Need to remove the steering wheel on the old gal

[meltedpanda]

I really need to clean up my instrument panel, so as I understand it I have to remove steering wheel. Any "gotchas" in this seemingly easy job.
On my 220 I did not need to remove steering wheel.

[POS]

Been there, just done that.

I'm sick of doing this - need foolproof steering wheel removal

[LUVMBDiesels]

You do not need to remove the steering wheel to get the instrument panel out in a W126. Here is what you need to do...

1) Remove the kick panel under the driver's dash

2) Stick your hand up into the opening and push out the instrument panel.

3) Remove the electrical connections from the panel. The W126 has an electric speedometer and oil pressure gauge so there are no stiff cables or oily hoses to worry about. I can take my panel out in about five minutes.


An alternative is to either fashion or buy a set of pullers. These fit between the dash and the panel and allow you to pull the panel out without removing the kick panel under the dash.


either way it comes out with the wheel in place.

[aam]

I did that on a 126 I didn't remove the wheel.
Made tool from bike spokes or like wire,
bent it 90 degrees a little less then 1/4" by 5"/90 degrees.

[donbryce]

The wheel does need to come off if it's the SL he's wrenching on....but I don't think there were air bags in a '72, and the wheel has probably been off several times on a car that old.

[meltedpanda]

yes it is on the SL, no air bags, I have a picture from the PO in the restoration process with it off so I am hoping it is not stuck
Thanks

[LUVMBDiesels]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

yes it is on the SL, no air bags, I have a picture from the PO in the restoration process with it off so I am hoping it is not stuck
Thanks

Oh ok... my mistake.

In that case get a piece of 2x4 that will fit snugly betweenthe wheel spoke and the floor. Wrap the ends in carpet and then use a 1/2 inch drive with an extender bar. Put the wheel against the 2x4 and go to town!

Don't use the ignition lock as it will snap pretty easily

[donbryce]

One poster on this forum suggested turning the wheel hard left to remove, hard right to put back on. I'd try this first, in case it's not on there all that tight. This would put all the stress on the linkage ball joints, pretty safe to do this IMO.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by donbryce

One poster on this forum suggested turning the wheel hard left to remove, hard right to put back on. I'd try this first, in case it's not on there all that tight. This would put all the stress on the linkage ball joints, pretty safe to do this IMO.

That's the procedure. Just remember to keep the ignition key on...in other words keep the steering unlocked. And be careful of the windshield with your grunt bar.

[nhdoc]

If you have an impact wrench the job is a snap. Loosening that bolt by hand can be really tough though so my suggestion is using an impact wrench if you have trouble with it.

[danwashuk]

I just removed the steering wheel from my 1974 450 sl a couple of days ago. I used my brother instead of the 2x4. Seemed to work just as well!!! After the bolt is removed the wheel just came off the splines with a little tug. I measured the splines at 15 mm outer diameter if anyone needs to know. I am going to replace the wheel with a Nardi Wood steering wheel and the outfit I bought the adaptor from wanted the dimension...Dan

[sokoloff]

Just removed mine on my 560SL too. Since I had the allen type hex head, I used the 2 x 4 method and it broke free pretty easily.

[meltedpanda]

2X4 worked for me, and found the re torque specs for putting her back on - 50ft lbs

[sokoloff]

80 nm is what I found. That's about 68 ft-lbs.

[danwashuk]

I'm dissapointed that the 2x4 worked out so well, I was hoping to rent out my brother!!!......Dan