going nuts need some advise

[Mike Daniels]

I have had it with the dealership my car is at the latest news Im getting is that they cant get the steering wheel off and want to drill holes in it if that doesnt work they say they want to CUT IT OFF!!! Some how they have managed to break 2 pullers. I spoke do a dealership here in KC that has done pleanty of these but I have to get the car down here 200 miles and am thinking of getting a bypass to get it down here I looked up the installation process and it seems pretty easy. Any advise would be great. I just want my baby back on the road.

[vettex2]

totally bizarre

I wish I knew what to tell you.
I'm sure the resident experts will though .

[LLC5]

Why is the wheel being pulled in the first place?

It does take a puller with special jaws on it to remove the wheel, there isn't a lot of area for the puller jaws to grip on the steering wheel. I can see how they may have damaged their puller if the steering wheel nut was torqued too tight. I would be inclined to let them drill and tap the holes and see if they can get it off with threaded bolts as the bolts will have more grip on the wheel, but only if they will gaurantee no damage will be done and if there is that they will pay to repair the damage.

[vettex2]

Originally Posted by LLC5

Why is the wheel being pulled in the first place?

It does take a puller with special jaws on it to remove the wheel, there isn't a lot of area for the puller jaws to grip on the steering wheel. I can see how they may have damaged their puller if the steering wheel nut was torqued too tight. I would be inclined to let them drill and tap the holes and see if they can get it off with threaded bolts as the bolts will have more grip on the wheel, but only if they will gaurantee no damage will be done and if there is that they will pay to repair the damage.

when I pulled steering wheels usually 1 hard rap with a plastic mallet loosened it up
will this hurt anything on a C5 ?

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by vettex2

when I pulled steering wheels usually 1 hard rap with a plastic mallet loosened it up
will this hurt anything on a C5 ?

Yes it can, with collapsable steering columns and air bags in almost all newer vehicles, you need to be very careful what you impact.

[vettex2]

Originally Posted by LLC5

Yes it can, with collapsible steering columns and air bags in almost all newer vehicles, you need to be very careful what you impact.

I understand the collapsible column could be an issue but the airbag ?
It's not even on the car when you pull the wheel ?
Is there an impact sensor in the column ?

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by vettex2

I understand the collapsible column could be an issue but the airbag ?
It's not even on the car when you pull the wheel ?
Is there an impact sensor in the column ?

No, but you don't want to take the chance of something not fitting correctly when you reassemble the steering wheel and air bag unit.

[vettex2]

Originally Posted by LLC5

No, but you don't want to take the chance of something not fitting correctly when you reassemble the steering wheel and air bag unit.

That is why I use(d) a plastic mallet
just a little whack usually did it
I guess I won't chance it on my C5 but I had no issue on my C4

[Mike Daniels]

Anyone had luck with the bypass units. I found one post that said they used them at dealerships during the recall as a permanant fix dont know about that but want to know if it is safe enough to get my car out of the sticks and to a place that sees more than one vette a year.

[vettex2]

Many have used them successfully