Steering Wheel Lock: How to Install One on Your Vehicle
Steering wheel lock - one of those little known, but very important, features that can make you drive more confident. The Stop Lock is a very robust, if not exactly stylish, way to maintain your car's freedom from theft. The Stoplock Pro securely locks into place on the steering wheel to immobilize your car, making steering impossible (and therefore taking your car with you) without the proper key. Constructed from heavy duty stainless steel and incorporating an anti-tarnish lock, this is a serious bit of equipment (2 keys provided). It's also a very reliable piece of equipment, so if you have it in place you can be assured of its continued security and safety.
In order to fit your lock to your steering wheel, simply unscrew the two screws that attach the steering column to the base of the steering wheel. You will then be able to fit your lock into place, following instructions provided by the manufacturer. Once fitted, screw the two caps back into position to protect the integrity of the steering column. Turn the key back and reinstall the key (if required).
Alternatively, you can always attempt to make your own steering wheel lock by using non-permanent, unsightly items as an alternative to the commercially available products that are easily available from reputable online retailer Amazon. It is possible to make your own steering wheel lock using plastic, metal or wood. Many of these items can easily be bought from car accessories superstore for as little as $10. However, if you choose to try this route you should make sure that you have the correct tools and equipment.
The most important factor in making your own steering wheel locks is ensuring that you have the correct key. Although it may seem like an easy enough project, it can sometimes be tricky. This is particularly true if you happen to be attempting to defeat a more sophisticated lock which has clever mechanisms to avoid being opened without the correct code. Fortunately, many of these more advanced locks are now being manufactured with biometric security technology.
The basic concept of making your own steering wheel lock requires you to first drill a few holes through the centre of the wheel. Next you need to mount a thin piece of metal of suitable thickness, which can be easily cut from a plastic or wood piece. The piece should be slightly larger than the width of the wheel. A thick wall of the same thickness will act as a barrier to prevent the wheel from rotating. The holes are drilled at right angles to the steering wheel spokes and the thin metal piece is bent into corrugated shape as it is mounted onto the holes.
The next step in making your own steering wheel lock requires you to remove the spindle that holds the brake pads in place. This piece is usually mounted to the dashboard or the console with screws. If possible, it is best to remove it from the vehicle entirely so that there is no chance of it springing open on the driver. Once you have removed the brake pad and the mounting blocks, you can then take out the old locking mechanism. You will probably notice that the plug for the new stoplock is already in place and this is the part that need to be removed.
It would be helpful if the old lock had been fashioned to be difficult to unscrew - after all, you would want to stop the thief having easy access to your steering wheel lock. The new mechanism consists of a few small pieces that are each fitted into the already hardened steel. The entire thing then has to be mounted onto the hole drilled in the wheel and the screw that hold the hardened steel in place is also screwed into the slot. The whole thing is then put back into the vehicle.
Steering wheel locks have now become very hard to crack, thanks to the fact that security experts have been working on technology to make them even more tamper-resistant. One of the newest forms of steering wheel lock incorporates a bar that is embedded along the rim of the wheel, meaning that a thief would need to insert his hand into the wheel to turn the lock. This is not a problem because the lock cannot be turned by a naked hand, as it is made of hardened steel. However, even if a thief manages to force the lock open by hand, he will have difficulty removing it without help, as the process is too complicated and involves twisting the bars. As such, steering wheel locks are now considered one of the most secure type of vehicle locks on the market.