steering wheel removal

[mojobaby]

Don't you hate it when you start on a little fix-it job on your car and end up dismantling half the car?
That happened to me today when I started out trying to fix my indicators. My whole dashboard is unscrewed and I was busy taking off my steering wheel when I got stuck and could go no further.
The 22mm nut is already off but I don't think that the big nut in the photo is supposed to be unscrewed; it looks like its fused to the plastic of the steering wheel.
I put a hold on the work until I get some advice from you guys-I don't want to break anything

 

[Azazello]

It's striped (?), just a joint; play a bit with the steering wheel, push and pull alternately on right and left sides, it should come off...

 

[mojobaby]

I actually tried with quite a force to pull it directly off. Tomorrow I'll give it a left and right, push and pull. I don't think its going to be that easy though, I have a feeling that there might be a lug on the steering column to keep the steering wheel straight.

 

[angel]

It has a tapered fitting that must come loose first.

Give it two or three good thumps with your palms on each spoke end, alternating between right and left spoke. Then grasp it firmly at the same points and pull it as Andrea described, and after some effort you will feel it coming loose. Don't try to pull it straight out.
If it still won't loosen, your last resort is to knock the steering column with a brass drift (not steel!) while an assistant pulls the steering wheel.

 

[Simon P]

When you pull on the wheel hard and rock it from side to side put the 22mm nut back on 2 turns.
When the wheel comes loose it is very easy to hit your self in the face with the wheel.

 

[mojobaby]

I used to have a recurring nightmare where I have no brakes and the steering wheel comes off in my hands and I have to steer the car with the shaft.
I can see now that that could never happen, they're virtually impossible to get off
Thanks guys all sorted!

 

[pepper]

Hi as a quick very important note!

I ALWAYS leave the nut on a few turns when trying to remove a steering wheel. Having broken my nose when removing a wheel when young and stupid. I learnt my lesson!

What happens is you whip the nut off, then start struggling and struggling to get the wheel off and all of a sudden it releases straight upwards! Don't do it kids, leave the nut on until it's loose!

 

[Azazello]

When I was 18 I removed the steering wheel from my mother's super5, to change the light switch.
I used a hammer to loosen the tapered joint, and ruined the threaded bar... I had to bring the car to a mechanic shop to have the thread re-done...

 

[mojobaby]

I'm sure your mother wasn't too happy! I can write a book about the stupid things I did when I was 18. At least you got the steering wheel off!