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MG MGB Technical - @#&%# steering wheel

Tried everything to remove wheel (all I have read in the site and archives) but no luck - I don't want to remove the steering column but I need to replace the turn signal switch. Bought a new unit, wonder if I can just pull the guts from the old one and replace with the new - minus the mounting plastic ring, but still screwed to the mounting plate?

Any thoughts?
Ed

Ed:

What year have you got?

On my '69 I'm able to take apart the two halves of the center cover apart to get to the switches.

Some people have advised me that on theirs it couldn't be done. How about yours?

Have you tried undoing the center nut till its flush with the top and giving the nut a sharp rap?

Try a few sharp blows from the backside up.

If that does not do it you'll need to use an extractor. These you can sometimes find for rent at auto parts places.
Luis Azan

This has come up before, but how would you feel about a nice new steering wheel of your choice? If all else fails, instead of removing and disassembling the column, what about making two cuts through the steering wheel boss itself down to within a few mm of the splines, and then chiseling the enough away to remove the remains of the wheel. A drastic solution I will admit. You may end up wrecking the wheel in the end anyway, and if you are going to do that, why not keep the work to a minimum?
Cheers, Andy
Andrew Blackley

On my 79 the only way I was able to get the steering wheel off was to loosen the nut holding the wheel to the column, have an assistant on the passenger side pull up on the right side of the steering wheel while I pressed the left side of the steering wheel with my left leg (pressing the wheel off), leaving my two hands free to bang on the steering column with two ball peen hammers, one pressed on the top of the column and the other used as the hammer.

Sounds more difficult than it is.

Jim
Jim McHugh


Ed,
Ijust had to replace my dimmer switch on my 78 b. There was just one nut to take off on the wheel. after that, it slid right off. I wouldn't advise taking the guts apart. I used an air impact wrench to loosen it. After that, it slid right off the spline. Hope this helps.
Phil Chamberlain

Ed-
Try tighening the nut that holds the steering wheel down. The whole idea is to get the wheel to move on its splines. I know that this sounds like it will only worsen the problem, but it worked on my 1972 Roadster when everything else failed.
Steve S.

When you get it off, clean up the splines and apply a liberal coating of antiseize compound for future removals. FWIW.
Bob Muenchausen

The easiest way to shift the wheel is to loosen the nut, leaving it on the column and pull first on one side of the wheel and then the other - rocking the wheel on the splines - it may take some time for it to free itself but it will come eventually.
Chris Betson

Or use a hub puller and it comes off in a few seconds.
Ian Johnston

I agree with Ian, with the exception that it might take more than a few seconds. I had to soak mine with penetrating fluid for days, then apply the hub puller, and then gently tap the back side of the steering wheel with a hammer to get it to come off. The puller alone wouldn't budge it. Make sure that you've got the nut on the steering column; you don't want a bruised chest now that summer is almost here.
SteveO

What year is your car? On my 72 and 73 the turn signal and wiper stalks screw together around the column- clamping themselves in place. No need to remove the steering wheel, just the cowling around the column.
william fox

Harbor Freight has a "good enough" hub puller kit for under $20. After having attempted to struggle through a steering wheel removal without this kit, I have to say that the kit is well worth the $20.
Larry Bailey

All - thanks for the ideas - I will attempt another round this weekend - soaked the nut/splines with penetrating oil - hopefully it will work, if not off to the auto part store for the hub puller. Oh btw, its a '79 so I need to remove the wheel to access the turn stalk.

Ed
Ed

Hub Puller is the only way to go! Check with your local club members & I'd bet they'll have one. Also consider a larger wheel puller as it works on more vehicles & applications.
BartTS

Extreme case,#1-soak with "Break Away" install hub puller put pre-load on puller soak again with p-oil let sit overnight soak again,sharp rap to the puller bolt with a large Hammer EC#2 only if EC#1 won't work[very rare]-Using the smallest propane torch you have heat the metal part of the steering wheel that surrounds the splined part of the column [the hard part is knowing "How Hot"] without damageing the plastic part.Once hot take a wax candle and force it down between the splines, install the puller,pre-load,and rap as in EC#1
As to why the melted wax works better then oil, I can only say that it does.
RIC
Ric

Check out the thread in MGB technical archives
"79 steering wheel removal." Technique that worked
for me involves two large C clamps, a crescent
wrench, and a socket.
Ronald

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2002 and 05/05/2002

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