I have no mechanical knowledge so please excuse me if a stupid question.

Can I change a steering wheel myself, or should it be done professionally. A mate is giving me a wheel which may or may not require a new boss being installed. However I just want to know if I can do this at home with basic tools or should I get it done at the shop.

Thanks

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Matt

You can do it at home, but you will need to buy or borrow either a 1-5/16" or 33mm socket for the big nut. Please don't just butcher it with a hammer & chisel instead, it is not workmanlike..

Remove horn push or steering wheel centre.
Loosen the big nut but don't take it right off... yet.
Align the steering wheel straight ahead (assuming it is on straight now).
Thump the wheel upwards (towards you) from below using your wrists.
It will hit the nut. NOW undo that and remove. If you had removed it previously, you would wear the wheel when it comes off.

Reassembly is the reversal of disassembly, as they say.

Above works for regular Minis, but for a Rover, I have NFI.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks Doc. I'll review this procedure when I am given the wheel and providing I don't need to purchase a Boss for it.
I'm pretty sure I have a socket big enough for the job. If not, I'll leave it alone.

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Matt

And you wouldnt be the first to have done this

It does hurt

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Rovers are pretty much the same. 80s cars have a tight spline, I've needed a hammer to get the wheel off one before. Late 90s cars are have a smaller nut and an airbag to deal with, the spline isn't as tight on them because a locknut is used.