Remove steering wheel?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
having someone hold the wheel might work but better yet get the wheel to lock or all the way to the left then a breaker bar. with someone hold ing it you aren't getting the "break" loose effect as well. To get the wheel off you don't need a puller, twist the bolt in some and simply rock it side to side it should come loose. if not then stick the bolt in not tight tho and hit it with an air hammer with a small round bit and rock it then. works every time.
I have a 300$ steering wheel puller set that hasn't been used since I figured this trick out.
I have a 300$ steering wheel puller set that hasn't been used since I figured this trick out.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,943
Likes: 12,358
From: NE South Carolina
Yea, I know a 5 Min job turns into a nightmare. I have been wrenching on cars for the past 40 some years (all Mid Year Corvettes and a few street rods) So running into problems is not new to me, however this one is frustrating (I guess I am just getting too old and cranky for this stuff). Give me a big hammer and a torch and I am good to go.
This one needs a little finesse.
Again thanks to all who responded to my call for help.
This one needs a little finesse.
Again thanks to all who responded to my call for help.
Had a similar issue to yours getting the chrome ring off the shifter to change the ****. One fellow on the forum said he was ready to use C4 explosive! Another said when you get it off you'll see why it's difficult! Big help, that was a chicken and egg!
Finally got it off and reinforced by others, some cars have a slot and pins that are a very tight fit and don't simply "lift up, turn CCW and push down!"
Whoever designed that elaborate connection for a simple shifter boot should have designed the GM ignition key! Would not have cost GM hundreds of millions in lawsuits and recalls!
The service manual would not help in your case it would just say, "remove screw, etc."
Last edited by JerryU; Dec 2, 2015 at 01:55 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 391
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
You need to find someone with an Induction Heater.
Try one of your local shops that works on a lot of cars, older cars, etc.
These work well. You will ONLY heat the bolt, and that should break the Locktight free.
If it were me, I'd heat the bolt head, as that's all you have access too, and then wait for it to cool a bit. Maybe blow some compressed air on it. You don't want heating the bolt head to help you strip out the teeth. I would not put a torx bit into it until you can touch it with your finger. Also, make sure you are using a brand new torx bit, from a quality tool manufacturer.
Try one of your local shops that works on a lot of cars, older cars, etc.
These work well. You will ONLY heat the bolt, and that should break the Locktight free.
If it were me, I'd heat the bolt head, as that's all you have access too, and then wait for it to cool a bit. Maybe blow some compressed air on it. You don't want heating the bolt head to help you strip out the teeth. I would not put a torx bit into it until you can touch it with your finger. Also, make sure you are using a brand new torx bit, from a quality tool manufacturer.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,474
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
You'll be fine… I've been following this for about two years on the site and the others, and I've only read about this being this tight with this particular car. He just got unlucky with them using too much blue loctite , or somebody really screwed up and used the red stuff which is permanent.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
Remove steering wheel ?
To all who responded:
As suggested by many of you, a little heat from a micro torch and an impact gun did the trick today. The bolt was threaded in with blue Loctite.
Now all I have to do is wait for the new wheel and air bag from Apsis.
Thanks again to all for their suggestions.
As suggested by many of you, a little heat from a micro torch and an impact gun did the trick today. The bolt was threaded in with blue Loctite.
Now all I have to do is wait for the new wheel and air bag from Apsis.
Thanks again to all for their suggestions.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,825
Likes: 2,474
From: Ft Lauderdale
Tech Contributor
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CORVETTE TODAY Show Host
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 26,017
Likes: 7,882
From: Kansas City, Missouri
CORVETTE TODAY Host
St. Jude Donor'15
Drew, I'm not sure why you made two threads on the exact same subject......why wouldn't you continue on with the same thread?
In the future, let's "finish your thought" with ONE THREAD!
Threads Merged together.
In the future, let's "finish your thought" with ONE THREAD!
Threads Merged together.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 39
Likes: 18
From: Redwood City CA
In case it helps anyone else. That damn bolt... 
- Spent 30+ minutes trying to remove the bolt the first time without success
- 150ftlb electric impact wrench wouldn't budge it
- Breaker bar couldn't move it even with a helper
Solution: Air impact wrench. Held the wheel myself and it was off in 15 seconds! Only way to go - hardly took any effort at all. Don't waste your time screwing around with other methods if you have any trouble.
Before:
After:
- Spent 30+ minutes trying to remove the bolt the first time without success
- 150ftlb electric impact wrench wouldn't budge it
- Breaker bar couldn't move it even with a helper
Solution: Air impact wrench. Held the wheel myself and it was off in 15 seconds! Only way to go - hardly took any effort at all. Don't waste your time screwing around with other methods if you have any trouble.
Before:
After:
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 232
Likes: 11
From: Orlando Florida
I will 2nd the Air Impact wrench. I used a brand new DeWalt Electric Impact Gun and it did NOTHING. I tried so much that I killed one fully charged battery and tried some more w/ the 2nd battery and nothing. To the point the gun was straight up smoking.
Needless to say, reassembled and off to the dealer I go. $372 out the door for the steering wheel swap and z51 sway bar installation.
Needless to say, reassembled and off to the dealer I go. $372 out the door for the steering wheel swap and z51 sway bar installation.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
electric impact from a home depot type place? not very good quality. taking that bolt off doesn't require an impact. itr just requires the right technique. One thing you guys are fighting is wheel turning. Even if you think you are holding it the impact is basically bouncing off it self getting no real bite. turn it all the way to the left and hold it turned left, use a breaker bar and your done. If that doesn't work you are doing something wrong not getting the right leverage more then likely...... its kinda like trying to jump up while your falling,,,,,, feels like you are but you really arent