Steering Wheel Centre Lock Nut

[rs73]

Ok guys,

I want to put on my Momo wheel. So this afternoon,

I managed to get my steering wheels off, piece of cake.

Saw the centre hexagonal locking nut. Sprayed some WD-40 on it, and it wont budge at all..... bugger.... @#$%

I tried using socket 17mm (the largest one I had) but won't fit. I use 3/4" but seems to be just a little bit loose there. Maybe this cause a bit of difficulty turning the socket wrench and the nut won't unlock.

Anyone can help me, whoever done this before, what socket size you use? Metric or Inches system? Is it 18mm or 19mm????

Thx.

Rianto

[rs73]

Oh, and mine is S1 R33, no airbags, so easier, just need to get that bl@@dy centre nut off....

[elbee111]

Gday rs73

I have done this a while ago when I had trouble with my Hicas light coming on. Steering angle sensor was the problem.

I am fairly sure that I used a 3/4 socket. You need a bit of leverage to undo it and I used a Torque wrench with about a 600mm handle.

I am not sure from your comments, but if the socket is stuck on the nut then it certainly is too large.

Once the nut moved I counted the number of turns that it took to come off completely so that it went back on the same.

You will need a steering wheel puller after it has come off. Don't be tempted to bash it with a hammer or something.

Make sure you have a boss kit for our R33 otherwise you will have the Hicas warning light coming on and it will be disabled.

Hope this helps and other guys may be able to confirm socket size etc.

Good luck

El Bee

[Guest Nismo_Freak]

3/4" = 19mm

Allow the WD40 to soak for 10 minutes... then respray it on 5 minutes before you try to wrench it off.

[rs73]

Thank's guys...

I did use 3/4" but it's a bit loose, probably need to find a metric 19mm socket as 3/4" is 19.05 mm, that .05 mm might make a difference. And of course, I got HICAS boss kit.

I don't have 600mm wrench handle, so might be a good idea to find one, mine is short only like 200mm so I guess won't help me give more torque to the nut. And I'll try spraying more WD40 again, may not be long enough last time...

[akeenan]

leverage is right, thankfully i have a huge breaker bar! , put a bit of pipe on the end of ur ratchet this should make it a bit easier. However be careful with ur socket when doing this, i used an impact socket.

[rs73]

mine's a lousy socket set bought $27 at bunnings. I dun think it will hold that much, I'm more worried in breaking the lock in the steering mechanism (when you turn off ignition) than the rachet itself. might need someone to hold the steering steady for me.

[slip]

19mm socket and some muscle. Done it a few times on my car.

To get the wheel off, undo the nut, but not all the way. Sit in the seat with your hands either side of the wheel, and try to pull it off 1 hand at a time, so you are forcefully wiggling and pulling the thing. Thats what I have to do with mine, you cant pull it straight off, have to wiggle it. Leaving the nut on stops you pulling it off and smashing yourself in the face with it or something else unpleasant.

[akeenan]

also another thing, do you have a steering wheel pulley set? when i did mine i had to buy one of these as the wheel is on pretty tight and i couldnt yank it off

[Clint32]

all you do is leave the nut level with the end of the thread, then pull on the wheel and get a mate to hit the shaft with a brass punch lightly, this will free the spline shaft.

[rs73]

This seems to sound very difficult to do... how did those guys at nissan put these steering wheels on our cars, pound 'em in with a huge sledge hammer???

If after all means I still can't get the centre wheel lock nut off or can't yank off the steering wheels, anyone know a good place in Melbourne who has done R33 with HICAS? I dun wanna some "yea, we can do that - they're all the same" backyard accessories shop around the corner mess up my HICAS sensors...

[rs73]

I finally gave up and ran to the local mag & tyre shop. They had this "HUGE" massive 60 or 80 cm long wrench, and angle adjustable. Took them 1 minute to undo the centre nut!

They finished off the installation and cost me a $20 total, nice blokes from sth africa where they came from.

The end result is: