pulling steering wheel

[adey]

I know there's a steering wheel pulling tool, but how does it work? It looks to me like it screws into the center nut thing, whereas my steering wheel has a bolt there, not something that will be threaded into.

I had an easy enough time pulling the stock steering wheel, and don't know why I can't get the HKB hub off! I'm already grabbing the wheel and literally throwing my body back into the seat (which is already pushed as far back as it'll go for more room), but the damn thing won't budge!

Any tips? will using PB-blaster on the little 'spindle' thingy (the non-threaded part where the hub 'connects&#39<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> help at all? or am I just not strong enough?

[driftingpanda]

hey Adey!
&nbsp;i had some difficulties trying to remove my wheel.. but dousan taught me a trick. &nbsp;just hit the steering wheel from the back with your hand/fist. &nbsp;go across the wheel, i.e. 12 o' clock, then 6 o' clock, then 3 o' clock, then 9 o' clock... and so forth. &nbsp;it should come out after a few hard hits. &nbsp;good luck!

danny

[adey]

Really? I was hitting the thing as hard as I could (I couldn't get much leverage in that tight spot, though) on all sides... but I'll try that again. Thanks!

maybe I'll pull out the hammer and wrap the wheel with cloth or something... grrr....

[Kid Zelda]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (adey @ Nov. 11 2002,03:44)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">maybe I'll pull out the hammer and wrap the wheel with cloth or something... grrr....</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Or a rubber mallet &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

[Grant]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Kid Zelda @ Nov. 12 2002,01:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (adey @ Nov. 11 2002,03:44)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">maybe I'll pull out the hammer and wrap the wheel with cloth or something... grrr....</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Or a rubber mallet <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
or you can just cut your whole steering column off along with the signal/wiper stalks and ignition <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>...


<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh2:'>

[Kid Zelda]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Grant @ Nov. 11 2002,04:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteBegin--Kid Zelda+Nov. 12 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Kid Zelda @ Nov. 12 2002,01<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>6)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (adey @ Nov. 11 2002,03:44)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">maybe I'll pull out the hammer and wrap the wheel with cloth or something... grrr....</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Or a rubber mallet <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
or you can just cut your whole steering column off along with the signal/wiper stalks and ignition <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>...


<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'> <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh2:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Hey man, the steering column is pretty thick. And I took the stalks off, you F$c*ed up my ignition

<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/music.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':music:'>
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

[adey]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Grant @ Nov. 12 2002,01:16)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">or you can just cut your whole steering column off along with the signal/wiper stalks and ignition <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
...okay I j ust did this with a hacksaw and my dremel... what next? I have the wheel off, but the center spindle-like thing is still in the hub. how do I get that out? Should I just drill that shit out and super-glue the hub back on to the steering column? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sarcasm.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sarcasm:'> &nbsp;

On that note, I will try whacking it a little bit more tonight... but my arms are already so sore from trying to pull it last night! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'>

[driftingpanda]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (adey @ Nov. 12 2002,8:51)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">On that note, I will try whacking it a little bit more tonight... but my arms are already so sore from trying to pull it last night! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unhappy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':unhappy:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
man... sore arms? &nbsp;you must whack it alot! &nbsp;hahahahhaa i'm just kidding adey! &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':laugh:'> good luck!

danny

[adey]

...okay, so I tried you and dousan's trick tonight... to no avail. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;I don't know why, but my steering wheel hub is REALLY on there TIGHT! What could be keeping it in place? I sprayed a few drops of PB blaster, I'm going to let it sit for a while (a night?) and try again tomorrow. My arms are sooo sore!
Damned cheapo HKB hubs. ><img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;

On another note, I just dialled in a little bit more negative camber tonight, while greasing up the Tie rod ends... tightened the spring perches some, dialled in -3 degrees, lubed the tie rod ends, and cleaned up my JIC shocks a little bit. Man, I can't get over how nice the JIC units are. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/inlove.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[Dousan_PG]

haha.yeah those HKB hubs ARE cheap! hey but its probably made in china anyways..oh well

yeah i had mad trouble gtting mine off too. once you get those washers on they'll never come off as well.

good luck man.

hey! I'm adding negative camber tonight too.

[wpayne]

Aday, I have the HKB hub too and i usually have a problem at first too. You do have the wheel lock nut off right (if not, you can use the same crossbar wrench that is used to take your wheel lugs off)? I'm sure you do but just making sure. What I do is leave the wheel attached to the hub and then hold either 3 and 9 o'clock(or just two opposite ends) and wiggle it by pulling and alternating the side that I pull. Do this long enough and it slowly comes off. Do you have any play at all with the hub and where it attaches on the steering pole(?) with the teeth?

I don't see why your having such a problem. I can only see this happening if the wheel lock nut is still in. Let us know how it goes...

[adey]

Hey we should start a drift club "neg-camb!" &nbsp;or &nbsp;"supa-neg-camb!" .... &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;riiiiight.

wpayne, yes, thanks for looking out for me, but I do have the center nut off! I have no idea why it's being so uncooperative though!
I've been wiggling, shaking, pounding and prying this dang steering wheel for 2 days now... to no avail. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[Dousan_PG]

sorry to say this adey, but man..

you need to hit the gym!!!

haha...j/k
not sure why yours is so hard to pull off. strange.

[wpayne]

Hehe, I wasn't dawgin you or anything, just making sure ya know? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

Thats hard to imagine though. So it's rock solid in there right now? No budging at all? Did you have to use force to put the hub on? Maybe try and spray some WD40 down in there. I really don't see why it won't come off.

