Jump to content

Steering wheel removal


Alfa

Recommended Posts

Hello

I need to remove the steering wheel on my 1935 Airflow SE. The wheel has a horn push in the middle, which is secured by a wide bezel, which is fixed to the wheel centre by a screw thread, about 4 inches in diameter. I know this because I also have an old unit steering box and column that I was able to examine. Now my question is this:- How can I undo the screwed on bezel? There is no means to hold it other than by hand and it is too tight to shift by hand. Obviously I do not want to damage the parts. Any ideas or previous experience of how to shift the bezel?

The reason I am doing this is because I am fitting a new exhaust manifold and need to deal with a broken stud in the cylinder block, which means I need to move the steering column. That is an opportunity in itself, since I have a very gritty bearing in the box or column (not sure which yet) which has made the steering "notchy" for as long as I have had the car. I thought this was I nice opportunity to sort that out.

The steering box will not go through the hole in the fire wall, so I need to remove the steering wheel and possibly the outer sleeve of the column (which will not separate from the box without removing the steering wheel).

It is all a bit awkward really...

Thanks

Adam..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On my 36 Chrysler C7 Airstream the problem I found was actually pulling the wheel once you get the horn button off and loosen up the big nut that holds it on. (your horn button sounds different than mine) There is a special puller that wraps around the hub to pull it. These are pretty hard to come by. I was fortunate enough to buy one off ebay 2 years after I did mine. I had to home make a wood one that did the job but just barely. If you have a service manual it may show you the special puller. If not I can send you a photo from my service manual that shows it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are the two styles of pullers used to pull steering wheels that don't have threaded holes on the top of the hub to use a regular steering wheel puller with.

These two pullers-one the clam shell type is the factory Miller tool used by chrysler to pull the airflow wheel. Typical of MoPar cars and trucks of the 30's and 40's.

These pullers are very hard to come by unless you have time and money to find one.

Bob

post-62228-143142831631_thumb.jpg

post-62228-143142831643_thumb.jpg

post-62228-143142831652_thumb.jpg

post-62228-143142845625_thumb.jpg

Edited by c49er (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you gentlemen for your comments. Just for reference, my steering wheel hub is just like the one in the photos of the Australian 1934 CU posted by Countrytraveler just below. I did not realise that there would be such a specialised puller for the wheel. But in any case, I do not want to damage the steering wheel horn push ring, so I may just leave it alone. I reckon if I disconnect the draglink, I will be able to move the steering box enough to deal with the broken manifold stud without removing it altogether. I would like to sort out the notchy steering and it feels as though it may be the bearing in the steering column which is dry. But it is completely inaccessible without removing the steering wheel to release the outer steering column sleeve from the inner steering column shaft. Unless, of course, you know different !!

Adam..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest 34Airflow

Adam, You can remove the horn button bezel using a strap wrench. The wrench is available at Sears and other retailers and is inexpensive. The bezel is on with a fine thread and once you get it to move it will unscrew pretty easily. once you have the bezel off you will have multiple parts for the button. Keep in mind the order they go. You will have to disconnect the horn wire that will be coming up through the center of the steering column/rod. You can pull it back down the steering column from down by the steering gear box where it exits the steering column. It needs to be out of the way for the wheel puller. Once you have the wheel off you can use a modern type wheel puller. It will require you to drill three holes and tap them in your steering wheel using the wheel puller as a guide for marking the holes. Use the tap set instructions for drilling the proper size hole for the tap you will be using. Once you have the holes tapped mount the wheel puller and the wheel will come right off. My brother and I struggled with this same problem on our 34 Airflow CU just recently and it worked, so easy we couldn't believe all the time we wasted trying to get the wheel off. I think someone from the Airflow club told us how to do it. To remove the steering column and gear box on the CU we had to remove the radiator, probably the same for the SE. If you have any questions post them and I will see if I can answer them. Don't be afraid of damaging your steering wheel this method is even better than using the old style puller.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you 34Airflow, that is really helpful, and you have inspired me to have another look at it!! And a strap wrench, of course. I will see if I can get one to grip the centre boss.

I will see where I get to this Saturday, when I have some shed-time planned!

Thanks again

Adam..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

post-68277-143142838246_thumb.jpg

Just for interest, here is a picture of my car, taken in the 1990s, but it hasn`t changed. It is a UK market 35 SE . Badged as Chrysler for the UK market, although it has Desoto roots..

It has right hand drive, 12V electrics, overdrive and freewheeling and semaphore turn signals. (The orange flashing indicators were added in the 1970s, for safety).

Adam..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the picture. Your car has many characteristics of the Canadian 1934 Chrysler Airflow CY which was a 6cyl De Soto based unit. You have the 3 bar Chrysler bumpers on what is the '34 De Soto body and a '35 De Soto hood conversion. Chrysler certainly knew how to scramble parts to create different models. Makes things interesting!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 years later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...