can't get my steering wheel off. I removed the airbag and there is a big hex nut or bolt thing. I can't get it to budge...using a hex/allen socket and big breaker bar...no luck. is there some secret to this?

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

No secret.

Be sure your allen wrench fits well, and that you don't damage the hex or it'll be even worse.

I've removed several, just takes a lot of force, there's blue thread-locker there just to make it a little more difficult.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Take a 2x4 put some scrap carpet on the top and bottom and use it to hold the wheel in place. Then you can put some force on the nut to get it loose.

Do a search on removing steering wheel as this has been outlined before.

You do NOT want to put torque against the steering wheel lock!

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
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'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
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'92 Subaru
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You're on the right track - it's just really really difficult.

I wrapped the long wooden handle of a shovel with towels and stuck it through the steering wheel and out the driver's door (shovel end outside the car, obviously).

My wife held the end of the shovel (to keep the steering wheel still) and I sat in the driver's seat and used the breaker bar on the bolt in the center of the steering wheel. Even then, it was tough to break it free.

__________________

1989 250TD Wagon 5-speed, 160,000mi ::: Dark gray metallic / black cloth
1984 190D-2.2 5-speed, 287,000mi ::: Silver-blue metallic / black MB-tex ::: SOLD

Call me a hack, but I've removed probably a half-dozen from junkyard cars to get the dash or the wheel, always just turned against the steering lock, never a problem. Did the same on a couple of my cars, still no problem. I think that the steering lock is pretty durable on the 124, at your own risk of course.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I did search steering wheel removal...came up with nothing.

what about an impact wrench? What size allen wrench? I think mine are SAE...I don't want any slack if I'm gonna have to get on it hard.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

10mm

Sixto
87 300D

turns out I was using a 10mm...but I'm not too confident it will hold up to an impact wrench or serious breaker bar use....will head to favorite tool shop to get a 10mm 1/2 drive bit....more to follow....

i need to replace the cruise control stalk...watch someone tell me how to do it w/o removing the steering wheel, lol

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

I just replaced mine. Don't hold your breath for a shortcut.

Sixto
87 300D

Please, do a follow up so I can muster some courage to replace mine I broke while fooling around with the dash.

While you've got the steering wheel off, I'd suggest adjusting the turn signal contacts in the base of the combination switch (the stalk that does wipers / high beams / turn signals).

Like most cars, this switch has a 'lane changing' feature where you can activate the turn signals momentarily by holding the lever down slightly without locking it into full turn signal mode. During 20+ years of use, the contacts eventually bend such that they no longer touch in the 'lane changing' position; you then have to go into full turn-signal setting for them to work.

While you've got things apart, find these contacts and bend them back a few millimeters with a screwdriver. Even if they haven't given you trouble yet, this only takes a minute and it could prevent you from having to take the steering wheel off to fix this problem in the future.

__________________

1989 250TD Wagon 5-speed, 160,000mi ::: Dark gray metallic / black cloth
1984 190D-2.2 5-speed, 287,000mi ::: Silver-blue metallic / black MB-tex ::: SOLD

Not a tough job, did it on Rudolph. I don't believe it can be done with the steering wheel on. Wheel off, lower panels off, brush-holder off, pretty easy and a 2hour job if the steering wheel doesn't cause problems.

Be sure the battery is disconnected the whole time, want everything discharged before plugging the airbag back in.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff