Are all FB steering wheels the same spline or whatever?

I have an 85 and pulled a gray wheel that looked identical to mine just better shape and gray not red from either an 84 or 85 fb, and i can't get it to go on?

Am I just stoopid? Will it slip on the splines w/out the nut tightening it? Or am I just supposed to put the wheel on as far as it goes and crank the nut down?

Only reason I'm afraid to do that is because I can't get it in the splines AT ALL.

HELP, I want to drive my car, lol.

thanks

 

yes they're all the same.

 

Line up the splines... push it down as far as you can.. then let the nut do the work... should pop on.. no problem

 

Make sure the two little plastic pins on the combo switch are lined up with and fit into the holes in the back of the steering wheel.

 

Well I got it on...but not without taking the back off the steering wheel so that it was narrower and fit down into the column in between the stalks/etc other plastic crap.

And are you just supposed to hit the nut with a gun until it stops? or what? Because I did that and my wheels turn/etc, but I couldn't turn my key/ignition and I can't move my turn signal stalk..so I back it back off by hand a little and was able to get it started/move the stalk, but the nut doesn't feel completely tight....somethings off.

This whole thing is fubared, first the pins must be broke because I have like an inch of play in the shaft, then my shaft is too short to put that little black piece on with the 2 pins before teh wheel, and then my wheel wouldn't fit with the plastic surround piece that is for the horn I believe...i dunno, fml.

 

You have what we here in the south call one helluva mess, wish i could help.....

Whatever you do don't drive it until you know that the nut is secure, You do not want to have the steering wheel come off in your hands after "gettin on it" in third gear, on a crowded highway.

Don't even ask how I know.

 

you probably snapped the little plastic rivet that's about halfway down the steering column shaft... It's designed to collapse in an impact so you don;t get impaled. It's really common for those 20 plus year old bits to disintegrate.... if you crawl up under the dash you should see what I mean. Get yourself a cheap hand riveter from Harbor Freight and pop a rivet back in to the hole.... problem solved.

 

NEVER use an impact gun to install a steering wheel!!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes, and I'm still shaking my head just thinking about it.

Sounds like the splines are stripped on either your column or the new wheel. It only takes a little marring to make the splines not align up even though they look fine. Also- you quite possibly pulled the steering column by overtightening the nut - this sounds like the case since you appear to have bound-up the steering lock mechanism. This can be a major, major problem. You will need to re-adjust it from your steering gear and possibly need to fix the rivit as stated in the other post. Search for threads on tightening up steering slop for directions. Follow the FSM for the adjustments. I would not drive it until you return it to factory specs. Our steering gears are crap to begin with, and you could have FUBAR'd this pretty good.

Do you use that impact wrench to loosen those screws on your eye-glasses too? All kidding aside, there is a torque spec for the steering wheel nut, and it should be followed. I intentionally use a smaller length socket handle just to avoid over tightening. Its that critical! Seriously.

There is an old saying my father taught me - "if it don't fit, don't force it!"