1952-59 Ford Steering wheel removal

I did a search and didn't get the answers I needed. I have the horn ring and steering wheel nut off. I have a puller put am weary of applying too much pressure on it because I don't want to break anything. I see what looks like a star lock washer/retainer on the nut. How do I get the steering wheel off from here?

 

After you remove the nut and before you attach the puller soak around the shaft with PB Blaster or WD-40 wiggle the wheel side to side with one hand and spray with the other so you get penetration apply again in 15 minutes let sit and then attach the puller,sometimes they can be real stubborn and may need an overnight soaking.

 

Thanks. I just wanted to make sure I didn't need to take something else besides the nut off.

 

I presume you are taking the wheel off your 55. A word of caution! Your horn wire runs up the centre of the column. Most of these pullers are for later model solid shaft columns. The best way to get it off is to undo the nut but do not remove it. Put a nut or socket between it and the screw shaft of your puller so it is pulling the wheel up to the nut.
If you use the puller without this precaution you will flare the end of the shaft, break the horn contact and possibly never get the wheel off, because the shaft of the puller will go down the centre of the steering shaft. I hope you understand my instructions.
Regards

 

Mine was pretty difficult to take off too. Its almost like the resin that was used to create the steering wheel had melted around the inside of the retaining nut and caused it to become almost super glued to the shaft. I had to apply a lot of pressure and when it finally did pop off, there was a loud bang like a gun had just fired off a round. I thought I broke the steering wheel because it was so loud. Jeff is right though, the PB blaster works wonders.

 

Yeah I saw that horn wire complicating things. It has PB Blaster soaking on it now. Gonna try again later. Thanks guys.

 

This is the puller I have http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/pullers/46-piece-bolt-puller-set-37824.html the cheapy ones they sell that are just a circular piece of metal will slip and give you a problem,this set has a base on the center bolt to prevent damage,also does a good job on harmonic balancers.

 

You can unplug the wire near the bottom of the steering gearbox and pull it up through. Then use something on the top of the shaft to prevent the puller from direct contact like is discribed above.

 

I didn't have any issue with the wire on my '54 maybe you will get lucky and not have to pull the wire,it seems it would be a pain to put it back in.

 

I have had the wheel off my car a half dozen or more times over the years. The wire just slides down the hole, when it sticks out the bottom, pull a bit and hook it up. The old wires, and new replacements are stiff enough to make that work.

 

just adding to Don's comment above , If you do have trouble getting the wire back through the column = Crimp a bullet type wire terminal onto a length of mig wire . Feed the mig wire ( terminal first ) up from the bottom , connect bottom of horn wire to bullet terminal and pull pack through .


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