Okay so I just got my new set of locks on friday. (car was stolen with spare key in glove box...ftl)

I am going to do it with a friend of mine but it seems to be a little more complicated than I originally thought. I read about these shear head screws they use and you need a special tool to remove them. Also, I guess I have to buy more of these special screws to re-install the new tumbler.

Does anybody have any experience with this that can help me out or point me in the right direction, as far as the tool I need and where I could pick up shear head screws??

 

You are correct, I had a spare steering column, and I was going to remove the ignition switch but I couldn't figure it out. According to the FSM the screws have to be broken to be removed. Not sure how it is done though.

 

I use a ***** punch and a hammer to loosen these screws. If the punch is very sharp, you can hold and hit it just right on the edge of the smooth head, and cause the screw to start coming out. They are really not very tight, they just don't have any head to grab on to. You will probably have to use the punch for several revolutions of the screw, but you can finally grab it with some needle nose pliers and spin it out.

When reinstalling the lock, you do not have to use these special screws. Look what good they did you in the first place! They are designed to keep a thief from removing the lock assembly from the steering column. Just get some replacements at the hardware store and be done.