steering wheel removal, how do i remove it? Options

[soldier4life]

i just got a new steering wheel i want to put it in but i dunno how to take the stock one out...can someone help me out?

[neophile]

okay, this is from memory so probably isn't too acurate, but it may help

The first thing would be to find out if you have an airbag or not, since you'll need to disable it if you do (I don't have one, so i'm not sure on this, but i believe you disconnect the battery and wait 15 seconds or so before beginning work - I'm sure some one else can confirm this)

If you are airbag-less like me, then the first step is to remove the centre cover (the thing you press to make the horn work). On mine i pulled the top two corners towards me and it unclipped the top - the bottom part is a little more tricky, since if you get under your steering wheel and look up, you'll see a small hole with a screw in it - unscrewing this will release the bottom part of the centre cover and allow you to remove it.

You should now see a large bolt, I used the largest spanner I had and it just fitted it, and unscrewed this - note - this took quite a lot of effort, which I guess is a good thing )

(if at this point you see 3 other screws that appear to holding the wheel on, remove these as well - i'm not sure if these screws were on the celica or corolla - stupid poor short-term memory )

You should now be able to slide the steering wheel off by pulling it towards you - I believe the professionals use a steering wheel puller or something, but I just pulled it towards me - it has to be pulled evenly otherwise it will stay put, and feel like it is still bolted on - i spent about 5 minutes tugging at it with no luck, then, while adjusting my seat grabbed the wheel to pull myself forward and it slid of like it was a hot knife in butter so i guess it's all in the technique . . .

Adding a new wheel should be the same process reversed, except i've heard some after-market wheels need a hub or something to fit on the toyota steering column thingy - once again i'm sure others will be able to provide more accurate or knowlegable info - but hopefully this is enough info to get you started - unless of course you have an airbag, then all of this was simply a good typing exercise for me