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Replacing the steering wheel

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johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#777704
Got a original steering wheel to replace the "sports" one in the wifes car. Looking at the manual it says I need a special tool to remove the steering wheel. Is this right?

I don't want to get it off only to find I can't get the other one. I have found in the past that cars are very difficult to manouver without a steering wheel fitted.

Thanks for any hints or tips,

John
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matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#777708
The manual may refer to a steering wheel puller, but you should be ok, if it is dificult to remove once the nut is off, with load pulling the wheel off, give the column a clout with a brass drift & hammer and the nut flush with the top threads to protect them (generally a two person job unless you have 4 hands lol ).
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
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psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#777891
Undo the nut and take the washer off and spray lots of releasing fluid into the splines. Leave it overnite. Come the next day pulling on the wheel should have it popping off 🙂

If not then a whack with a drift and club hammer should work.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·

#777893
You should be fine to get the steering wheel off on your own. A rattle gun with the correct impact socket is a huge help, I believe it is 27mm or something similar. I recently replaced a stock wheel in my Superbug with a sports one. Once I had taken the horn button off the stock wheel, I noticed that there was no nut! And the wheel then pulled off with only light finger pressure! I had been driving the car like this for a week or two and luckily hadn't ever pulled on the steering wheel! 🤪
1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#777898
johnl wrote:Got a original steering wheel to replace the "sports" one in the wifes car. Looking at the manual it says I need a special tool to remove the steering wheel. Is this right?

I don't want to get it off only to find I can't get the other one. I have found in the past that cars are very difficult to manouver without a steering wheel fitted.

Thanks for any hints or tips,

John
I have never ever had any trouble taking steering wheels off VWs... then again they haven't been out in the weather etc

its normal to undo the nut till its flush with the end of the thread... spray with WD40 etc.. the day before..
then tap the shaft with the nut on the end..

with someone else pulling on the wheel... 4 arms..

or even hitting the underside of the steering wheel with a rubber mallet...?

I saw on a TV show recently, with a Kombi... they boiled a jug of water and poured it over the centre of the steering wheel... and presto.. it came off...
that may be a bit messy with your beetle... lol..

maybe ice cold water down the centre tube...
and boiling water on the steering wheel centre..???? lol

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

bnicho Wolfsburg Wizard

436 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#777938
I've always undone the nut until it only has a few threads remaining, and then tugged hard on the wheel left, right, top and bottom. When it does give way it sometimes comes off suddenly. Hence leaving the nut on a few threads, so it doesn't come flying off and break your nose!

Cheers,
Brett.
Brett Nicholson
Melbourne, Victoria
1974 VW Superbug L - Olive 😎
1971 Morris Mini Moke - Mopoke
1966 Austin Mini - Audrey
1965 Morris Mini Traveller - Trixie
2007 Land Rover Freelander 2
2009 Nissan Pathfinder

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 ·

#777946
I've always found removing the horn cover on later model bug steering wheels to be the hardest part. But a bit of "gentle persuasion" usiually gets the job done. The rest is easy....from my experience.

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#779568
vw54 wrote:What car and year model ???
It is a Beetle 68. On the sports steering wheel it has a button for the horn and a button for the windscreen washers - which I will need to find another spot to install it.
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bugzla Custom Title Time!

1,164 posts · joined Jun 2007 ·

#779578
ive got a new boss at home let me know ill check the number

johnl Slammed & Awesome Dubber

75 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#784158
Just an update. Removed the old steering wheel and there was a extension connected to the column to bring the sports wheel higher. The sports sterring wheel was held on by a hand made bracket. All very safe and done pretty well. The whole thing came apart pretty easily. Put the new old one on and all good. Just need to hook up the horn as the original sterring wheel does not seem to have the contact on the under side to make the connection.

Cheers and thanks for the assistance.
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