FB12a Newbie

WHAT THE F*^$!!!!!!! So after 2 hours or trying almost everything I have in my garage, breaking the bolt on my puller and A LOT of frustration. My steering wheel seems to be seazed on the shaft. Any tips on the FB steering wheel? Ive never had this much trouble getting a wheel off before, a few taps maybe a slight twist on the puller tool thats it. Anyone have an idea of what is going on here?

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

We don't use pullers on our wheels. You just wiggle it back and forth and it comes off.

flight_of_pain

Usually they just fall off At the risk of sounding asinine, you did remove the nut?

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Loose nut behind the wheel? :-0

ian65

whatever you do, don't be tempted to hit the steering column with a hammer. They are designed to collapse in a collision and the shaft and its sleeve are only connected by a sort of weak rivet. Damage this and its a new steering column.
I've always managed to get mine off with a puller ( since I damaged a column with the hammer as above) and they do spring off eventually. Very tight sometimes though.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

You don't use a puller! I have taken off at least 15 ones off of different 7's and they come off very easily with wiggling them back and forth.

It's called a shear pin and you would have to hit it down wards not outwards. :-)

ian65

That's what I said, don't hit the column with a hammer.... why would you want to hit it outwards?

FB12a Newbie

Damn well there goes that...... I did try at first to wiggle it off like I have done to past cars, didn't work. Went to the hammer next hitting it twords the drivers seat. Puller did not work either. So if my wheel now moves forward and backward im screwd right? Whats involved in taking it out and putting a new one in? Might just hit up the local Pick N Pull tomorrow, my steering box is done from previous owner trying to "adjust" it. Looking closely at the splines on my column don't seem right. How labor intensive is swapping those out?

FB12a Newbie

And yeah, bolt was removed!

Scott1982

Seriously, listen to these guys.... You have to pull and wiggle - mine was stuck on all to hell. I used a puller and I messed up the wheel but it DID NOT come off.

Pull like hell while rocking side to side on the wheel, keep the nut on enough for the wheel to move a bit but not come back and hit you in the face.

It is a pain in the *** but it will come off - be patient and rock and pull - get some good tunes (Mastadon maybe)

flight_of_pain

There have been members who successfully repaired collapsed columns. Search and you will find.

Either way, the wheel has to come off.

Swapping the steering box and column out is a piece of cake. Remove the steering wheel and associated switches, then unbolt the column inside the car (the 4 bolt flange will need to come off the column). In the engine bay, remove the steering box ball joint, remove the bolts holding the box to the frame rail, and slip the whole thing out the bottom.

FB12a Newbie

Thanks!!! Great information, is my column messed for sure if it can move back and forth about 3/4 to an inch? Is it unsafe?

FB12a Newbie

Great luck, u pull it had an 84 13b with power steering!! Night and day difference, just looped the P/s but much better feel. Coupled with a 13" wheel. Anyone in the portland area, good Rx at the North side pick n pull. A lot still there, anyone know how to tell if the rear end is LSD. Im guessing its viscous so you can't just see if the other wheel turns the other way.

flight_of_pain

Mazda didn't use viscous lsds, until S5 IIRC, so it's going to be clutch or open. Both wheels turn the same way=LSD, turn opposite=open.

FB12a Newbie

Hmmm, because the one at u pull I tryed that and the other wheel didnt spin at all, it just spun the drive shaft. Anyway, too broke to buy that right now but its nice to know that there are good parts cars at the yard.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

To Remove the steering wheel - Once you remove the center nut...

Alternate hitting the Steering Wheel solidly with the palms of your hands at the 9:00 o'clock and 3:00 o'clock positions for about 10 seconds. Left, Right, Left Right, Left, Right, real quick.

The wheel wheel slip right off.