Most Chevrolet vehicles have one of two types of ignition locks; a lock that snaps into place or a lock that is bolted into place. If you're planning to remove your ignition lock yourself, there are some general guidelines you can follow. Your vehicle's repair manual will also have precise instructions tailored to the car's model and year .
On Chevrolet vehicles made between 1969 and 1977, the ignition lock snaps into the steering column via a retaining clip, which is spring loaded. The other variation, is an ignition lock that uses a bolt that runs through a groove in the lock to secure it to the steering column .
In order to access the ignition lock, you need to remove the steering wheel. To do this, locate the steering wheel nut and remove it. The nut's location may vary depending on your vehicle, but it is usually located in the center of the face of the steering wheel. After removing the nut, you need to use a special steering wheel puller to pull the wheel off the column shaft. The puller attaches to the wheel at the center, where the wheel attaches to the column shaft . When it is attached, it looks as though a very long bolt is coming out of the center of the steering wheel . You can use a wrench to turn the puller, which will cause the wheel to detach from the car.
Once the steering wheel is off, you'll see the round pressure plate on the column shaft, under where the wheel used to be. A spring loaded retaining ring holds the pressure plate in place. On some vehicles, the pressure plate also has three screws that hold it in place. If this is the case, use a screwdriver to remove the screws first. There is a special tool called a lock plate tool used to remove the retaining ring that holds the pressure plate on, but if you don't have that tool, you can use a screw driver or snap ring pliers to relieve the pressure on the retaining ring and loosen it.
When the pressure plate is off, you may also have to remove the screws that hold the turn signals in place to gain access to the ignition lock. Once you remove these screws, the ignition lock retaining bolt or retaining clip, will be exposed.
Once you have access to the ignition lock retaining bolt or clip, you can either undo the bolt or push in on the clip to relieve the spring pressure. If your ignition lock is held in place with a retaining clip, you may not be able to access the clip with your fingers, but you can use a small tool, such as a screwdriver or straightened paper clip to release the spring pressure . Then, pull the lock out of the steering column.
