Steering Collum dramas LC S ... (help!)

I've decided to take the old collum shifter off as I've done the floor shift conversion and all I managed to do was make the horn stop working.

After taking all the horn bits off and the bolt at the top of the steering collum I still could not manage to get the steering wheel off ... I tried using that precision tool we all know and love (the hammer) but all thats done is put a few dents in the underside of the steering wheel (rather not keep going with that)

Any tips or hints as to how your supposed to get the wheel off? I want to ultimately take the sleeve that housed the old shifter but now my main priority is getting the horn working again ... and it's definitely a connection problem between the steering wheel and the actual horn ... aargh!

This is my daily so it would be nice to have the horn working before I use it again ... anyone bored enough to give details on how I may rectify my problem would be greatly appreciated!


Cheers
-Al

(sorry about the long, verbose post)

Al,
DO NOT hit the end of the shaft with the hammer, you will break the collapsible pins. You need a steering wheel puller that works on holding and pulling at the same time. SupaCheap have them.The horn works by contacting the little pin on a spring inside your column up onto the underside of the steering wheel brass ring. It might have moved enough to not contact or you have knocked the plug at the bottom of the column.I f you have the pad off the steering wheel the horn will not work.
Rory

Edited by rorym, 19 December 2005 - 10:04 AM.

Ah, that makes sense ... I gave up pretty quickly on hitting the steering wheel and it wasn't contact directly on the collum ... but on the underside of the wheel. hopefuly I have knocked the plug at the bottom of the collum (assumably reachable by removing the wheel with that tool) but not the collapsable pins as I tried checking continuity between the shell and that little reed like thing that the pin on the horn touches against and there was nothing.

Once again, thanks a heap for your help Rory

Cheers
-Al

Edited by LC2250, 19 December 2005 - 01:37 PM.

Get the puller, then when you look at the 2 apart all will fall into place.
R

Puller worked a treat ... found the problem was a screw holding the little brass strip that grounds the steering collum was loose.

Now I'm working at getting all those little plastic bits out without breaking them ... so close yet so far ... got any new tips for that? my ultimate goal is getting the sleeve for the old collum shifter off.

Thanks again for your help


-Al

Fair job. I didn't like doing it too much on the LJ (slightly different column). On the LC you should have a few screws holding your indicator mechanism in place, undo them and you should then be able to take off the rest of the springs and washers around the top of the steering shaft (for memory there is a circlip on top holding it all in place).