Pulling steering wheel on a first gen, procedure?

[JSoule]

Just installed the Borgeson and of course now need to reorient the steering wheel. How do I access the center bolt without breaking anything, in other words, what is the procedure for pulling the steering wheel on the first gens? Thanks!

 

[Greenleaf]

I use a generic all purpose puller kit for steering wheels. I think it's from Sears and works on anything/everything. Including injection pump drive gears etc.



The shaft nut is removed and the puller installed. You will have to use the proper sized bolts to thread into the steering wheel hub. At this point I simply do not know the size of the thread. Thread one bolt into hub and install the cross bar then the other bolt. Make for certain the two bolts are into the hub about 1/2" or better to prevent pulling the threads out. Tighten the center bolt in the cross bar and hold the wheel at the same time to prevent the wheel from turning. I use a long 1/2" drive breaker with a 1/2" soccet to turn the center bolt.



The center bolt will PUSH onto the shaft while the two bolts will PULL on the steering wheel hub.



The shaft is splined. . so is the hub. You will have to grind out the double spline inside the hub to allow the hub to index onto the splined shaft @ any location. I use a die grinder.

 

[BJMarshall]

Not sure what year your truck is, but I think you should reorient the wheel by adjusting the drag link not taking the wheel off and turning it. I tried this and got the clock spring out of whack and my turn signal cancellation occured at the wrong place.

Mysteryman helped me out with this. Maybe he will chime in.

 

[btoscano]

After I did my Borgeson, I used a steering wheel puller from AutoZone to adjust the steering wheel. In my case the wheel had been moved previously so I just put it back to normal! Turning lock-to-lock is almost even from the center point, no better or worse than my Cherokee. I would suggest driving around before putting everything back together to make sure you moved it the right amount. That way its easier to change the position if you want to move it a spline or two either way. I didn't have to grind anything on my 1993, not sure what GL means. If you are WAY off then you should probably make your adjustment at the steering box to Borgeson splines.

 

[Greenleaf]

My thoughts exactly. If your way off and have the clockspring type truck. The early units don't have that spring.



The splines inside of the hub are indexed with the splines on the shaft. The hub will only fit ONE way unless you or the PO have modified the splines to correct for an off kilter wheel.

 

[btoscano]

So its probable that someone already did the grinding for me... Gotcha!