Mounting a custom steering wheel question!!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Mounting a custom steering wheel question!!!!
I don't know if this is the right section or not? But has anyone pulled the steering wheel off a C5. Looks from the manual that a special GM tool is needed to pull it. 
Rather not let a GM tech work on the car. Trying to put a custom wheel on it. Would autozone have a puller for this? I have pulled many wheels off cars before but this one does not have threads for the bolts to go thru, just two small slots.
Any help would be nice.
Troy
Rather not let a GM tech work on the car. Trying to put a custom wheel on it. Would autozone have a puller for this? I have pulled many wheels off cars before but this one does not have threads for the bolts to go thru, just two small slots.Any help would be nice.
Troy
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Nasty,
I pulled my steering wheel last week to replace the electronic column lock module. It was definitely a PITA! No threaded holes, like you say. I made my own puller hooks by grinding down the heads of some long bolts to make hooks that engaged the puller holes. I couldn't break the wheel loose using a ratchet and even carefully heating the steering wheel hub with a torch. I finally had to use my air impact driver on the puller to break it loose. I doubt that Autozone has the right puller, but it would be worth a try asking. If you can't find something that works, I can send you a pic of the puller hooks I made.
Alan
I pulled my steering wheel last week to replace the electronic column lock module. It was definitely a PITA! No threaded holes, like you say. I made my own puller hooks by grinding down the heads of some long bolts to make hooks that engaged the puller holes. I couldn't break the wheel loose using a ratchet and even carefully heating the steering wheel hub with a torch. I finally had to use my air impact driver on the puller to break it loose. I doubt that Autozone has the right puller, but it would be worth a try asking. If you can't find something that works, I can send you a pic of the puller hooks I made.
Alan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Hey thanks. I will let you know if Autozone doesn't have one. Thanks f$#$## GM for making everything a PITA to work on. I will also check my dealer to see if I could use their tool ????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 2
From: Wesley Chapel Fl
Snap On has a special GM wheel tool. I had one but gave it to my friend....it was not expensive. There has to be other companies making them now also. It is very easy with the right tool though....pops right off.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Hey Eat Rice! Thanks for the tip. Did you go thru the procedure outlined in the manual for the Airbag disconect? Seems like alot of work but still want to be safe and not have it go boom 
. You would think just pulling the fuse and disconecting the battery would be good enough.
. You would think just pulling the fuse and disconecting the battery would be good enough.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Portland OR
Nasty Z,
The connectors on the SIR inflators and under the dash have shorting bars that engage when unplugged. The SIR controller has a storage capacitor that can fire the inflators even with the battery and fuse disconnected. The service manual says the capacitor will discharge within one minute. When you plug the connector into the steering wheel inflator, its nice to know you have an air gap in the system (the plug under the dash). But this is sort of what your dash will look like if you follow the service manual procedure. Good luck!
The connectors on the SIR inflators and under the dash have shorting bars that engage when unplugged. The SIR controller has a storage capacitor that can fire the inflators even with the battery and fuse disconnected. The service manual says the capacitor will discharge within one minute. When you plug the connector into the steering wheel inflator, its nice to know you have an air gap in the system (the plug under the dash). But this is sort of what your dash will look like if you follow the service manual procedure. Good luck!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 10
From: Columbus OH
NAPA carries the special attachments to pull late model steering wheels in GM vehicles. There is an article somewhere that mentions the part number but I don't have the link to it or the p/n itself. You can use the attachments to a standard puller.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Well I bit the bullet and ordered a wheel pulling kit for $50.00. I thought about Napa but just decided to do it. Will give this a try when it arrives. Thanks for everyones help. Will post pics when I get it installed hopefully. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 1
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
Originally Posted by steve badalamenti
I used a standard puller, and screwed the bolts into the holes
you will see in the hub. The bolts more or less "tapped" their
own threads into the softer metal of the hub.
Troy