replacing turn signal switch and steering wheel

[turbochevy]

My truck has the awesome rubbed off steering wheel in it and my truck is minus cruise.

So i got a local yard to hook me up with a entire column for like 100 bucks with a perfect steering wheel and cruise control multiswitch.

Any pointers for taking this stuff out or how to get the steering wheel off? ANYTHING... I see how to get the multiswitch out on the spare column but its not going to work with the column in the truck.

thanks !

[blackvert]

I just heated and bent the proper torx bit to get the multi-switch with the steering wheel still on. This was with my 06 silverado. Find a cheap set of swiss-army style torx bits and bend about 1/2 inch from the tip.

[turbochevy]

hmm.. Not a bad idea. But i actually could use to replace the steering wheel also but i don't know how the heck its held on. Was it a pain in a$$ to get the screw back in ?

[blackvert]

not at all...I un-did the top torx screw and then bent the same torx....taking out the bottom PITA screw, saved me the trouble of disarming the airbag and pulling the wheel. Total time to swap was around 20 mins including the removal of the column trim and all the other little things that got in the way.

[turbochevy]

So i'm taking it i'll have a real pain swaping my new steering wheel in.. anywhere i can find instructions on how to swap steering wheel.

i will try to do the cruise control tomorrow Thanks

[PitchBlackC3]

For the 2003-up steering wheels you need a puller with arms that go in the notches. They don't have threads for bolts like the 95-02s did.
Take the nut in the center off and then use the puller.

I don't think you will be able to just install the cruise and have it work in a 2003. The PCM may have to be reprogrammed since it is a function of the electronic throttle actuator.

[turbochevy]

Well i'm hoping the cruise deal works out the GM garage originally told me the cruise kit was just the parts and 03's had the actual wires it needed in the column but the 04+ you needed another harness with the switch. Now.. have i gotten bad info from the chevy garage before... thats another story. I also did another blind check and the PCM's are listed the same for cruise and non cruse for 03's.. But with my luck.. i will have a cruise switch and nothing to back it up.

How do i get the plastics off the steering wheel, air bag etc to even to to where you pull the steering wheel.. If someone could give me something with pictures it would be awesome but i'm not holding my breathe on that one.