OK, the solution I performed was to cut off the little locking pin with a hacksaw and permanently retract the steering column lock rod, disabling the steering lock.

This is where I cut off the little lock pin so that I don't get stuck in the future if the key won't turn. I drilled a hole all the way through so that I could put that little screw in to hold the steering lock rod in the RETRACTED position. It is important to drill the hole while holding the steering lock rod in the retracted position. This disables the steering lock permanently.



I inserted the little screw into the hole I had previously drilled. Making sure that the hole was in a place the head of the screw was not protruding so as to impede the assembly from sliding in correctly. I made sure there was no epoxy protruding either. Now, the steering lock rod is permanently retracted and the little locking pin is no longer there.


With the steering lock in place but retracted, the key still has a good feel. I can feel each key position. I have heard that if you remove the steering lock rod completely, you can't feel the different key positions. Also, with the little locking pin removed, I'll never have to worry about not being able to remove anything if the key is ever not able to turn.