1987 steering wheel removal ?

[JD-GT-350]

Any guidance on the removal and installation of the original wheel?

Jim

[HarryD]

A search will result in many threads on the topic.

You pry the horn pad off the wheel (the horn button method given is for an earlier wheel) and this article explains the rest: Pelican Technical Article: Steering Wheel Removal and Installation

You will need a 27 mm socket to remove the nut.

[Dave Colangelo]

How To:

1) Pry Horn pad off
2) Disconnect wire from horn pad
3) Turn on air compressor and wait for it to fill
4) Use 27mm socket and impact wrench to get the nut off
5) Mark the wheel by drawing a line that is on both the wheel and the center spline, this will aid in installation
6) wiggle the wheel off.

and as they say, installation is the reverse of removal...

Regards
dave

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by Dave Colangelo

How To:

1) Pry Horn pad off
2) Disconnect wire from horn pad
3) Turn on air compressor and wait for it to fill
4) Use 27mm socket and impact wrench to get the nut off
5) Mark the wheel by drawing a line that is on both the wheel and the center spline, this will aid in installation
6) wiggle the wheel off.

and as they say, installation is the reverse of removal...

Regards
dave

I was there when Dave did it under 5 minutes!!!!!! It took me longer to get the tools, run the compressor, and return the impact wrench and socket back to the tool box.

Tony

[nettles503]

Pro tip: pull the horn relay first.

[froggert]

iirc don't fully remove the nut before pulling the steering wheel. leaving it on will allow it to act as a stop, preventing the wheel from smashing into your face if you yank too hard.

[OldSpool87]

Also reinstall with appx 40lbs torque on the steering wheel nut.

[dw1]

You shouldn't need an impact wrench, but a deep socket is a big help.

[rick-l]

I am not sure you can pry it against anything. I just grasped it with two hands and pulled trying to limit the travel after it gave.

Another good idea is to torque it so you are puling on the wrench down into your lap instead of pushing it up toward the windshield.

[Slimpickins]

My 87 steering wheel removal took a little more work than that. After removing the horn pad, there is a horizontal piece of steel( part of the wheel) which prevents the deep socket from finding the nut. I had to bend this piece out of the way in order to get the socket down to the nut, then bend it back when re tightened . Nothing the channel wrench can't handle.


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[Michael T]

Set the ignition to where the steering wheel frees up from the lock when it is off. This will save the lock mechanism in the steering wheel. I second the leaving on the nut a bit to keep the steering wheel from coming off into you or the windshield.

[kuba_kuba]

Either a wobble extension or universal joint extension for your socket will allow you to clear the sheetmetal on the later cars. Once I had the right tools, took <5 minutes to remove the steering wheel. Keeping the nut on after loosening is good advice.

[froggert]

i forgot, a deep socket wouldn't clear the piece of metal on mine, either. had to find a regular socket and use an extension to get at the nut.

[hhackma]

Had the same problem on my 85, with the piece of metal.

[OsoMoore]

I took the opportunity to buy an electric impact wrench from HF. No risk of damaging the steering mechanism, and you'll love having it for removing the wheels.