Den41Buick Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I need to remove my steering wheel from my 41 Buick to replace the shifter housing. I do not have a puller. Can I get it off without a puller? Has anyone removed one before? If so, I would appreciate tips. Thanks DE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 A steering wheel puller is cheaper than buying another steering wheel. The cheap disc type usually works. http://www.jegs.com/i/Grant/470/5891/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710710325&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-191844202151&CATARGETID=230006180037474942&cadevice=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrNe40K7x1QIVwY5-Ch0Z6Q12EAQYAiABEgKOuvD_BwE Or you can buy the $20 heavy duty looking type. Then there is the drill two holes correctly spaced in a 1 x 1 angle iron and tighten them against the steering shaft. Has been known to work, YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenz38 Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 The 41 has also the horn contact cable in the center of the shaft?.... Then you must remove it first . don't push with the Srew from the tool onto this contact. the shaft you must protect it too, dont let the tool screw run directly on the shaft. In my case i pull the wheel without tool from the shaft...im loosen the nut NOT COMPLETELY OF !!! and step with one feet betwern my pedals an pull it alternate left and right more and less .I handle the wheel at the half way of the struts. Mostly it works.....in my case..;-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 25, 2017 Author Share Posted August 25, 2017 Yes, it does have the horn contact in the center. Do it unscrew or pull out? I looked at it last night and though I may have an issue. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 I am following this thread closely since I'm going to have to take my steering wheel off my '41 sooner or later. I'm hoping you post some photos once you get down to business! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Greetings I have taken many of these buick steering wheels off. First, DO NOT REMOVE THE WIRE CONNECTOR! After you loosen the nut, Use the right size socket against the nut to "bridge over" the wire end. I use three long screws I took out of the case of an electric motor(had to file the heads just a little to get them thru the "key" slots in the wheel hub). Yes you need a three leg puller. Dont risk bending or breaking the wheel pounding or prying. I put my 1/2" cordless impact on the puller. Quick snap on the trigger and the wheel pops quickly against the nut loosened till its flush with the top of the steering shaft. Hope that helps. If not clear let me know and I can take a photo of the setup on the wheel ready to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share Posted August 26, 2017 UPDATE: I stopped at O'Reilly Auto Parts. I borrowed a steering wheel puller from them at no charge. Seems they lend tools (they put a hold on your CC) for two days. Good deal. I then decided tackle the wheel after dinner. I removed the cap, then loosened the nut. To my surprise the nut loosened up easily. I removed the nut and the locking washer. With that the wheel literally popped off... No need for the tool! My real project is replacing the shifter housing unit (pot metal). I managed to start removing it till the dog needed a walk. I will attack the removal of the housing tomorrow morning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Den41Buick Posted August 27, 2017 Author Share Posted August 27, 2017 UPDATE: Finished the project yesterday. Removed the wheel on Friday and removed and replaced the shifter housing. Make sure you keep track of parts and order removed. I did make a reference point on the steering wheel before I removed it. Not sure but with the play in my wheel, it is not lined up perfectly when driving.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Did you guys use an impact gun to loosen the nut, I was trying to break it with a wrench but no luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NailheadBob Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 I wouldn’t ever use an impact gun on nut for steering wheel. I usually use a 1/2” drive ratchet, if stubborn then I would use a extra long ratchet. please post photo of your steering wheel area with issue. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Okay, I’ll give it another try tmrw . First gotta disconnect the horn button. I have to do that from the column, am I right about that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Impact wrench to remove the nut would be OK, but definitely not for installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Got the nut off just now , now tmrw gonna look and see how to remove the horn wire so I don’t do any damage to it.. This is my first time ever doing anything like this. Hoping for positive results tmrw morning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 47 minutes ago, BuickTom87 said: Got the nut off just now , now tmrw gonna look and see how to remove the horn wire so I don’t do any damage to it.. This is my first time ever doing anything like this. Hoping for positive results tmrw morning. If you are referring to your 1938 Buick, you do not need to remove the horn wire. In my experience on a 1938, after you remove the nut, you can generally tap upwards on the back side of the center section near the column a couple of timesaround all sides of the wheel near the spokes with a rubber mallet and the wheel will come off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Sorry should of specified it’s for a 41Buick century Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, BuickTom87 said: Sorry should of specified it’s for a 41Buick century I don't have any experience with a 1941, but I would certainly suspect it to be similar. I would confirm that you need to remove the wire before attempting it. If it is a single contact in the center like the 1938 horn wire contact, it likely does not need to be removed to remove the steering wheel. Edited December 12, 2022 by MCHinson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Thank you I’ll give it another try today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 It's been a while since I had the wheel off of my '41, but I'm pretty sure you do not have to remove the horn wire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Did you use a steering wheel puller, @MCHinson was lucky enough to just take a rubber mallet to get it off . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 If you're addressing me, I did not have to use a steering wheel puller. (I had a puller, but it did not work with the three-bolt pattern of the Buick.) Instead, I used a piece of 2X4 laid along the bottom side of the steering column up against the base of the wheel. A few hits with a hammer on the wood, and the wheel popped loose. (It's important that you NOT take the nut all the way off before doing this. Just loosen it until it is flush with the top of the steering tube, as recommended in the Shop Manual. Otherwise, the wheel could fly off.) Once it has popped loose from the splines, you can finish removing the nut and the wheel comes right off. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pont35cpe Posted December 13, 2022 Share Posted December 13, 2022 (edited) I don`t know about the Buick wheel, but on a `35-`36 Pontiac, i drill and tap 2 holes, so i can use a puller. I must say, i used Neils method for decades, but positioned i myself to use my knees under the wheel, to apply upward pressure. Also mark the wheel and shaft, so you can put it back in the same position. Edited December 13, 2022 by pont35cpe (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dracenroc Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Since I had to dismantle my steering wheel I take the opportunity here to share my experience. Important points: I am talking about a 1938 Buick with the flexible spoke wheel, aka Banjo Steering Wheel. Removing the horn button from a solid spoke wheel is different never pull or push with brute force on the wheel itself but on the hub only, if needed at all. The steering wheel is simply too expensive to break by doing this. as mentioned above do NOT remove the horn contact in the middle of the steering column! Just leave it as it is. The nut comes off over the contact. First remove the three screws on the bottom of the hub. These are embedded, but you can get to them easily with a short screwdriver. Then you can remove the outer ring, together with the emblem plate and the horn operating ring, together with the soft rubber insulator. Bend back the tabs on the locking washer that hold the nut in place so that the nut can rotate freely. Release the nut. Should come of easily I was able to do this without tools, pushing the hub against the column against the spring. The steering wheel then moved away from the steering column on its own with the spring pressure. Otherwise slightly tab from underneath (on the hub!) or try to wiggle the wheel carefully. Installation is done in reverse order. Install the nut by pushing the hub down on the column. I tightened it only slightly, actually only turned it until a tab from the lock washer fit on the nut. I also only pressed one tab back onto the nut, saving the other for an other steering wheel removal🙂. They break easily after bending a few times up and down. The spokes and the spring on the column and one or two tabs fix the steering wheel enough. Good luck, it's a simple job. If everything runs smoothly done in less then 15 minutes. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XLNDRVR Posted June 18, 2023 Share Posted June 18, 2023 (edited) On 12/12/2022 at 11:08 PM, neil morse said: Instead, I used a piece of 2X4 laid along the bottom side of the steering column up against the base of the wheel. A few hits with a hammer on the wood, and the wheel popped loose. (It's important that you NOT take the nut all the way off before doing this. Just loosen it until it is flush with the top of the steering tube, as recommended in the Shop Manual. Did this yesterday to fix a way too touchy horn ring and rotate the wheel to its proper orientation. Three taps, worked like a charm. Edited June 21, 2023 by XLNDRVR Left out most important reason for taking wheel off. (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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