Removing steering wheel

[John Staton]

Replacing my contact pin for my horn. Figured I could mess that up...The nut in the center of the wheel is very tight or I am turning it the wrong way. Can someone tell me if that nut is reversed threaded or lefty loosey

 

[cwwfj60]

Regular...lefty loosey

Then the harder part is getting the wheel off. Going to take some time and energy to wiggle that thing off, or use a puller

 

[micruz60]

When you get the nut loose, do not back it all the way off.
Then wiggle-yank the wheel off without hitting yourself in the face.

 

[cruiserfj45]

It is normal thread. When it does loosen pull the nut off all the way and mark the splines with a small scribe or fine point sharpie. Then put the nut all the way back on and back it off 2 turns (very important step). Now sit in the drivers seat and grab it with both hands and give it a bunch of good yanks with some wiggle. It will pop off. If you left the nut on there you will be fine, if you did not you will now be visiting the dentist because you just ate the steering wheel. I have never needed a puller on any Toyota steering wheel and I pulled a lot in my carrier as a dealership technician.

 

[John Staton]

Thanks...headed back out now. Also I am blind as a bat....cant see what kind of tip I need to get that clamshell off...blury to me, but they look like square tipped....maybe get my son under there to look or try to take a pic and blow it up.

 

[Living in the Past]

Never needed to see the screw heads in the clamshell cover. Slip a Phillips screwdriver and twist it around until it seats.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, I use a 1/2 drive with an extension on the socket to get my hands up over the wheel. Get a wheel puller, they are cheap and save a trip to the dentist. Put the nut back on with a torque wrench . Mike

 

[cruiserpilot]

Be really careful, above it said loosen the nut, but don't remove it and then pull the wheel.
The nut stops the wheel from coming off in your face. You could gently tap on the loosened nut
as you pull wheel to jar the wheel off the shaft. But be careful, the steel threaded shaft has
what I've learned is really soft metal and it's easy to bugger up the threads. So be careful.
Also, mark the center shaft with a sharpie for top dead center. So you put the wheel back
on straight.

 

[John Staton]

so I got it off by going back and forth...wondering about putting it back now. Trying to figure out where a spring that I found on my floorboard came from before I put the wheel back on. Any ideas?

Do I just push it on as far as I can and then let the nut do the rest as I tighten it? also, I dont have a torque wrench....I suppose it is time to get one.

 

[Max.Powerzz]

Looks like that might be one of the springs for the horn on the steering wheel?

 

[2mountainfish]

so I got it off by going back and forth...wondering about putting it back now. Trying to figure out where a spring that I found on my floorboard came from before I put the wheel back on. Any ideas?

View attachment 1765219 Do I just push it on as far as I can and then let the nut do the rest as I tighten it? also, I dont have a torque wrench....I suppose it is time to get one.

If you are going to work on your Cruiser, a torque wrench is a must. Get a 3/8 drive and if you can afford it, digital is nice.