Need steering wheel puller

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

So I did a search for "steering wheel puller" and got this:

The following words are either very common, too long, or too short and were not included in your search: "steering wheel puller"

Same nonsense searching for "steering wheel removal".

When I just search for "steering wheel" I get 56 pages of hits!

So .... the question is, once I've removed the nut, what kind of puller is best for removal of the steering wheel and where do I buy it ASAP (I'm trying to replace a bad headlight switch) over the counter. As you can see in my photo, there are threaded holes on both sides of the steering column, so the ideal puller would be a bar with holes/slots for bolts to thread into those holes. I don't have a metric thread measuring tool and no supply of spare bolts to try.

Surely someone out there has tackled this problem.

BTW, noting is rusted.

[nitrofarm]

All you need is 2 small metric bolts that act as pusher bolts. They thread right into the wheel- IIRC they are 10 mm

[bravekozak]

Search "wheel removal" with quotes. You only get 7 hits.

This search engine does not like looking for a phrase with three long words, all together.

"old man winter" - no problemo
"steering wheel removal" - no way Jose
"subdermal contusion" - forget that

[Bert]

These are not a big deal. They can't be or I wouldn't have thrown out 3 Festy steering wheels (and 4 others) when cleaning up the garage last year. Puller I have is a $30 Gray Tools Canada investment from 40 years ago; central fine threaded bolt and four sliding positions for auxiliary bolts that go into various crankshaft dampers, flywheels or steering wheels. Oftentimes a good and firm 'reef' with two forearms (once the central nut is off) will break free a steering wheel.

[ryanprins13]

One big yank and mine came right off...


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[SiliconSoul]

I usually just wiggle it side to side while pulling and haven't found one yet I couldn't remove.

[TominMO]

I've only ever once had to use a steering wheel puller, which was on my 323. Don't know why it wouldn't come off. Never had any problem with any other wheel.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

I've tried wiggling. This steering wheel has never been off of this car (an 88LX) since I got it in 2001.

I tried various bolts from around the car. The one from the distributor-to-block fits -- I think that's an M8 ... by 1.25, right? A 12mm socket fits its head.

[fastivaca]

What I have done in the past is to leave the main steering wheel nut on the shaft but loose. Wiggle and pull hard and the steering wheel will eventually come off. When it does come off you'll know why you left the nut on the end of the shaft.

[Bert]

What I have done in the past is to leave the main steering wheel nut on the shaft but loose. Wiggle and pull hard and the steering wheel will eventually come off. When it does come off you'll know why you left the nut on the end of the shaft.

Yessiree! Talking from experience. "Wiggle and pull hard" is often an understatement when trying to do this , and perfect reason to leave the nut on there spun loose.

[Dragonhealer]

All too true! A shot of PB blaster after the nut is loose, 5 minutes later it will come loose. "Wiggle means here push forward with the right hand while pulling back with the left, all in line with the column, and then alternate which hand pushes and which pulls, never failed yet! But DO leave the nut on like 3 turns, facial lacerations bleed a lot!

[navdoc101]

You can buy one from ANY parts store , less than $10.

[nitrofarm]

Gents all you need is two small bolts-I found two in my bolt bucket from partn out Festy's.

[scitzz]

Always wiggled mine off, and Nitro is right, two small bolts if you can't wiggle it.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Generally preferring the "Use the right tool and do the job in 10 seconds" method, I found this (see photo) never-opened tool in one of my Festy boxes and had the wheel off in second (using the supplied 8mm bolts). It did take a 12" ratchet handle that I normally use for wheel lug bolts to get it loose.