How to Remove a 1996 S10 Steering Wheel

The steering wheel in a 1996 Chevrolet S-10 truck is secured to the steering shaft with a metric steel nut that threads onto the splined end of the shaft. Once this nut is removed, a special steering wheel puller is required to free the steering wheel from the steering shaft. The steering wheel also contains the airbag unit which must be removed prior to installing the steering wheel puller. Steering wheel pullers are available from auto-parts stores and specialty-tool manufacturers.

Things You'll Need

• Battery terminal wrench
• 3/8-inch ratchet
• 3/8-inch hex-head bit
• 1/2-inch ratchet
• 1/2-inch deep-well metric socket set
• Steering wheel puller

Instructions

1. Shut down the engine and place the S-10's transmission in park or first gear (manual transmission). Set the parking brake, open the hood, and disconnect the negative battery terminal using the battery terminal wrench.

2. Remove the hex-head bolts from the rear side of the steering wheel that hold the airbag unit in place, using a 3/8-inch ratchet and a hex-head socket. Disconnect the airbag's electrical connector and remove the airbag unit.

3. Remove the metric steel nut holding the steering wheel to the steering shaft using a metric deep-well socket and a 1/2-inch ratchet.

4. Install the steering-wheel puller onto the steering wheel, according to the manufacturer instructions that were provided with the puller. Slowly tighten the puller's center screw until the steering wheel is free from the steering shaft.

References

• "Haynes Repair Manual: Chevrolet S-10 and GMC Sonoma: 1994 thru 2004"; John Haynes; 2006