Steering Wheel Help

Working on the horn and wanted to take the steering wheel off and maybe change it out. I really like this stock one, but its falling apart. Here is where I am at. My book has no info on the steering wheel assembly.




Also after I changed the links out, I noticed the wheel is turned to the left slightly just like in the pic. Everything seems aligned, the van drives straight and is not pulling. I am not sure if the wheel was turned slightly when I got in a couple months ago, but I just noticed it now. I figured if I take the steering wheel off and replace, maybe it would fix it.
ALso if anyone sees an old stock wheel like this I am in the market.

You need a steering wheel puller at this point. It has bolts that thread into the two holes on each side of the shaft, then a larger bolt pushes the wheel off against the shaft in the center. As original wheels go, that one is in decent shape. Mine was missing a large chunk out of the center. I bought a wheel restoration kit from Eastwood and used some elbow grease on it.

Tom

Remove the large nut in the center.
Get a puller, the one pictured is a 2 bolt, the common one you can find and also use on the harmonic balancer is peace symbol shaped.

Install the 2 bolts in the kit fully, then tighten the center bolt to force the wheel off.

Early stuff like our vans can be installed in any position on the splines, later ones have a master spline that allows only a single position install.
If there was an adjustable end on the drag link from the steering box to the axle, this could be used to center the steering wheel. There isn't, so you move the arm on the box or move the wheel.

If you want it straight, remove the wheel, then install it loosely and just put on the center nut on finger tight. Drive it in a secluded area and note where the wheel is when driving straight. remove the nut and position the wheel on the splines so it's straight, then tighten the nut and install the horn.

RodStRace wrote:Remove the large nut in the center.
Get a puller, the one pictured is a 2 bolt, the common one you can find and also use on the harmonic balancer is peace symbol shaped.

Install the 2 bolts in the kit fully, then tighten the center bolt to force the wheel off.

Early stuff like our vans can be installed in any position on the splines, later ones have a master spline that allows only a single position install.
If there was an adjustable end on the drag link from the steering box to the axle, this could be used to center the steering wheel. There isn't, so you move the arm on the box or move the wheel.

If you want it straight, remove the wheel, then install it loosely and just put on the center nut on finger tight. Drive it in a secluded area and note where the wheel is when driving straight. remove the nut and position the wheel on the splines so it's straight, then tighten the nut and install the horn.  

Many thanks Rod! Knew you would know. That tool looks easy to make.

Made my own puller tool. Took it off, straightened it out, fixed the horn and reassembled.

You might wanna... Uhm... Yeah... What everybody else said!!! Guess Im WAY too slow!