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Thread: Disabling steering wheel lock 2G RX-7

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    307

    Default Disabling steering wheel lock 2G RX-7

    How'd you guys do that? I tried cutting it, wore out 3 jigsaw blades without making much of a dent.. high speed cutter on the dremel doesn't touch it either.

    I thought about putting a thin piece of aluminum in there and sandwiching it between the lock and the steering shaft, there's not a lot of force on that lock piece, so it shouldnt' punch thru (22 guage aluminum).. That's the way I'm leaning, but if anyone has other ideas, I'm open.

    PaulC


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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    Wauwatosa, WI, USA
    Posts
    2,658

    Default

    Paul, not that I would do anything that was illegal but think about drilling two holes at an angle & two roll pins. Remember I just said "think about it", I did not suggest that as a way of removing the steering lock.

    I have read where others have used a grinder, sounds like a lot of dust & extra work.

    Have fun

    David

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Posts
    123

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    Warning- I've never torn apart a second gen, so I'm not sure if its the same as a first gen. Can't imagine mazda retooling the ignition switch though, so try this: Go to Mazspeed.com, look in the Facts section. See if the pics for the first gen switch look the same as yours. Might do the trick...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Duluth, MN, USA
    Posts
    14

    Default

    If you can wait till I get home I'll snap a pic of mine and e-mail you. Someone on this list told me how to do it. Really easy. I removed my switch to do it but it could be done in the car. If I could see a picture I could explain it better but you drill out a cap on the bottom of the switch which removes the spring . I don't think you can remove the pin w/o major surgery and I don't know if you need to but I epoxied mine just so it wouldn't/couldn't accidently jump up and lock. It's working against gravity but you never know. Let me know if you want a photo.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
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    123

    Default

    Yep, that sounds like the same lock. Pics and write up are at mazspeed.com in the facts section.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    San Jose, CA
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    Photo would be great. I looked the Mazspeed.com stuff, but the lock looks different. Email to [email protected]

    Thanks!

    PaulC

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  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Floyds Knobs, IN
    Posts
    1,093

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    I remember there we two screws that didn't have a slot in them that I slotted with a cutoff wheel and removed with an impact driver. Once those were removed the lock mechanism was exposed. I cut the actual latch off with a pnuematic cutoff wheel. The latch would stay out so you could just hack it off, I had to kinda wedge a screw driver next to it to hold it out. Don't remember the metal being that hard to cut...just hold.

    Chris

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Bay Shore, NY
    Posts
    351

    Default

    Once you have the ignition switch off, use a 4" rotary grinder and just grind off the square pin. Took me about ten minuetes.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
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    Default

    Ok, did it. thanks to ITSRotary for the pics, and Dave Damouth for the description.. On the underside of the lock switch there's a tin cap. Drill right in the middle, with a largish bit (I think I used a 5/8", and the spring will pop right out. I put some JB weld on top to ensure it stays down.

    PaulC

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    307

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    Originally posted by Silkworm:
    Ok, did it. Thanks to everyone for the ideas, but special thanks to ITSRotary for the pics, and Dave Damouth for the description.. On the underside of the lock switch there's a tin cap. Drill right in the middle, with a largish bit (I think I used a 5/8", and the spring will pop right out. I put some JB weld on top to ensure it stays down.

    PaulC

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