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Attached is a photo of the carnage. Long story short I installed an aftermarket steering wheel and the adapter. I decided I wanted a working horn so I took the wheel back off and I cannot get this ******* adapter off! I have tried two different types of pullers and even heating it up against my better judgement..... Won't budge and now it's mangled to the point I can't get either puller on it. What's worst is my last attempt shredded the center stud.
So I need a new steering column at most, not sure how much of it is interchange able or how far you can tear down a steering column.
Any help would be appreciated
Last edited by blackbyrd; Aug 30, 2016 at 08:58 AM.
I have the same adapter on my car. I actually pulled it and reinstalled it twice last night to change the lock cylinder. (First time I installed cylinder backwards) you need a steering wheel puller specifically though. Has various bolts to thread into the two threaded holes next to the center stud then a large bolt with a holder for the two bolts threaded into the adapter.
Like this.
If you can get the adapter off then you may be able to save the column by running a die around the center stud and fixing it.
If you can't get it off then your next step would be removing the whole Assembly from the steering shaft and firewall. I wouldn't bother trying to replace peices of the column. I would just replace the whole thing.
I used a 3 jawed puller and a club foot puller (same thing as what you pictured but with 2 more ears to mount stuff too) the problem I ran into with it was all the bolts that fit needed washers to make them usefual and the washers just kept pulling through the puller. I didnt have anything with a big enough head on it with the right thread pitch to work.....so I was using some stainless allen head screws with 2-3 stacks of washers. sheared the washers everytime!
course now its mangled to the point I cant use that puller unless I pound the mangled section down get it to set flat. That said though the upper shaft mount is mangled to the point I dont know if I could mount it back on once its removed
I found an old thread about dissassembling the steering column but its all done from the top down (everything under the adapter) so I really dont have an option but to swap out the column. What kind of issues would I run into swapping in a different steering column and key?
Last edited by blackbyrd; Aug 30, 2016 at 11:22 AM.
went and got a puller like the one posted above last night and tried it.......sheered the bolts the first time, and then pulled the thread out of the adpater the second time.
Im getting another column it seems. So Im pretty sure vats is disabled on my car since im running a 98 ecm in a 2001. Other than Vats are there any other issues I might run into as long as I have the key that matches the column?
Well sucks. Something definitely went wrong upon install then. It's just a press fit into the splined shaft. Shouldn't be destroying bolts upon removal. Lol
Unfortunately you definitely are gonna have to change the column. As long as vats is taken care of you shouldn't have any other issues changing it. Other than it biting a pita to do. Good luck.
Ha-ha that is so true! I removed my seats last time to make it easier on me. But it's been several years since I did it. I was a lot smaller than too haha. Hopefully it goes smooth. I may recruit some friends and have a few adult beverages to go with it this time.......might make the floor studs in my back hurt less
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Steering wheel assembly help! 
