Steering Wheel Removal Nightmare

Hello, long time follower but first time poster. Great information posted by all and I recommend this site always. Ran into a real beast removing our '95 Riviera SW while trying to replace the clock spring with a decent salvaged one. I've removed this SW before several years ago when tracing the horn problem which I bypasses with a dash switch until I could get back to the CS. Upon removal this time, my puller got the SW pretty much off the spline but got stuck right at the last moment. Had to wiggle while using impactor to finally get her to free. Ouch...found out the SW back ring stayed on the column shaft!





This left me with a problem, just how to successfully remove the now stuck back ring. I've only got a fraction over 1/8" clearance between the ring back and the CS. I had to improvise a 6" pully puller with a clamp to get it to stay on without flying into my face. Using only hand pressure, I can't get it to budge under a 1/16" .







Unfortunately, the only option appears to be cutting off the old CS then looking into how to remove the SW back ring. I'm probably going to have to stark looking for a used SW to make this work since one of the rivets on the back of the SW has also broken off. Any ideas for the great guru's!

-MontyHaul "

Hi,MontyHaul53.Don`t know why but I can`t see pics! Tried everything but still.... If you can repost.

Let me double check to put them into a working file and post the update.

URL's fixed.

cool Monty.....yeah , now I can see .Let me look.

I have a red SW complete I'd send you for short money and postage. If interested send a PM. You could have it recolored by a steering wheel repairer.  You'll have to shop around for that, the only one I know is craftcustoms.com, they can add wood or carbon fiber tot he wheel as an overclad/trim. Or for about $30.-  you can recolor/refinish it yourself, see http://www.leatherique.com/steering-wheels.html. Another $70 or so gets you the leather, right color and brand new, from Wheelskins (wheelskins.com)

Over the Holiday I was able to obtain a good SW at the same salvage yard here in Texas. I'll have to get it re-dyed. I have made several other attempts to remove the back ring from the column but no success. Even trying to push it back on hasn't worked. Any ideas?

Ohhh yeah Month. Keep us informed. I'm very interested.

I did find this like in a jeep Forum on a similar issue (with photos).

https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/broken-steering-wheel-hub-stuck-shaft-3152281/

Looks like I've got my work cut out for me.

Spent too much time trying to find a 2 jaw puller that would work so took thing in my own hands and carefully destroyed the clock spring behind the stuck rear steering wheel hub, removed the snap ring, grabbed my trusty 2 jaw large puller (which now fits perfectly behind the hub), and two strokes on the torque wrench, had it finally free!



Put the salvaged CS on and am starting to put everything back together today with fingers crossed. What a P-I-T-A!



-MontyHaul

Finally back together. Horn still doesn't work without using my bypass button. Still will need to send SW out to be refurbished, but all the RDO controls work on this salvaged AB.

To Do: Cruise Cntrl, AC, Drivers tilt seat motor (going soon), SC snout bearing refurbish kit (already purchased), Rear side interior panel recover with Tan to cover salvaged panel we just picked up. Wife really loves this car of hers and I'm doing everything to keep her (Riviera) together!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iaEGFL[/url]

In a quick nutshell, how tough is it to just pull the steering wheel off. I think I know of one in a junkyard, but from a '96. I think I"m going next weekend as we have 3 in the yard, 95-97. Rare event.

Type in Google or whatever you use "98 Buick steering wheel removal" and there are several YouTube videos that will help. I didn't find the directions in the Write-Up's. Key here is to disconnect the battery and pull the AB fuse and leave it for about 30min.'s before you start the removal process. I wouldn't use an impact wrench to remove the wheel nut as I did, just use a regular wrench instead. A standare steering wheel pulley will do the trick.

No doubt. Since the cars are in the junkyard, no worries. But good advice anyway. YouTube is a Godsend these days, and I sure appreciate all the advice dispensed and tips/tricks that help you learn from other peoples discoveries or mistakes.