How to Install a 1966 Mustang Steering Wheel

Early Ford Mustangs came with a molded plastic steering wheel that was color-matched to the interior of the car. A shiny chrome horn button with three spokes to match hose of the steering wheel completed the sporty look. Unfortunately a 40-plus year-old Mustang steering wheel has probably seen better days. Install a reproduction or new old stock steering wheel in your 1966 Mustang to freshen up the interior.

Instructions

Open the hood. Loosen the nut on the negative battery cable with a wrench. Lift the cable straight up from the negative battery terminal and push it aside.

Push in on the horn button on the steering steel at the center with the heal of your hand. Rotate the horn button slightly in a counterclockwise direction. Raise you hand up. Lift the horn button straight up and remove it from the steering wheel, being careful not to loose the metal spring behind the button.

Place a socket and ratchet wrench over the steering wheel retaining nut revealed after removing the horn button and remove it in a counterclockwise direction. Place the nut aside.

Locate the two threaded holes on each side of the steering wheel shaft on the steering wheel hub. Find two long bolts that came with a universal steering wheel puller that are the same size as the hole. Slide the bolts into the slots at teach end of the puller. Place the puller over the steering wheel and thread the two bolts into the holes finger-tight.

Tighten the center bolt on the steering wheel puller with a socket and ratchet wrench in a clockwise direction until the steering wheel pops up. Lift the steering wheel off of the center shaft and remove it. Remove the puller from the steering wheel.

Place the center hole of the steering wheel over the splined shaft at the center of the steering column. Ensure the alignment mark on the steering wheel hub lines up with the mark on the steering shaft. Failure to do so may cause the wheel to be off-center when traveling on straight roads.

Apply two drops of thread locker to the steering shaft threads. Thread the center nut onto the shaft by hand to prevent cross-threading. Tighten the nut with a torque wrench to between 20 and 30 foot pounds.

Place the spring over the steering shaft where it protrudes through the steering wheel. Line up the three tabs on the underside of the horn button with the corresponding slots in the steering wheel.

Push down on the horn button with the heal of your head, compressing the spring, until the tabs are in the slots. Rotate the horn button in a clockwise direction until it locks into place.

Push the negative battery cable back over the negative battery terminal and tighten the nut with a wrench. Close the hood.