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Steering Wheel R&R

No airbag, no problem

Although I've worked on cars for more than 35 years, I've never removed a steering wheel—not that I shouldn't have. Some of the cars I've owned have had horns that didn't blow and signal lights that didn't cancel. And more than one of my resto projects needed to have the cracks in the wheel rim repaired and painted to finish off the project. If I had known how easy it was to remove and replace the steering wheel and hub assembly, I would have done it a lot sooner.

Since we are talking restorations here, it goes without saying that we are not talking about modern, airbag-equipped steering wheels. Considering the theft rate of airbags, they can't be that difficult to remove, but anything with an explosive device behind it, should in our opinion, be serviced by professionals who know what they are doing.

Consult a shop manual for your vehicle to find the exact sequence of steps. All that is required are common screwdrivers and socket wrenches and a steering wheel hub puller. Hub pullers are available at auto parts stores or can be easily fabricated with a piece of bar stock and three bolts.

The first step is to pry off the horn button that is typically held in place by tensioning tabs with a flat bladed screwdriver. With the horn button removed, next take a marker and draw a reference mark on the horn contact ring, the steering shaft, the steering wheel and the steering wheel hub so that everything will be aligned in the proper position when you put it back together. On some vehicles, the steering wheel unbolts directly from the hub, and no puller is needed to simply replace the steering wheel. On other vehicles, the steering wheel or hub must be pulled off the splined steering shaft to remove the wheel.

If you need access to the turn signal canceling mechanism or the horn contacts, the steering wheel hub must be pulled off of the splined steering shaft. First remove the large steering shaft retaining nut. Then attach the steering hub puller by screwing the two outside puller bolts into the steering wheel (or hub depending upon your vehicle). Then tighten the center bolt against the steering shaft pulling the hub up and off of the splines. As you remove the various horn contact rings and retaining plates, lay them down in order so that you will remember how they go back together. Better yet, use a digital or Polaroid camera to document each step.

A little maintenance is in order once you get the steering wheel/hub assembly off. First, spray a little lubricant down the steering shaft to lubricate the top bushing. Next take some fine (220 grit or finer) sand paper and clean up the horn contact points on the column and the contact surface of the ring that tilts with the horn button. Also, use a dab of white grease to lubricate the turn signal canceling cam device. If the signal lights have not been canceling properly, there may be some broken or worn out parts that need replacing. After this little maintenance routine, reinstall the steering wheel mounting components in the same order that you took them apart. Be certain to torque the large steering shaft nut to factory torque specs with a good thread-locking compound.

Steering Wheel R&R Tips

> Always make reference marks on the steering shaft, hub, retaining plates and steering wheel to maintain proper alignment when reassembling.

> Don't hammer or pry. Use a wheel puller to remove the steering wheel or hub from the splines on the steering shaft.

> Clean the horn contact points with sandpaper and lubricate with turn-signal canceling device with a dab of white grease.

> Layout parts in the order of removal, so that you will remember how to put them back together.

> Be sure to torque the steering shaft nut properly using a good thread-locking compound