A steering wheel is a kind of control used in vehicles for controlling them; steering wheels are used in all the vehicles today. These steering wheels are a part of the entire steering system, which is manipulated by the driver and the remaining steering system will respond to the inputs by the driver. Steering wheels for the passenger automobiles are always circular and mounted on the steering column with a hub connected on the outer ring on the steering wheel with one or more spokes. If the steering wheel of your car is not functioning properly, then at this time you must know how to replace steering wheel.
Steering wheels should be used only for strategic movements of the hand in spinning motions. Care should be taken to make sure the safety of the extremities. These constant motions with the steering wheel must be always performed with caution. Turning the steering wheel when the vehicle is stationary is known as ‘dry steering’. Therefore it is always advised to never perform dry steering as it puts a lot of strain on the steering mechanism. However, over the time steering wheel will not have the same smoothness as it had on the first day. At the point, it is best to replace the steering wheel; here are some easy-to-do steps to replace steering wheel.
Things Required:
- Steering wheel
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Puller
Steps:
Remove the old steering wheel
- First, you will have to read the instructions that have come along with the steering wheel and gather all the tools that have been mentioned in the instructions manual. Next, you will have to point the wheels straight ahead.
- Now, disconnect the battery or pull out the horn fuse before you remove the steering wheel. This will prevent the horn from shorting out or blowing while you are replacing the steering wheel.
- Take out the horn mechanism by pressing down the horn cap or ring and then turn and take out the emblem cap from the snapped in position by pulling it towards you and prying loose. If the horn ring is fixed with screws, which are concealed on the rear side of the wheel spokes, then you will have to use a screwdriver for removing the rings and the screws.
- Take out the horn wire or the metal spring-loaded plunger from the plastic housing by pulling it straight from the metal plunger or in some models by simply twisting the plastic sleeve on the left and then pulling it out. After that, you will have to cut the wire off from the plastic sleeve and keep that sleeve in a safe place for using later.
- Now, you can take out the shaft nut clip, if present, and keep it aside for later use. Carefully mark the shaft at twelve o’clock position, so that you have an idea of where you need to replace the steering wheel.
- Take a conventional puller and insert it on the two tapped holes that appear on the hub of the old wheel and pull out the steering shaft. Now you can remove the original wheel.
Replace the steering wheel
- The first step for replacing the steering wheel will be placing the small tubular metal sleeve at the base of the steering shaft. You will have to position the hub at the splined shaft, and make sure that the shaft is placed properly at the mark you had made earlier. You will have to rotate the contact plastic horn tube slightly, so that it is aligned with the appropriate hole via the hub.
- The next step will be inserting the plastic sleeve and spring inside the plastic horn housing. If the plastic sleeve is extending above the top bolt surface from the custom hub, then you will have to cut the sleeve so that there is 1/8 inch at the top portion of the hub. Now remove the sleeve.
- Now you can insert the lead wire through the plastic sleeve, which was supplied with the wheel kit. Always remember that one end will not pass through the sleeve. The bell-shaped end will go through the horn contact housing. You will have to insert the sleeve and wire inside the housing and lock them into position.
- For replacing the steering wheel you will have to route the wire through hub and then from ten o’clock position towards two o’clock position. After this, you will have to position the wheel and post cover at the hub. Make sure that these wire leads pass through the appropriate holes in the two o’clock position. Fasten the hubs with the help of the three shoulder hubs that are provided and post the cover and wheel together, but remember that you must not tighten it.
- Check the wheel carefully to make sure that it has been positioned properly. If it is correct, then reinstall the shaft nut and tighten it. Install the retainer clip of the shaft nut. If the retainer does not fit inside the groove of the shaft, then you must tighten the nut until it fits similar to the original location.
- When replacing the steering wheel take out the shoulder bolts and reinstall it, with the help of the retainer ring with the fiber side facing you. Always remember that when you are tightening the shoulder bolts excess bolt will damage the hub. If the shaft nut is properly tightened, then it will firmly hold the wheel assembly and the hub on the shaft.
The last step for replacing the steering wheel will be connecting the wire lead to the connector at the retainer ring and you will have to position the spring on the center nut. Remember to align the dimples at the horn cap with some relief in the fiber materials and push the dimples past the fiber. Keep on turning the cap right or left until the cap is tight. After this, reconnect the battery and replace the fuse.
Related Tags: changing steering wheel, replace steering wheel, plastic horn contact housing, old steering wheel, how to used a steering wheeling reinstaller, how to replace the steering wheel on a 1969, how to replace steering wheel on tacoma, How to replace power wheels wheel
Related Content: