So Fix it

Removing a steering wheel lock cylinder can be tricky, and definitely requires patience. But with instructions, the right tools and a little patience, you can easily accomplish this task on your own. The technique may differ among car models, but the same tools are required.

Star Bit Drivers

The star bit drivers tool is used to remove the two sets of screws from the back of the steering wheel. This enables you to disconnect the wires connected to the airbag. The star (torx) drivers are also used to disconnect the horn button from the steering wheel by removing the two screws attaching it. This is done by pushing down a plastic tube, while turning it counterclockwise, and pulling the tube out.

Steering Wheel Puller

The steering wheel puller is a specialized tool used to remove the steering shaft nut locking the steering wheel. This is achieved by sliding the wheel puller through the holes on the steering wheel while removing it. The steering wheel puller forces out the steering wheel by jerking the center tube of the puller against the column shaft.

Wheel Spring Compressor

The wheel spring compressor is used to remove the steering wheel locking center. The spring compressor is fitted on the steering tube and is yarned down. It turns the nut down, pushing the fork down on the center. The spring compressor compresses down the center enough for you to see if the snap ring retainer is loose. If loose, you can easily pick it with a small pocket screwdriver.

Phillips Screwdriver

The Phillips screwdriver can be used to retract the horn pad from the steering wheel, by removing the two screws behind the steering wheel shafts. It operates by turning the screwdriver counterclockwise. The Phillips screwdriver is also used to remove the two screws holding the plastic signal in place by turning it counterclockwise. It also removes the ignition lock holding screw, which is accessed by lifting up the turning signal mechanism. Once this screw is out, it allows you to pull out the lock cylinder off the steering wheel shaft.

Adjustable Wrench

The adjustable wrench is used with a wheel puller to remove the steering wheel. An adjustable wrench is a type of spanner with a jaw that you can adjust to fit any width and is suitable to use with a variety of nuts. It works by turning the center screw on the wheel puller clockwise until the steering wheel is lifted of the shaft. The adjustable wrench also enables you to remove the middle screw connecting the steering wheel to the steering tube by backing it out in a counterclockwise manner.

Needle Nose Pliers

The needle nose pliers is made of hard steel; it has a thin blade with a sharpened edge making it suitable to pick on thin wires. Needle nose pliers are used to expose the locking ring in the keyhole. This is achieved by pressing down the lock ring inward so that it is released from the cap inside. When the pliers compress the ring down enough, the cap pops off by itself.

Depending on your perspective, an off-center steering wheel can be a truly infuriating experience, all the more so when the car doesnt pull to either direction. Theres something about this condition that just seems to baffle the human mind; how can the car be going straight when the wheel is turned? But the reason for a steering wheel turn, and the subsequent fix, is actually pretty simple once you understand what went wrong.

Steering Basics

Your steering wheel connects to a steering column. At the end of that column is a gear called a pinion, and that pinion meshes onto matching teeth on top of a flat bar called a rack. When you turn the pinion, it pushes the rack to the left or the right. The ends of the rack connect to tie rods, which in turn connect to arms extending backward from the wheel hubs. On the tie rods youll find a threaded collar; turning it makes the tie rod longer or shorter, angling the wheel inward or outward. Of course, this describes only a rack-and-pinion system, but most steering systems are functionally identical where the steering linkage is concerned.

Rear Toe and Steering

Most cars also have a second bar running from side-to-side in the rear, and those that dont typically have some provision to turn the axle one direction or the other. While it may seem a bit strange, the rear axle and its tie rods are just as responsible for steering your car as the front. The difference is that the rear axle only turns the rear of the car. If your rear alignment settings -- via the tie rods or axle alignment -- are off, youll have to turn the wheel in the same direction as the rear tires to keep the car pointed down the road. This alone will cause your steering wheel off-center, because the car is actually going down the road slightly sideways.

Alignment Problems

An off-center steering wheel is, paradoxically, a pretty common complaint following a front-wheel alignment. During an alignment, the technician will adjust your front tie rods to whatever degree necessary to remove any pull on the steering wheel. In the course of doing so, hell end up changing the position of the wheels relative to the steering column just to keep them pointed in the same direction as the rear tires. While this does eliminate that sideways pull, itll also permanently cock your car sideways. This "off-tracking" or "dog-tracking" is dangerous because it changes your cars low and high-speed handling characteristics, and itll kill your fuel economy by exposing the broad side of your car to the wind.

Dialing Out the Turn

Since this is essentially a problem with rear wheel angle, you need to adjust that first. The simplest way is to take your car to an alignment shop and have them perform a four-wheel alignment. If youre doing it yourself -- which you shouldnt unless youve got the right equipment -- then you need to get the rear wheels pointed perfectly straight first. Then, youll need to start the engine, turn the wheel a couple of times to relieve pressure from the power steering system. Shut the car down with the wheel locked in a straight-ahead, 12-oclock position. Finally, adjust the front tie rods to get the wheels straight. At this point, the problem is essentially fixed and your car is once again pointed straight, but youre not quite done yet.

Setting the Toe

While it might sound odd, most cars arent going down the road with all four wheels pointed straight forward. Many have a certain degree of front or rear "toe." Toe-in means the front of the wheels point inward, or sort of cross-eyed. Toe-out means they point slightly outward. Different manufacturers and drivers per different degrees of toe-in or -out for a given car. Toe-in makes that axle more stable on the highway and under braking by causing the wheels to constantly try to turn toward each other. Toe-out causes that axle to change direction more quickly at the expense of stability. A zero-toe setting does nothing for directional stability either way, but is the hypothetical optimum for fuel economy. Setting toe is vital for your cars performance and safety, and its somewhat difficult to measure without the right equipment. So, unless you really know what youre doing, these sorts of alignment settings are best left to professionals.

Car wheel covers allow you to give some character to your wheels. They come in plastic or metal finish, and they clip over your existing hubcap. If you want to clean the wheel cover, change to a new style or remove a broken cover, youll need to remove the cover from your wheel. This is not challenging since they clip on. Prying the covers off the car wheel takes manual dexterity but very little brawn.

Instructions

1

Bend or kneel beside one of your car wheels to begin.

2

Slip a flat-head screwdriver underneath the wheel cover. Push the screwdriver forward to loosen the wheel cover. Dont force it if it does not want to come up; you can break plastic wheel covers or bend metal ones.

3

Move the screwdriver to another area on the wheel cover. Again push the screwdriver under the wheel cover and pry it forward. Repeat this process at several places along the cover to loosen it from your wheel.

4

Grab the cover when it begins falling off the wheel.

5

Repeat this process on each wheel to remove all of the covers.

The front wheels on a 2005 F250 Super Duty truck are designed to withstand heavy duty work. Because the F250 is a heavy duty truck, the wheels have eight lug nuts, instead of the usual five or six lug nuts found on light duty trucks. The lug nuts are a special swivel-type nut, designed to stay tight in situations where normal fixed nuts can loosen. Its also important that you never apply any lubricant such as engine oil to the wheel studs or lug nuts, because this could also cause them loosen under certain circumstances.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the F250 on a flat, level surface and turn off the engine. Shift the transmission into park, or first gear for F250s equipped with a manual transmission.

2

Press the parking brake pedal down to engage the parking brake. Place one wheel chock behind each of the rear wheels. Pry the hub cap loose, if equipped, with a large flat-head screwdriver.

3

Break each of the eight lug nuts loose with a lug nut wrench. This is important, because if you try to loosen the nuts when the vehicle is lifted, the wheel will spin and you wont get any leverage.

4

Lift the front of the truck with a jack and place a jack stand under each side of the front frame. Lower the truck onto the jack stands and make sure theyre secure.

5

Remove the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench and pull the tire off of the truck.

Installation

6

Set the wheel onto the studs and reinstall the lug nuts. Snug them tight with the lug nut wrench while holding the wheel to make sure it doesnt turn.

7

Lift the truck with the jack, then remove the jack stands and lower it back to the ground.

8

Tighten the lug nuts to 165 foot-pounds with a torque wrench an metric socket in an alternating, criss-cross pattern.

9

Place the hub cap onto the wheel and tap it down into position with a rubber mallet.