I'm installing a aftermarket steering wheel and everything was going good until I ran into this. I have watched videos of people switching out their wheel and none of them had this metal

piece in front of the clock spring after they removed the stock wheel. How do I get it off to take out the clock spring? My car is a 2002 if that makes a difference.

 

That looks like a steering column chastity belt, where someone has riveted a plate through the clock spring to the lock plate, prevening you from getting at the lock ring to take it all apart.

Does the car have history as a rental car, police car, or something that would be stolen and chopped?

My guess would be that you need to drill or grind those rivets out to get that security plate off.

 

I don't really know much about the car history. It was a v6 I bought from a private seller to do a v8 swap, I guess I have to take a to an auto repair shop to get taken off. Thanks for the reply.

 

Have you tried pulling on it gently. Oddly, it looks like the part was riveted from the backside. Maybe they did that for clearance on the back of the lockplate?

Either way, all you need is a Dremmel tool with a metal cutting wheel to slice those rivet tops off. Once you do, you should be able to get the plate off.

 

I tried to pull it off with screw drivers but it don't wanna budge and with all the plastic around it I don't want to break anything, but I did find someone that can take it off put they can't do it till Tuesday so I'm stuck a few more days with the school bus steering wheel. Lol

 

Please post pictures when you get the thing off. It's really odd that someone would go to that trouble. (I assume to make it difficult just to change the lock cylinder.)

 

Here is a side view, its not even anything behind the Rivets to drill out and when i try to pull or shake it its not moving an inch that suckered is on there tight.

 

OK, then. Maybe that plate is a part of an aftermarket steering wheel? Did you remove the original steering wheel from the car? (I assume not - if so, did it pull right off with your hands?)

If that plate is a broken part of an after market steering wheel, then it would be friction fit on the shaft and a steering wheel puller would be needed to get it off. See step 13 in this thread for the tool: https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...mn-repair.html

 

I removed the original steering wheel, that part actually looks like it was broken from the original wheel, but the thing is the two holes in it are to small for the puller to grip and pull out with the wheel it tried none of the bolts would fit it.

 

Can you post a pic of the front and back of the wheel you removed?

 

 

I think that part that is infront of the clock spring broke off the back of the wheel when I was using the puller.

 

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Or this

 

The bolts on the puller I rented were all too big, I guess finding one with some smaller bolts will do the trick. Thanks.

 

I would just drill and tap for the same size as the bolt in the puller kit, put a metal plate on top of the clock spring so you don't do any damage to it.

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Those pictures show that's correct. The rivets sheared clean. You did a good job with the puller - the wheel just couldn't take it.

+1 This is what I would do. This is going to take some creativity and protecting the clockspring on the backside (from the tap, any drills, and bolts put in for the pulling) is key. Many folks here have had to do similar operations when the steering wheel strips out and have destroyed the clockspring. Fortunately you have a better view of things with the wheel gone.

You might also try a jaw type bearing puller for this. You should be able to rent one for free from a local parts store and it should take the thing right off if you have enough clearance between the clock spring and the plate for the grabbers to get in there.

 

I'm going to try the bearing puller first, I'm not comfortable with drilling in the car considering i just had the whole interior redid but if I must, I must. Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

 

Jaw bearing puller did the trick,

success!!!

 

Victory!