Steering wheel rattle

[wdfifteen]

I did a search on the term steering wheel rattle and every result indicates the upper steering shaft bushing. When I get to 60 mph and my somewhat out-of-balance wheels start to shimmy a tad there is a rattling behind the steering wheel. There is no play in the wheel, I can push it up, down, right, left, in, out, and it doesn't move at all. Pushing on the wheel in any direction does nothing to make the rattle go away. Is this typical of a bushing problem or should I be looking for something else?

[McLaren-TAG]

I'd address the out of balance wheels before I started looking at the bushing! Once done with that, the bushing is an easy cheap and quick fix if it turns out to be a bushing issue.

[tazzieman]

Steering shaft U joint is easy to check also
They tend to last a fair while though , compared to those in front engined cars.

[will hung]

I second McLaren-TAG, get your fronts balanced first.

When my upper bushing was toast, you could move the steering wheel up and down, left and right by a good inch or 2.

While getting your fronts balanced, have the tech check your front bearings too since it will take them all of 2 seconds. Just to rule it out.

With the front tires balanced and a clean bill of health for the front bearings, if you still hear the rattle, I'd then check the bearings at the top strut mounts. Not so much the bearings but the bushings they ride in. When worn, they can cause rattles over rough roads.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by will hung

I second McLaren-TAG, get your fronts balanced first.

Thanks.
I'll figure it out on my own.

[Neilnaz]

I have exactly the same symptoms and my issue is not the bushing. I established that it could be the clamps/bolts that hold down the steering column or one of the steering universal joints. I did find movement in the upper universal joint and thought greasing it would assist with damping down the rattle (if it is the UJ) but the problem persists.

The UJs are expensive and not under considerable load so, if one of them is to blame, I reasonably relaxed about fixing the issue. There is no axial or up and down play.

It would be good to establish what your issue is - it sounds very similar.

My symptoms are as you describe triggered when going over rough ground/potholes (etc.). It isn't wheel balance related and I have had a mechanic check the suspension out for me.

I wish you the best of luck,

Cheers, Neil

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Neilnaz

I have exactly the same symptoms and my issue is not the bushing. I established that it could be the clamps/bolts that hold down the steering column or one of the steering universal joints. I did find movement in the upper universal joint and thought greasing it would assist with damping down the rattle (if it is the UJ) but the problem persists.

The UJs are expensive and not under considerable load so, if one of them is to blame, I reasonably relaxed about fixing the issue. There is no axial or up and down play.

It would be good to establish what your issue is - it sounds very similar.

It sounds as if the noise is coming from the steering wheel hub. I had planned on fixing it while the engine is out and was hoping it was a common problem that I could go right to. I guess not. I'll have plenty of time to dig into it while the engine is out, so I'll let you know what I find. Testing will be an issue until I get the engine back in.

[88911coupe]

Wow, I have been fighting this same situation. It seems to be a rattle inside the steering column. When I had my wheel off to recover it I left the plastic "clamshells" off to see if I could narrow down the noise. I could not find anything in particular but it did seem to get better after I moved some of the wires around. I also checked every connection I could see and they all seemed snug. Now the shells are back on and I THINK it may be related to my clamshells having broken tabs which allow it to rattle and or the wires can hit the clamshells. I have considered trying to re glue the tabs onto the shells so they can be screwed into the mounting holes. Its really annoying. ON a related note, I was hearing another rattle/noise but it turned out to be in the sun roof...it was really difficult to tell where the noise was coming from...it really seemed like it was in front of me. I randomly determined it was the sun roof that was rattling.

[Neilnaz]

I have fixed my problem with regards the rattle that I described above which sounds similar to the OP's problem. I thought it worthwhile mentioning what the problem proved to be.

I removed the steering wheel and the tachometer. I then felt for the top UJ which I held in one hand and I moved the steering shaft (the end that the steering wheel mounts to/on) with the other hand. Whilst doing this vigorously to see whether I could create the rattle noise (there certainly was a noise) I noticed that there was movement in the end of the shaft as clamped onto the UJ - the shaft was moving.

This was a bit of a eureka moment. I got my spanners out and struggled for quite some time trying to tighten the bolt/nut until I eventually managed it.

No more rattling when I go over bumps - sheer joy!!

Cheers, Neil

[wdfifteen]

Thanks Neilnaz. I order some spanners from the mother country and tighten my U-joint bolts.