TheSamba.com :: View topic - Steering wheel puller

Wed Jun 11, 2025 10:16 am

EDIT - no bearing puller had quite the reach. Whanging on shaft and lifting did not budge it. What worked? Taking my giant 34mm wrench, wrapping it in cloth, putting it at bottom of steering wheel and pounding upwards. Love taps didn't do it; 3 or 4 (bigger than I was happy with) whacks did.

Thanks to all who offered advice or a tool. Still want to buy one for next time...

Long shot - anybody in Portland area have an actual steering wheel puller to rent or borrow (hell, buy!). Auto shops I've called all carry 'threaded hole' version and that's it.

Not able to weld up my own contraption.

I have a prettty nice wheel and would rather not risk whanging on it.

PM me.

Wed Jun 11, 2025 10:42 am

I find loosening the nut, but leave it on with a few threads. Then grab a 10 and 2.and wiggle. It usually comes off.

Wed Jun 11, 2025 10:42 am

I have a gear puller set you can try. There is a YouTube video of a guy using one to pull a steering wheel off a Bus.
I’m in SE PDX.

Dave

Wed Jun 11, 2025 10:52 am

Yes, I have tried the grab and wiggle, hit center shaft and lift with knees, and hit from below with rubber mallet techniques. I really don't want to have to replace it, so was hoping to find a proper tool. Which at least 2 places told me never existed, and factory said to hit with hammer.

Gonna try a heat gun on it for differential expansion, then a big bearing puller a local garage offered.

Sure wish Joey still made his Matra copy...

This is why I am a big "bought it and never needed it" guy vs. "need it and can't find one!" Sadly, someone at Woodburn probably had something, but it was the drive home FROM Woodburn that convinced me the steering box needs to come out.

Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:19 pm

Combo is under $60.

https://www.harborfreight.com/bearing-separator-wi...DqEALw_wcB

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-3-jaw-gear-pull...IwEALw_wcB

Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:46 pm

There used to be a guy on here making a bus steering wheel puller, but I can't find the ad; maybe he quit. I bought one even though I didn't need it at the time, but I'm glad I did. (buy a plunger before you need a plunger)

This one is in the classifieds right now

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2398104

Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:48 pm

Here's the old ad - this was a screaming deal https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=478847

Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:55 pm

The trick is supporting the flange under the steering wheel hub. The turn signal switch will have to be loosened and slid down first. There is always risk of cracking the wheel bakelite. On reassembly, I put a little anti-seize on the splines, but fully tighten the nut. I still sweat breaking it!

Wed Jun 11, 2025 4:19 pm

I did see the one for sale - price was high, but mainly shipping time was an issue. And HF is a crapshoot; for every tool that is a great deal, 10 are going to break and ossibly hurt car or you. YMMV, but that's my experience. For 60 I may get that combo and see if it works or looks as likely to crack plastic as hitting the wrench!

I had antiseize on it, and it was only on a year... that little nut really puts the pressure on!

Wed Jun 11, 2025 6:35 pm

Get one of these and use it with your favorite long reach puller, I like the Mac version as it has a bar that keeps the puller arms from separating and popping off.

Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:03 am

I managed to remove mine without a puller, undo the nut and leave it on the last few threads (so it doesn't smack you in the face when it breaks free!)

Bung up the holes in the cast alloy wheel boss and steering column with blu-tack/plasticine.

Boil a Kettle full of hot water and fill the boss/and keep dribbling boiling water into the wheel boss, whilst pulling up, rattling, wobbling as much as possible on the wheel - the heat of the boiling water sitting inside the wheel will expand the wheel boss and help break the taper (hopefully!!)

Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:23 am

Sounds like the recipe for boiled nuts!

Fri Jun 13, 2025 1:37 pm

I bought two large 3 1/2 washes and cut each one the width of the steering post, slide them on, rotated them so the slots did not match up and then used a standard gear puller. So instead of yanking on the wheel, the gear puller pulls on the washers and off she comes. Cheap easy and no damage.
Like this...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=310527

Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:16 pm

My local hardware stores failed me on the big washers, but that is the right solution if you can find them! That's how I ended up at HF.

Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:36 pm

KTPhil wrote: My local hardware stores failed me on the big washers, but that is the right solution if you can find them! That's how I ended up at HF.

I have an Ace hardware in my downtown, they are great for this plus plenty of metric nuts, bolts...

Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:42 pm

Been using this home made one for decades, works great.

Fri Jun 13, 2025 3:19 pm

Scared the shit out of me when mine broke loose using the puller and washer method.

Came damned close to busting the windscreen when the puller went flying. If I have to do that again, I'm putting a cushion or blanket up against the screen.

Fri Jun 13, 2025 3:25 pm

Who.Me? wrote: Scared the shit out of me when mine broke loose using the puller and washer method.

Came damned close to busting the windscreen when the puller went flying. If I have to do that again, I'm putting a cushion or blanket up against the screen.

Or leave the hold-down nut on a few threads.

Fri Jun 13, 2025 7:46 pm

Thanks for all the tips; I'll likely try cobbling together something like long-roof's' 'Matra 666' tool; didn't have time to gather materials, tools, and ability the other day.

Care to post some more pics of that contraption?

Sat Jun 14, 2025 3:56 am

KTPhil wrote: Who.Me? wrote: Scared the shit out of me when mine broke loose using the puller and washer method.

Came damned close to busting the windscreen when the puller went flying. If I have to do that again, I'm putting a cushion or blanket up against the screen.

Or leave the hold-down nut on a few threads.

I did. The puller went flying, not the wheel.