it, anyway, Busted my self right in the dang forehead... That'll piss you off enuff to wanna screw your nice fenders or doors up. Lol. Brandon

05-07-2004, 01:01 AM	#15
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Don't want to flog a dead horse (or thread as it were) but that #$%^$#@ steering wheel still won't come off. I've had the puller on it for a few days and I've been hitting it with good penetrating oil every day. I'm a bit leery about using heat on it, even heat from a propane torch. I don't want to melt all the plastic parts behind it. I'm also concerned about using the big hammer approach - won't it mess with the bearings in the column? __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.



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05-07-2004, 06:14 AM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	You could always just remove the column, and slide the whole wheel and shaft out of the column. Then you'll be able to replace your turn signal switch. (or upgrade to a tilt)

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