Steering wheel spins 360 degrees.

[hawkeye18]

That's not a bad idea, and is not all that hard to do. It'd also fix the clock spring problem so you'd have the airbag, cruise and horn working again. The tricky part may be finding one with the same color steering wheel, if you don't want to swap that out.

Compared to the task of completely replacing a steering column, swapping a steering wheel is pretty much cake.

 

[sperold]

Not totally sure, but I don't think the automatics have that extra-step key release lever around the ignition key cylinder.

 

[hawkeye18]

Not totally sure, but I don't think the automatics have that extra-step key release lever around the ignition key cylinder.

Ahh yeah, good point. Forgot about that. But I don't think it would cause any problems to put it in an ATX car; you'd just need to swap the little plastic pieces over as well.

 

[Shoaz]

Compared to the task of completely replacing a steering column, swapping a steering wheel is pretty much cake.

Not in a Taurus, IMHO. The column assembly is pretty easy to swap out. The steering wheel requires some attention wrt the airbag and requires a puller to get the wheel off. IMHO a complete column is an easier swap than a steering wheel.

Been there already.

 

[trainguy1989]

Kansas City

I'm in Kansas City too. Let me know if I can do anything. I have no tools, Just here for school.

 

[SeanMc]

...and your cruise control and horn will no longer work.

...and you can no longer steer your car.

 

[SHOMON]

OP. When That loud pop and no steering happened on my 95 it was the subframe bolts breaking. After which the steering shaft at the rack cracked.

 

[jthod]

I had issues with my steering wheel splines to the column. It wouldn't spin in circles, but it would rock back and forth. I pinned and staked it to prevent it from getting worse.

 

[hawkeye18]

Not in a Taurus, IMHO. The column assembly is pretty easy to swap out. The steering wheel requires some attention wrt the airbag and requires a puller to get the wheel off. IMHO a complete column is an easier swap than a steering wheel.

Been there already.

Took me like, 15 minutes grand total to swap steering wheels last time I did it. It helps if you're not a little pansy ***** around an air bag.

 

[jthod]

I don't have a problem with air bags, even after deploying about 10 of them. One of which launched a golf ball about 200 yards. You just have to realize that chances are, they will only go off when they are designed to.

 

[Shoaz]

Took me like, 15 minutes grand total to swap steering wheels last time I did it. It helps if you're not a little pansy ***** around an air bag.

The airbag just requires some care, it's not overly difficult, as you experienced. The steering wheel itself can be balky, even with a good puller. The column only requires common handtools to swap, so the puller issues are avoided, and doesn't take much longer.

Plus changing the column fixes the clock spring issues, as was mentioned.

And kudos on the cheap shot. I didn't think guys doing what you do needed to do that sort of thing.

 

[hawkeye18]

The airbag just requires some care, it's not overly difficult, as you experienced. The steering wheel itself can be balky, even with a good puller. The column only requires common handtools to swap, so the puller issues are avoided, and doesn't take much longer.

Plus changing the column fixes the clock spring issues, as was mentioned.

And kudos on the cheap shot. I didn't think guys doing what you do needed to do that sort of thing.

Haha you know I was just kiddin'. Feel the love. But I do agree with the puller thingy; they can be really, really stubborn sometimes.

 

[sperold]

Plus, if something inside the column (like the slider or whatever) opened up or broke, it would be good to get rid of all the related components that saw the same load that made the first event happen. That is why I would get the U-joint as well.
You get rid of your current headache, and maybe a lot of future ones as well.
Good luck.

 

[turbo79]

I don't have a problem with air bags, even after deploying about 10 of them. One of which launched a golf ball about 200 yards. You just have to realize that chances are, they will only go off when they are designed to.

If you disconnect the battery and wait about ten minutes you won't have to worry about the air bag deploying, although I still wouldn't put my head/neck close to the steering wheel while removing or handling it.

 

[hawkeye18]

If you disconnect the battery and wait about ten minutes you won't have to worry about the air bag deploying, although I still wouldn't put my head/neck close to the steering wheel while removing or handling it.

I've never worried much when disconnecting them. The odds of enough stray voltage being introduced from the act of pulling the connector apart are astoundingly low.

It's reconnecting the airbag that I take a few more precautions for. And yeah, you never have that sucker aimed at your face, just in case. I always duck my head out of the way when I'm dis/reconnecting them. Old habits...

 

[jthod]

I've found the best way to get stubborn wheel off it to hit the puller bolt witha hammer, it helps jar it loose.

 

[hawkeye18]

I've found the best way to get stubborn wheel off it to hit the puller bolt witha hammer, it helps jar it loose.

Hammers are useful for an amazingly wide variety of things.

A rubber mallet to the back of the steering wheel in 120* increments can also work wonders in getting the wheel off.

 

[jthod]

Some of the newer GM ones I can get off by just yanking on them.