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MG MGB Technical - Steering wheel removal

I purchased a Mountny leather steering wheel to replace the worn original in my 1974.5 MGB. After a struggle I managed to remove the retaining nut. As per the Mountny instructions I used a rubber mallet to "persuade" the steering wheel off. No luck. I then switched to a 3 pound steel mallet in an effort to bring a little more persuasion. Didn't budge at all. Used Liquid Wrench and more mallet. Nothing. Am I missing something or do I have to get a jack hammer to get this sucker off. My shop manuals make it sound like the wheel should come off rather easy. Is it just stuck or is there a nut or screw I didn't undo. Help.
John

I use a puller, if you have an Autozone store in your area I they may have some tools they will lend free.
I have a harmonic balancer puller with a package of bolts and use it to remove the wheel on my 74. Remove two of the wheel to hub retainer bolts and fit the puller and it comes off easily. I have also taken off wheels without a puller. Loosen but do not remove the shaft retainer nut, get a soft rod, brass is good, and a hammer, place your knees under the wheel and push the wheel up with your legs, place the rod in the center of the shaft and hit it with tour hammer. The reason the shaft is loosened is to save your face when the wheel does break loose. Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Spending $10 for the proper tool is alot better that buggering up your steering wheel and column trying to get the steering wheel off. Just recently, I worked on a steering column that someong had used the hammer method and destroyed the first round of threads in the process. Get a puller!
gerry masterman

I agree, it's just stuck and you need a puller! There are no other nuts to remove. Once you've got it off you'll find it much easier next time. Never bothered myself but it might be an idea to use a light coating of copper grease or similar on refitting? Someone more knowledgeable than me can confirm!

Tim.
Tim Jenner

John,

I recently changed my steering wheel, and tried two different styles; finally settling on the second choice. I took the wheel off three times in a month, applied lubricants as Tim suggested, and it came off hard every time. I used one of the methods described in the BBS archives, but you have to sign in as a member to get to them. As a word of warning, don't be tempted to use an arm puller, it will deform the wheel hub. The type puller Clifton uses will work fine.

Doug
D. Cook

Loosening the nut but making sure it is still on a few threads, bracing the knees behind the rim and hitting the column with hammer and bar has always worked for me. Others have said that a slack nut plus violent rocking by pushing one side of the rim down and pulling the other up and alternating rapidly does the trick. If you are junking the old wheel (surely not) then perhaps distortion of it won't matter if you use a legs puller.
Paul Hunt

I agree with Clifton, Tim and Paul.
I've alwasy used the same method; a brass drift, a large hammer, and your knees.
Then once off, before re-assembly use ANTI-SEIZE lubricant. I use this stuff by the gross. Why?
Well maybe someday I'll have to remove it again, or the next guy will thank you.
There aren't many things I don't use it on.
Nothing inside of engines, but anything else it's applicable, especially here in good old Minnesota. You know, high humidity, salted winter roads, cars sitting for months, etc.
Safety Fast
Dwight
Dwight McCullough

Very wary of using the hammer & drift method as this will shear the poly pegs on the collapsible column models. Slacken the nut and twist the wheel violently. May take a little time but it always works. Then just remove nut and wheel
iain.mackintosh

Thanks for all the advice. I purchased a steering wheel puller and got the wheel off. Took a bit of effort. Again thanks.
John

As long as you brace your knees behind the wheel rim when using the hammer and drift method you shouldn't have a problem with the collapsible column ... unless you have weak knees and a strong arm with a big hammer ...
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 16/09/2004 and 18/09/2004

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