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Thread: B13 Steering wheel lock removal

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Posts: 1-10 of 10
2016-07-25 14:51:43
#1
B13 Steering wheel lock removal
This particular hack probably doesn't need to be done by too many folks, but when I was searching for information on doing it to my Sentra, I came up short, so I thought I'd post this writeup in case anyone else was looking for this same information.

What this does is to remove the lock that prevents the steering wheel from moving when the ignition key isn't in. This is generally a security feature to deter would be thieves from being able to hotwire your car and drive off. So, why disable it? Some folks have wanted to install a fancy push-button start and not have to worry about a key anymore. In my case, the racing series that I will be competing in have this as a requirement so that cars can be moved in an emergency situation, a lock doesn't get stuck on the track causing someone to drive off, etc.

So, how does this thing work, and where the heck is it? Never having to dig into this part, I was just assuming it was part of the ignition key assembly. Reading online seemed to confirm that was the case on other models, so I figured I'd get this piece off to have a look. Easier said than done. Since this part is apparently there to prevent the car from being stolen, Nissan made it hard to remove by using shear-off bolts to install it. The bolts can only be removed by drilling them out. So, I drilled them both and used a bolt extractor to back them out. You can see one of them in this pic:





You can also see the rectangular lock piece, this part is on a spring, when the key is out it will spring out, and when the wheel is turned there is a channel in the steering column that this will pop into, locking the wheel in that position. So, the trick is to keep this part from being able to spring out.

The easiest thing would have been to simply leave this whole thing off the steering column, and problem solved. But I wanted to keep the key in the same spot for at least the short term. Second option would be to move the whole thing further down on the steering column so that the lock didn't engage, but I figured there may be some slim possibility that the assembly could rattle itself back into the original place and engage. VERY slim chance, but it was there, so I moved on.

Next option was to just use a zip tie across the lock, but again, if the tie broke the lock would engage.

2nd best option would be to use a thin piece of metal the width of the lock, a few inches wide, pound it into shape around the steering column, JB Weld it into place, and then clamp the ignition switch back on around it. But there was still that little tickle in the back of my head that this may fail at some inopportune moment.

Ultimately, I decided that the only way to guarantee that this rectangular metal piece wouldn't be able to pop out ever was it it was no longer there. Easier said than done.

There is no clear way to disassemble this part, there was a small metal rod (not shown above) going through the assembly on the side where the key goes, presumably you can drive this pin out to replace the key tumbler if you had to get a new lock. This 'might' have offered access to the innards, but I suspected that it wouldn't. On the bottom, again, not shown, there was a round plate that seemed like it would have provided access, but it was either screwed in or pressed in, and no amount of budging could get it to move.

The rectangular piece couldn't be pried out, I didn't want to risk damaging the metal rod that engaged this as it also turned the electrical switch that starts the car (which would be on the left side, opposite where the key goes in, already removed in the pic above).

So, the only option I had left was to grind the piece off. Since it was spring loaded, every time I pressed against it with the grinder, it moved back, so the process took much longer than I would have liked, but ultimately I was able to grind it away. Final result below:





Lastly, I had to bolt it all back together. For the B13, the bolt was an M8-1.25 thread, a pair of 25mm length bolts from Home Depot and suitable lock washers, and I was able to bolt everything back up.


2016-07-25 17:31:03
#2
broken pics on my end.
2016-07-25 17:32:34
#3
Originally Posted by zeneffect
broken pics on my end.


They work for me.
2016-07-25 18:10:35
#4
Originally Posted by Kyle
Originally Posted by zeneffect
broken pics on my end.


They work for me.


They work on my phone but not at my work.
2016-07-25 19:02:54
#5
must be nsfw somehow as determined by faceless thirdparty ai.
2016-07-25 21:58:48
#6
Pic hosting is via 4shared.com. First I've heard that anyone is blocking them.
2016-07-26 18:54:04
#7
probably the shared part tripping things out.

anyways, looks good. I think what I would have done is jb-welded the groove that lock sits in on the steering column.
2016-07-26 21:11:23
#8
Originally Posted by zeneffect
probably the shared part tripping things out.

anyways, looks good. I think what I would have done is jb-welded the groove that lock sits in on the steering column.


Nice, I didn't even think of eliminating the groove on the column.
2016-07-26 22:23:03
#9
That whole thing is gone in our b13... push-button start on the left now FTW


We just have to eliminate the clutch engage start now (which we already did on the g20 years ago)
2016-07-26 22:52:12
#10
Originally Posted by Chris101
That whole thing is gone in our b13... push-button start on the left now FTW


We just have to eliminate the clutch engage start now (which we already did on the g20 years ago)


Planning that for later. Just didn't feel like working up a new switch panel before it has seen its first race. After that shakedown race, it moves up on the to-do list.
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