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By BFOOTER03 - 16 Years Ago
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This may be a bit off topic so I appologize in advance. Any tips on how to remove my steering wheel form a 56 F100? Assume it has never been removed. Swaping my 3 on the tree for a T5 behind my Y and want to get the steering wheel off to remove the old column shifter and transmission linkage. It could be just cut and removed that way but would like to try and salvage it in the hopes that somebody might be able to use it again. Thanks Bing
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By timmy4 - 16 Years Ago
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I would try unloosening the nut that holds the steering wheel on and spraying pb blaster between the shaft and steering wheel and grab the steering wheel with each hand and pull one side at a time then the other side. Make sure the nut is screwed on a little so when it comes free it won't hit you when it comes off.
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By PWH42 - 16 Years Ago
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The best way is go to any store that sells tools...auto parts...Lowes...Sears etc and for about $15 buy a simple steering wheel puller that can also be used for pulling crankshaft dampers.The old fashioned way is screw the nut back on the shaft until it's flush with the end of the shaft.Then while pulling hard upward on the wheel,hit the nut hard with a hammer.This will usually do the trick.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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Removing the wheel may be the same as my 61. You push the horn button down and twist counter-clockwise. The horn button comes off with a spring underneath. Loosen the steering wheel retaining nut. I think it's a 15/16" socket required for mine. There are two threaded holes which allow the use of a steering wheel puller. I think they are 5/16-18.
I know the shift linkage is different so I can't help there.
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By rgrove - 16 Years Ago
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As others have said, buy or rent the right tool. Its pretty simple, pretty cheap, and without it you will crack the steering wheel.....
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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rgrove (4/4/2009)
As others have said, buy or rent the right tool. Its pretty simple, pretty cheap, and without it you will crack the steering wheel.....I agree whole-heartedly. I tried EVERYTHING, pulling on my '55 Customline wheel. I'm a big guy, able to jerk real damn hard. It only furthered the cracking plastic on the two-spoked wheel. Even when I put the two-hole puller on, what other posts are saying about leaving the nut backed-out to the end, is a must! My wheel gave a "CRACK" when it finally came off... Scared the crap out of me, because when it let loose, all of a sudden, the puller flexed back into a few loose pieces. For two seconds, I wasn't sure if the puller broke. I believe that wheel would have taken my head off if the nut wasn't there to stop it. I remember the steering wheel puller-threads as being 5/16-FINE thread. Don't use a cheap puller. In my case, it will only bend. I like PB Blaster, but it didn't matter on my wheel. I hope yours comes off easier than mind did. Hope this helps. - Dave
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By HoLun - 16 Years Ago
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make sure you put an alignment mark on the wheel and the shaft if it doesn't already have one, makes centering the wheel a lot quicker if the shaft is not indexed.
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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On my 56 there is a spline missing on the shaft which is the centre of the shaft.There is also a master spline on the inside of the steering wheel to match the one on the shaft or there is a mark on the hub of the steering wheel to align with the shaft.Use a proper puller.Someone in the past used the pull-on- the -wheel-wack-the-the-nut trick and damaged the nut and the first several threads on mine.I have had to take it off a few times to work on the column.Hold my breath each time hoping the threads are still OK to put the nut back on.Get a correct puller and leave the nut turned down a couple of turns!
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By sundance241 - 16 Years Ago
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Bfooter03 ...I bought a cheap steering wheel puller 20 years ago , its still working fine ............i tried the other ways and broke the wheel at the hub.........i learned my lesson ..........use a puller , its will save a lot of other problems................Sam
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By 2DRHRDTP57 - 16 Years Ago
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 I have a experience to share, leave the nut on until loose, I was removing a wheel on a friends 57 and gave it a big bang from the underside with my palms and the bloody thing came off and smacked me in the nose at warp speed.... 
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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
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Hello Duchy.And your point is what?Damage may occur to an irreplaceable steering wheel if nut is not left on because it may hit a solid object or did I miss the point of your story.(LOL)
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By BFOOTER03 - 16 Years Ago
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Appreciate all the help. It was very useful but it still has not broke loose. A side note to add about leaving the nut on is it will also help not to f-up the threads from the puller.  Sure you all can figure out how I know this.
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By MoonShadow - 16 Years Ago
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Have you soaked it with PB Blaster or a similar product? Should help after a few days soaking. Chuck in NH
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By BFOOTER03 - 16 Years Ago
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I have soaked it with PB blaster but so far no go. Will keep soaking and giving it a try or two each night. Might just decide to leave the darn shifter in if it doesn't break loose.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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Won't even come loose with a puller?
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By MoonShadow - 16 Years Ago
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Keep trying it will come off! May take a little more soak time. As covered previously with a wheel this stuck make sure to leave the nut on! When it comes off it will probably be sudden! Keep humping! Chuck in NH
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By simplyconnected - 16 Years Ago
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Not trying to be funny but, do you remember this?:simplyconnected (4/4/2009)
rgrove (4/4/2009)
As others have said, buy or rent the right tool. Its pretty simple, pretty cheap, and without it you will crack the steering wheel.....I agree whole-heartedly. I tried EVERYTHING, pulling on my '55 Customline wheel. I'm a big guy, able to jerk real damn hard. It only furthered the cracking plastic on the two-spoked wheel. Even when I put the two-hole puller on, what other posts are saying about leaving the nut backed-out to the end, is a must! My wheel gave a "CRACK" when it finally came off... Scared the crap out of me, because when it let loose, all of a sudden, the puller flexed back into a few loose pieces. For two seconds, I wasn't sure if the puller broke. I believe that wheel would have taken my head off if the nut wasn't there to stop it. I remember the steering wheel puller-threads as being 5/16-FINE thread. Don't use a cheap puller. In my case, it will only bend. I like PB Blaster, but it didn't matter on my wheel. I hope yours comes off easier than mind did. Hope this helps. - Dave I can't express how hard this wheel was to take off. Use a quality puller, with GOOD BOLTS with threads all the way into your steering wheel, slightly off bottom. This is serious business! When mine finally cracked loose, I wasn't sure what happened for seconds; it was so fast and violent. Honestly, I expected something broke. To my amazement, I was ok, and so were the tools and the wheel. I thank God for that skinny little nut that saved my head.
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