Thread: Defender Steering Wheel Removal..........

Yes and you may to give it a bit of shove to get off the splines. The nut takes 22mm socket from memory.

Behind it you will see a blue plastic ring on the shaft, this is the indexing ring for the indictors. Note which way the little arrow is pointing and make sure it is that way when you put the wheel back on. Otherwise the indicators will not auto cancel.

The Defender steering wheels that I've taken off (2003 model) have required the removal of the whole rectangular (about 150 x 80mm) plastic centre including the LR Logo.

And once the nut is loosened but still on the shaft, you may need a mate to pull on the wheel while you belt the shaft & nut with a BBH.

Better to use a puller to remove the wheel if it's tight rather than belt it with a hammer. If you have to use a hammer make sure it is a bronze or nylon type that wont damage the shaft or thread. Even a small bit of hardwood between the shaft and hammer if you don't have a soft headed one. Use a white marker pen to mark it's position before you remove it and smear the splines and thread with never seize when you put it back on to make it easier to remove next time.

I cant get mine off. I've been running it with the nut loose for months and every so often have another go with nil result, using all of the aforementioned ideas.

Bugger of a thing

I made up a puller with a small strip of 4 mm plate with 2 holes in it.
Put it accross the top of the splined shaft after you have removed the nut.
The two holes must be drilled to match the two holes in the steering wheel either side of the splined hole.
Then find two bolts to match the thread in the holes in the wheel about 20mm long, put them through the holes in the plate and screw them into the holes in the wheel then gradually turn them alternating between each bolt to keep the pressure even.
This will pull the wheel off.

Mine is a 2002 defender.

Cheers,
Paul.

Yes, prize the logo out and with the nut backed up, but still on, try a lifting and rocking from side to side motion. this worked quite quickly for me. A few drops of penetrating oil (WD40) and some time for it to soak in may help.
Don.

Got the wheel off with no problems but I need to remove the ignition / steering lock etc to enable the column to come through the firewall.

Never seen these sort of fixings before neither

Originally Posted by harro

I made up a puller with a small strip of 4 mm plate with 2 holes in it.
Put it accross the top of the splined shaft after you have removed the nut.
The two holes must be drilled to match the two holes in the steering wheel either side of the splined hole.
Then find two bolts to match the thread in the holes in the wheel about 20mm long, put them through the holes in the plate and screw them into the holes in the wheel then gradually turn them alternating between each bolt to keep the pressure even.
This will pull the wheel off.

Mine is a 2002 defender.

Cheers,
Paul.

Yep. Have tried that too