How to remove steering wheel

[r2m]

Any tips on removing a 98' LC steering wheel with the airbag?

After getting my tires, wheels, 2.5" lift and alignment my steering wheel is at about an 11:00 position and it kind of drives me nuts with it being askew.

I've done it on other vehicles, but not anything with an airbag. I have a pulley puller and all the other tools, once I can get to the screws. Where are the screws or what part pops off to reveal the screws?

FYI, I've done searches, but couldn't find anything regarding removal, just recovering the wheel.

Thanks in advance...

 

[petrotk40]

That's an alignment issue isn't it? You need to get whoever did the alignment to re-do it.

 

[bamabrock]

I agree with getting alignment redone, but ...


I removed mine in 5 minutes to swap it out with a recovered unit I got from atlas on here.

disconnect battery, pop off the access panels and either side of the wheel, unscrew the bolts on both sides holding airbag, unplug bag and set aside, remove four screws holding trim to wheel, remove big nut holding wheel

here is a pic I took with airbag removed

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You'll need a big Torx bit for the airbag screws. The wheel is fine splined, so it's easy to get it readjusted. Don't f around with the airbag.

 

[r2m]

That's an alignment issue isn't it? You need to get whoever did the alignment to re-do it.

It's not an alignment issue, she tracks just fine, doesn't pull, wooble or anything now that it's all set up. I just think that after the last 14 years of different tires and rims, the steering wheel just managed to get a wee bit off.

 

[gtfour43]

Its an alignment prob. You'll need to adjust the toe. Toe in one side. Toe out the other. Tell the guy who aligned it to check it again. Moving the steering wheel is a band aid fix and a half as$ one too.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

It's not. Sometimes when the tires get back into alignment the steering wheel is a little off. Happened on my 80 and 100, all #'s well within spec and steering wheel still 5* off. No biggie.

 

[gtfour43]

Numbers can be in spec but the alignment could've been done when the wheel wasn't centered. Its a really simple fix and only takes a few minutes if you know what your doing.
The wheel being slightly off has nothing to do with caster,camber or toe but just how the wheels were facing at the time of adjustment. Your mechanic can show you all perfect numbers and tell you its fine as is but a good mechanic would not let a car leave with the wheel like that. If he does he's just being plain lazy or has no pride in his work.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Its an alignment prob. You'll need to adjust the toe.

The wheel being slightly off has nothing to do with caster,camber or toe

So you need to adjust the toe, but it has nothing to do with the toe?

Your "fix" of toeing both tires over seems like moving the wall if the picture frame is crooked. If the wall is straight, move the picture.

 

[gtfour43]

So you need to adjust the toe, but it has nothing to do with the toe?

Your "fix" of toeing both tires over seems like moving the wall if the picture frame is crooked. If the wall is straight, move the picture.

Your toe is perfectly straight(parallel) but not in line with the steering wheel. To correct this the steering wheel needs to be held perfectly straight while you adjust one tie rod shorter and the other longer depending on which way your wheel is canted while driving straight on a flat road.
Think about it. If your wheel is at 11 while driving straight its because your front wheels are pointing slightly to the right. Align the wheel straight while driving and you'll drift right.

 

[Tools R Us]

Adjusting the tie rods is the correct way to do it. Most steering racks/boxes are designed to be tighter at the center, where most of the driving is done. The rack/box and steering wheel center relationship should always be maintained, moving the steering wheel messes it up. Any alignment tech should know that centering the wheel is part of setting the toe, this is basic knowledge, if they can't be bothered to take the time to do it right, find a new shop.

Also newer rigs, with driver aids, TRAC, VSC, etc, often have things like steering angle sensors, variable rate rack, etc, making it even more important to do it correctly.

 

[CANEX]

I agree with getting alignment redone, but ...


I removed mine in 5 minutes to swap it out with a recovered unit I got from atlas on here.

disconnect battery, pop off the access panels and either side of the wheel, unscrew the bolts on both sides holding airbag, unplug bag and set aside, remove four screws holding trim to wheel, remove big nut holding wheel

here is a pic I took with airbag removed

I need to adjust mine by removing the wheel as well - tried tracking but not enough adjustment on the one side.
Did this have the audio controls on the wheel as well and was there any problem with the 'spiral' cable?

cheers
Chris

 

[TXLX100]

I'll just say this... I've never heard of removing the steering wheel to fix an off center steering wheel. Seems like if you are out if adjustment on one side, there are some other factors present that can be corrected through a proper alignment or parts. Fixing it by moving the steering wheel and not the tie-rods seems like a temporary fix and there will be issues the next time the vehicle needs an alignment.

 

[CANEX]

I'll just say this... I've never heard of removing the steering wheel to fix an off center steering wheel. Seems like if you are out if adjustment on one side, there are some other factors present that can be corrected through a proper alignment or parts. Fixing it by moving the steering wheel and not the tie-rods seems like a temporary fix and there will be issues the next time the vehicle needs an alignment.

If the track rod end has traveled as far as the adjustment will allow the steering wheel must have been removed and refitted out of alignment - I can't see any other way it can have happened.
It's certainly not been in an accident & nothing is bent!
Unless the steering rack has been changed I suppose.
I've been driving it like this for 3 years and had no issues - it's just annoying!

 

[super90]

IF there are no problems with components in the steering system (bent,worn out, etc.) it's just a toe adjustment as mentioned.

NOW, if, for example, your steering rack bushings are shot, then that will allow the whole rack to move to one side slightly and you will have the steering wheel off center, but everything else will be the same.

I have this issue with my LX. If you turn really fully to one side, hard, the bushings have enough play that the rack will shift to one side, and steering wheel goes off center. You can turn hard the other way and shift it all back, but then it's sort of trying to find a happy medium.

Need to replace the bushings, but they are not really that bad that I can't just wiggle to the middle as described.

 

[bamabrock]

I need to adjust mine by removing the wheel as well - tried tracking but not enough adjustment on the one side.
Did this have the audio controls on the wheel as well and was there any problem with the 'spiral' cable?

cheers
Chris

Mine did not have audio controls.