The Ford F-Series half-ton truck went though a few nameplate changes over the years, starting with the F-1 in 1948. In 1953, Ford's half-ton truck was renamed as the F100, and was later replaced by the F150, a heavy-duty truck (in 1975). Ford trucks were restyled in 1973, and this basic body-style lasted until the end of the 1979 model year. Removing the steering wheel in your F150 is the first step to replacing it with a standard or aftermarket wheel.
Tools Used: Adjustable wrench, Philips screwdriver, 15/16-inch socket, ½-inch drive ratchet wrench, Universal steering wheel puller
Remove Steering Wheel
Open the hood of the F150. Disconnect the negative battery cable by loosening the nut on the cable with an adjustable wrench in a counter-clockwise direction. Pull the cable from the battery terminal and push the cable aside.
Remove the two screws from the backside of the steering wheel spokes with a Philips screwdriver, turning in a counter-clockwise direction. Set the screws aside. Pull the horn button straight off the front of the steering wheel. Disconnect the horn button wiring connector from the back of the button by pulling the wire off by hand. Set the horn button aside.
Remove the large center steering shaft nut at the center of the steering wheel with a 15/16-inch socket and a ½-inch drive ratchet wrench, turning in a counter-clockwise direction. Set the nut aside.
Attach a universal steering wheel puller to the steering wheel by lining up the slots on the sides of the puller to the threaded holes on each side of the center of the steering wheel. Run two 3-inch to 5-inch long bolts with 5/16-inch with 24 threads per inch through the slots in the puller and into the threaded holes in the steering wheel. Run the bolts in finger-tight several turns in a clockwise direction. Do not tighten the bolts with a wrench.
Turn the center bolt in the steering wheel puller with and adjustable wrench in a clockwise direction until the steering wheel lifts from the steering shaft. Lift the wheel from the steering column. Remove the puller from the steering wheel by backing out the two 5/16-inch bolts in a counter-clockwise direction.
Tips & Warnings
When installing a steering wheel back onto the steering column in your F150, merely tighten the steering shaft nut with a 15/16-inch socket and ½-inch drive ratchet in a clockwise direction until the steering wheel is fully seated. The tightening action of the steering shaft nut will pull the wheel down without using any other tools.
Reconnect the negative battery terminal once the replacement steering wheel has been installed.
These 5/16-inch bolts with 24 threads per inch bolts should come with your steering wheel puller, or can be obtained from any hardware store.
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