All_Terrain_RX7

I need to replace the headlight switch on my 85 GSL. High beams only work for "flash to pass" now. Low beams are ok, and can serve my daily commute ok. Steering wheel has never been pulled before. I did a forum search and found that most folks grasp the wheel at 9 oclock and 3 oclock and wiggle the steering wheel while pulling on it. My problem is that I am about to have rotator cuff surgery so I need to be careful.

Factory service manual showed using a steering wheel puller. I tried using my gear puller to pull the wheel, but saw that I was starting to bend the steering wheel. I wiggled the wheel as described in the posts, while also trying to protect my shoulder. I managed to get my legs in position to push against the back of the wheel while wiggling the wheel with both hands. Sprayed the splines down with PB Blaster many times. No movement at all. Did this off and on all afternoon.

More than one poster mentioned to be persistent. Any suggestions on how long is persistent? Minutes, hours, or days? Is the key to wiggle the wheel vigorously, or is pulling hard on the wheel while wiggling what really does it?

I am leaving the gear puller on the steering wheel over night to keep some gentle pressure and will try again tomorrow after church. If it doesn't move, I'll put it back together. I've got one more weekend before surgery. If anyone has some good guidance I may try again next weekend. If no luck I'll be low beams only for a while. My commute matches with sunrise/sunset, so low beams are a must. This is my preferred daily driver, but not my only vehicle. While my shoulder heals I'll have to park the RX7 for awhile anyway. Any suggestions from those that have pulled the steering wheel is appreciated. 30 year old car and 57 year old man makes life interesting.

Thanks,
Eric

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Eric - sorry you are having so much hassle - and you are right: this is not the job to be tackling with a bad shoulder.
Without sounding like a broken record, I have pulled St wheels off at least 6 different RX7s and the hands-on-each-side-rocking-wheel-by alternately-push-pull-on-each-side-while-pulling has ALWAYS worked. I am puzzled what is different about your situation.
You are doing all the right things. Perhaps a friend with good arms should have a Go?
Its a tapered spline, so it should not be a Big Deal!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

Rock the wheel at the 12 and 6 position and then at the 3 and 9 and back to the 12 and 6 and it should come right free. Stupid question, but did you remove the nut that secures the steering wheel to the steering shaft?

lduley

iTrader: (1)

leave the nut on for a couple threads so you don't bonk yourself in the noggin

All_Terrain_RX7

Got the wheel off successfully this afternoon. I let it soak in PB blaster. I noticed a little puddle would form at the base of the splines, so I decided to turn the wheel 90 degrees and let it sit for 30 minutes. Repeated that until each position had the opportunity to soak into the splines. While it was soaking I watched a few youtube videos, including one of a 1st gen RX7. All of the wheels came off easy, but at least I knew I was doing it right.

Got my legs behind the wheel and my hands and started working the wheel back and forth. Rather than rock at 6 and 12 oclock, I rotated the wheel so I could keep my legs behind it. And I kept the nut on a little to keep it from popping off. Finally took the nut off and worked it. I could see PB Blaster working in and out of the splines. I put the gear puller back on with the nut off so I could see if there was any movement of the splines. Then I decided to put my legs behind the wheel with the puller on and really bo up on it.

Well, I should have put the nut back on. All of a sudden it popped. Wheel and gear puller came flying into my face. I did not get hit, but the pop made me think I had broken something. I put the wheel back on and checked it all out. Took it off and proceeded with the headlight switch change out.

Everything is working fine. Thanks for the suggestions.
Eric

LongDuck

Might consider putting on some anti-seize paste when you reinstall the steering wheel - yaknow, for the next time you have to pull it. I've bonked myself in the head so many times before I learned to keep a few threads on the nut that I still flinch when it breaks loose.

Hope your shoulder heals up,

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

How rusted were the spines?

All_Terrain_RX7

I put a little grease on the splines before putting the wheel back on. There was no rust on the splines, just plain stuck. It came apart just like a ball joint. One moment its tight as heck, then a loud pop and it let go. For ball joints I always leave the nut on to catch it. I really did not expect it to release or I would have put the nut back on. I was watching the PB Blaster seep in and out of the splines while I moved it around, and was trying to decide what I might could do to help it seep in more. I got away with leaving the nut off. Should have left it on. Drove it to work today. Lights work great, and steering wheel stayed on.