When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have watched every video on YouTube. Bought a J leg puller from O reilys didn't work!! Rented auto zones master mechanic puller kit didn't work!! All it does is sheer off the metal.
any helpful hints or direction for me???
thxs for any replies!!!
I had the same issue on my buddies car. I ended up drilling holes and tapping them. When I was trying to pull it that way, it almost broke the grade 8 bolts I was using. It finally popped. What a pain. Search and you will see where others have had to do the same thing.
I tried pullers and they didn’t work and was about to give up and read a thread here that suggested to use a sledgehammer on opposing sides. As a last ditch effort I did that and with the last blow “boing” it broke loose. Just my 2 cents.
I soaked mine with penetrating oil for two weeks. Not sure this did much, still needed a lot of force to get it to pop. I used those J-hooks and they gripped well but I really though the steering wheel was going to break.
Without a doubt, they can be very hard to get off. I used the J hooks and soaked it over night with penetrating oil. The next morning, I slowly started cranking on it, while shocking it with a hammer strike. I ended up having to put a bar through the steering wheel to keep it from rotating while I continued to crank down with my breaker bar. Finally, there was a LOUD pop (and I damn near crapped my pants) and to my surprise, it popped off! Based on some of the other stories I have read, you may end up being one of those that will need to cut it off...unfortunately...
What I'd do next is drill and tap the wheel. I gave up on mine as I didn't have the correct puller for the bolt type so my body shop finally did it for me. He did use a hammer with it also. When it does pop off, it will make a loud sound like something broke. Don't worry though, hopefully it will be just the sound of the wheel letting loose. Good luck.
Soak the spline area with penetrant. PB Blaster or Kroll are best in my experience. Doing this a day or two in advance helps. Soak it daily.
Grease the threads on the puller jack screw. Use quality high pressure grease.
Grease the tip of the puller jack screw that contacts the shaft. Also grease where the end of the screw goes in that tip piece.
Use an impact type socket if you have one.
Once the jack screw is tight and the puller hooks are in tension, hit the socket on top of the jack screw with a heavy hammer a couple times, like you're trying to drive the shaft and the jack screw through the center of the wheel, then turn it a quarter turn or so and hit it again with the hammer. Vibrations help loosen things. Repeat until it sounds like something breaks. Hopefully it's the wheel coming loose from the shaft.
Last edited by C6_Racer_X; Mar 20, 2022 at 02:47 PM.
If you've already pulled through the metal with the other pullers, you'll likely have to go to the drill and tap method. Given all the horror stories, I paid my mechanic to pull mine. It took 2 guys with a wheel puller. 2 screw drivers, and a hammer 45 minutes to get the old wheel off. It was worth every penny I paid them to not have to deal with that myself.
Check out post # 120 in the thread linked below. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...g-wheel-6.html
Pulling factory steering wheel help!!!
Sorry it's being such a bastard.
