Question: A3 Steering Wheel Removal?

[reptor245]

can anyone give me a heads up on how to remove the A3 Steering wheel and what tools are needed. Also how does the wheel attach. i mean is the column that is sits on on splines or a hexagon shaft. The reason i ask is that my wheel is slightly off centre and a 4 wheel alignment hasn't fixed the problem so i wonder if its possible to pull off the wheel and put it back on straighter.

 

[kevandalice]

you need to turn the wheel a quarter turn and remove the two allen bolts that hold the airbag on. re-centre the wheel then disconnect the airbag.

you will need a multi spline bit to remove steering wheel bolt in think m12 is the size you need
it looks like this:

once the wheel is off, make sure you dont move the steering angle sensor. (with the wheel centred you should see a yellow dot in the small 'window'

HTH

Kevin

 

[reptor245]

hi, thanks for the reply. is it possible to move the wheel very slightly or is it a case of big movements. what i mean is i only want to move it a matter of millometres and not like an inch out of line.

 

[RichA3Turbo]

yep its a splined bar, so you can move it a couple degrees at a time.

BTW - You will likely need ALOT of force to undo the centre nut. On mine it took a 24" breaker bar to shift it the first time.

 

[reptor245]

thanks for the replys guys.

anyone no were i can get a m12 from?

 

[rossbrownlee]

Can this not be adjusted out down at the track rod ends? although i understand this would screw your wheel alignment...

 

[reptor245]

Can this not be adjusted out down at the track rod ends? although i understand this would screw your wheel alignment...

oh trust me, this is the only answer for me. its alway been out and pulled slightly to the left. ive had a full susspension kit fitted, new whiteline roll bar and ive had 2 laser wheel alignments done. no one can sort it. Its much easier just to move the wheel to make it straight again.

were can i get the m12 from?

 

[RichA3Turbo]

try just-off-base-tools.

 

[lugz]

got exactly the same problem mate, and came to the same solution, let me now how it goes as i might do it too.

although, when you drive does your car pull slightly to the direction its turned, mine does, so i was thinking that maybe re centering it is only gonna mean that the wheel is straight when its turning, and your gonna have the same problem but in the other direction :/

 

[reptor245]

well i removed the steering wheel using the M12 and just pulled it off and re-attached it in the right posistion. feels great now. its amazing how anoying the wheel is when its not in line

 

[grainqey]

the steering rack should be different in the central position (with regards to self centering) I'd go back and complain about the alignment you had done, the rack should be in its central position and do the tracking/alignment from there, I suspect you will need to move the wheel on the splines again once it has been done but it will drive a lot better, it will always pull one way or the other if this is not done

HTH

 

[S3_NDJ]

When u got ur steering wheel back on after re aligning it did u have any issues with the steering angle sensor ?? And also do u have esp ?

 

[Alan Oliver]

What size are the 2 Allen bolts that retain the airbag portion of the wheel?

 

[grainqey]

Torx T27/T30

 

[Alan Oliver]

Torx T30 according to one of the VW sites.