[tcate23-WRANGLER]

Okay so me and my dad were "trying" to replace my clock spring, except we could get the steering wheel off..First the bolt coming out of the steering wheel striped the first 3 threads, so we fixed that then got the bolt back on. I looked on every forum and even talked to a Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep mechanic who told me they dont even use a steering wheel puller and just hit it with a hammer and shack it.

Next, we tried the puller again and one of the two holes the bolts from the puller go in to pretty much snapped..so rethreaded that and still cant get the puller to work or to even use a hammer.

We had exhausted everything we could think of, everywhere to look and everyone to ask. Forgot to say while using the puller, the steering yoke or back part of the steering wheel just crumbled.. :banghead: like wtf...So we just said screw it and drilled the little shit off. (pictures below) Now, what do we need to do or replaced? Sorry for the long explanation!

 

[tcate23-WRANGLER]

bump...

 

[ygohome]

Hi,

looks like that steering wheel was rusted/frozen on there real good!

you'll need to get a replacement steering wheel from a place like ebay. You won't need to buy a replacement horn/airbag assembly since I presume that is all still good. But you may have to find a specific steering wheel for your year of jeep since they did differ a little between model years (but may not matter really).

I think a "CLAW" type puller may have worked better instead of the "two bolt" puller. I used the claw puller on mine, but that was because my year jeep didn't come with the bolt puller holes in the steering wheel like your jeep did. But it worked really well and popped the steering wheel off easy. But mine also wasn't rusted on like yours was.

*edit: I see in your photo that you actually did have a "claw" puller. Did that not work either?

here are photos from my clock spring replacement. Notice my steering shafts uses a bolt to hold the steering wheel on whereas your year jeep uses a threaded stud in the shaft and a nut.

 

[Shelby427]

Well, it looks like you got the wheel off, abet in pieces.

Clean out the debris around the steering shaft and bearing, install the coil, make the connections. Install a new steering wheel, plug in the air bag and install it, reinstall the covers.

Make sure the wheels are dead straight before you install the coil. Also there is a pin in the new coil to keep it aligned, it gets removed after you have the coil in place, DO NOT turn the coil if you do you could break it.

 

[ygohome]

yeah, what Shelby427 just said. He explains it better than I did and offers some good points to watch out for about the new coil and that alignment pin

 

[Abnmarine]

My steering wheel is off center slightly as well. Just had an alignment but it didn't cure it. Is this common and is removing the steering wheel the solution?

 

[tcate23-WRANGLER]

Hi,

looks like that steering wheel was rusted/frozen on there real good!

you'll need to get a replacement steering wheel from a place like ebay. You won't need to buy a replacement horn/airbag assembly since I presume that is all still good. But you may have to find a specific steering wheel for your year of jeep since they did differ a little between model years (but may not matter really).

I think a "CLAW" type puller may have worked better instead of the "two bolt" puller. I used the claw puller on mine, but that was because my year jeep didn't come with the bolt puller holes in the steering wheel like your jeep did. But it worked really well and popped the steering wheel off easy. But mine also wasn't rusted on like yours was.

*edit: I see in your photo that you actually did have a "claw" puller. Did that not work either?

here are photos from my clock spring replacement. Notice my steering shafts uses a bolt to hold the steering wheel on whereas your year jeep uses a threaded stud in the shaft and a nut.

thanks! but no the claw puller is actually what caused the first break that actually crumbled the part i ended up drilling into..

 

[ygohome]

My steering wheel is off center slightly as well. Just had an alignment but it didn't cure it. Is this common and is removing the steering wheel the solution?

no. in your case all you need to do is adjust the drag link sleeve to get the steering wheel straight. very easy to do and doesn't require anything close to removing the steering wheel.

the drag link is the adjustable linkage that connects to the pitman arm. with your front wheels straight, adjust the drag link sleeve one way or the other until your steering wheel is also straight. THe steering wheel should be unlocked with the keey in the ignition as you do that. Then tighten down that adjustment sleeve on the drag link to lock it in place.

 

[tcate23-WRANGLER]

Well, it looks like you got the wheel off, abet in pieces.

Clean out the debris around the steering shaft and bearing, install the coil, make the connections. Install a new steering wheel, plug in the air bag and install it, reinstall the covers.

Make sure the wheels are dead straight before you install the coil. Also there is a pin in the new coil to keep it aligned, it gets removed after you have the coil in place, DO NOT turn the coil if you do you could break it.

yeah, what Shelby427 just said. He explains it better than I did and offers some good points to watch out for about the new coil and that alignment pin

appreciate it guys, is there any way to just get the piece i broke and not the whole steering wheel?

 

[Abnmarine]

no. in your case all you need to do is adjust the drag link sleeve to get the steering wheel straight. very easy to do and doesn't require anything close to removing the steering wheel.

the drag link is the adjustable linkage that connects to the pitman arm. with your front wheels straight, adjust the drag link sleeve one way or the other until your steering wheel is also straight. THe steering wheel should be unlocked with the keey in the ignition as you do that. Then tighten down that adjustment sleeve on the drag link to lock it in place.

Thanks for explaining this for me. It's been one of those annoying things that I want to correct.

 

[Shelby427]

appreciate it guys, is there any way to just get the piece i broke and not the whole steering wheel?

Nope. Sorry, you need a steering wheel. You can always hit the local salvage yard for one.

 

[tcate23-WRANGLER]

Nope. Sorry, you need a steering wheel. You can always hit the local salvage yard for one.

called a ton of salvage yards today and searched all of FL's craiglists..no luck

 

[Sccafire]

Here is a new one for $89. Note: if you want leather it is an additional $200.

97-02 Jeep Steering Wheel Leather or Molded Wrangler or Cherokee OEM