How long have you had the hub on there?

[adey]

Haha... yes, I really do need to start going to the gym. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;My nightly exercize of trying to pull the steering wheel is probably helping &nbsp;a little bit, though! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>
wpayne- I've only had the hub on for 3 to 5 days before I tried to pull it... I've got a little bit of pb blaster in there, which I hope helps loosen it up.
The stock steering wheel wasn't NEARLY this hard to pull! I have no idea why this is giving me so much trouble. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'>

[wpayne]

Well Adey, I don't know what else to say. Keep us posted on your progress.

I'll try and look at mine and see if I can come up with anything. Did you get the hub new? HKB as in the one that comes in the green box right?

[Archangel]

It sounds like the hub is the problem. &nbsp;I know you can get a steering wheel puller. &nbsp;I'm not sure if that will fix the problem, because i've never done this. &nbsp;So if this won't help, don't flame me too bad. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>

However, the point of this post is to tell you that a friend of mine "rented" a steering wheel puller from Autozone. &nbsp;He put down something like a $50 deposit, and when he returned it got all of his money back.
So essentially the will loan them out for free.
Just a little FYI to everyone. &nbsp;Apparently the will do this for a variety of specialty tools like that - no charge.

[adey]

Yes, I got the HKB hub new, but it didn't come with a "spacer" to go between the hub and steering rack like Dousan's did... so I went out and bought some washers myself- only now I can't get the hub off!

I had looked at the steering wheel puller, but the pep boys by my place doesnt have it for rent right now... I'll stop by an autozone tomorrow and see if they have one.
Thanks for the help guys!

[wpayne]

Spacer? I've gone through two HKB's and never had to use a spacer. I had one for a Toyota Levin and now for my 240. How does the horn get its connection with a spacer in?

[adey]

That's a good question. &nbsp;
Dousan? care to explain what you meant by using spacers/washers behind the hub? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;Maybe there's actually nothing wrong with my steering wheel, but man, is that thing hard to turn!! I can barely dry-steer with one hand, it takes both hands to turn the wheel! (especially hard when you're trying to back into a spot or parallel park&#33<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;

what size steering wheels are you guys using, and do you have problems like this?

[wpayne]

HAHAHA! Dude, I don't think your supposed to use spacers (ur...or washers) the way your explaining it! The only kind of spacer that I've heard of goes between the steering wheel and hub. Theres a copper ring on the steering column and the underside of the hub that are supposed to match up and touch. Thats where you get your connection for your horn. Your supposed to put a bit of greese on that part because its supposed to have contact but still be able to turn the wheel. I think the washers are scratching that up and rubbing eacher, metal scraping metal when you turn your wheel. My steering wheel is 35cm(not sure in inches, maybe 14"?). I brought it with me from Japan and is a Japanese brand. Not sure what it is but I've seen many momo's that look like it.

Hehe, it seems like we're really bored and have nothing better to do but check back on this site every 2 mins, hehe. Or maybe it's just me... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[wpayne]

Oh, hey, do you want a MOMO horn button? It's *slightly* worn but not that you can really tell unless you inspect it closely. It's black but has the MOMO logo big on the button in silver. It'll be $20 plus shipping. I live in southern california.

[Dousan_PG]

ok HKB sucks.
on your stock steering column there is a nipple
when you put the HKB hub on and torque it down, it presses SO HARD against that nipple you cant turn the wheel (adeys previous problem)

so the HKB hub came with a washer. it went no where else (yes my friend and i inspected) and found out goes on the steering column-odd i know)

so not enough. so added some more washers, torqued it down. no problems. perfect.

worked me and 3 track events and daily driving. no problems!!

[wpayne]

Hmm..., thats really odd because mine works fine without any spacers or anything and it is on tight. Where did you guys get your hubs from?

[wpayne]

When you guys say hub, you mean boss-kit right?

[adey]

Really! hmmm mmaybe that nipple's not my problem then... my steering wheel is 310mm (31cm) which is around 12.3" or so... which would result in further increased turning effort. maybe that's just it... well I've been driving it like this for a few days now, so I guess I'll just fuck it and wait until the HKB breaks or something. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='issed:'> &nbsp;

BTW My HKB came with a Nissan horn button (?!?!?) so I'm using that. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> thanks for the offer though. (Not like I'd pay $20 for a MOMO horn button anyway!! haha)
I bought my boss-kit (HKB steering wheel "hub") in Hong Kong.
how much did you pay for yours, wpayne? (mine was 180HKD which is about Y2,775.90 &nbsp;or US$23.00.)

[wpayne]

Is $20 dollars high for a MOMO button? or do you just not like them?

Oh, I got my HKB when I was still living in Japan. They go for like 2000yen about and you can get them at almost any "Home Depot" like stores in the auto section.

What kind of steering wheel do you have? A friend gave me mine so I had no choice but I still like it. The 310mm sounds awesome! There was a deal for some that were 310 or 300mm over the summer. They were 40% off but still about 17,000yen.

[adey]

Any home-depot like store for 2000 yen!? Shit! hahha now I feel cheated!! No wonder the sum-bitch won't come off!

Anyway I took the car out last night, and after a little bit of driving, the boss started making scratching/rubbing noises- it sounds like it's rubbing against the steering column, but I still can't get it off to take a look. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> &nbsp;It's getting really annoying. Maybe I'll just tie a rope to the steering wheel and tie the other end to my GTi...