Locked Steering in Corner?

wcwv04 · 07-02-2006, 07:03 AM

I was wondering if anyone has experienced having the steering locking up while going into a corner under power or under any other situations.

It happened to me yesterday. As I powered through a sharp "S" turn the steering locked and forced me into the other lane. I put both feet down and was able to stop before anything bad happened. After the blue smoke from 35ft skids lifted I tried to pull back onto the road but the steering locked again. I moved the steering wheel left to right and it seemed to unlock, then I proceeded very slowly home.

The car is very tight and I have never had this happen before.

I plan on installing Turbo Tie Rods and complete alignment the end of July but maybe I should get it to the shop now!

Could this be a bad steering rack or some other front end component or could it be the steering wheel Lock?

Any help will be appreciated!!

tonythetarga · 07-02-2006, 07:19 AM

Sounds like a steering rack problem. Tie rods or other components will give you steering wobble or vibration but shouldn't lock up. That really only leaves the rack I think. Don't wait to fix it.

wolf · 07-02-2006, 07:28 AM

GO TO SHOP NOW

wcwv04 · 07-02-2006, 08:28 AM

I will take all advice.....but the steering still feels very smooth turning both directions, no snags while driving or with wheels off the ground. That was the only time I ever had any issues.

That's why I was wondering about the steering wheel lock in the ignition switch. I see where there are many posts in regards to disabling the lock.

The more HELP the better because my P-shop is 95mi away.

syncroid · 07-02-2006, 08:41 AM

I had this happen to me in a customers car on a road test once. Scared the cr@p out of me. What it turned out to be was the caged bearing on the short shaft that conects to the steering rack. The bearing had come apart. #23 in this picture.

SlantnoseSD · SlantnoseSD's Garage

I was making a 3 point turn one night trying to find parking and the same thing happened to me. I thought maybe I had imagined it because it only did it for a second but I do clearly remember the steering locking up.

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

That bearing failed on my car too. It's easy to check because it's in the smuggler's box near the top.

widgeon13 · 07-02-2006, 09:25 AM

I would also check the steering wheel lock mechanism on the ignition, that may be worn out and not properly disengaging from column.

Hope you find the solution and come back and share with the rest of us. Thanks, and Gute fahrt as we say in the motherland

Wil Ferch · 07-02-2006, 01:03 PM

I've also * heard * that happening when "fragments" of the failed plastic bearing were pushed down the steering shaft, after the wavy metal 928 part was substituted.

- Wil

onlycafe · 07-02-2006, 04:12 PM

happened to me too, very scarey. looking foreward to it never happening again.

wcwv04 · 07-02-2006, 06:20 PM

Thanks for the input!!

Do you think I should disable the steering wheel lock regardless of true cause?

Should I start with the bearing on the stub shaft in the smugglers box? I don't hear or feel any grinding or similar when turning steering in a quiet garage?

Zeke · 07-02-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wcwv04

Do you think I should disable the steering wheel lock regardless of true cause?

No. Check the other suggestions and if you find out that one of these is the problem, then you would have disconnected the steering lock needlessly. Maybe I didin't read the posts correctly, but I didn't see anyone saying the actual ignition lock failed.

SlantnoseSD · SlantnoseSD's Garage

I looked through my Bentley manual and cannot find and reference to a smuggler's box. Where is it, how do I get to it, and what does it do?

tonythetarga · 07-03-2006, 03:55 AM

I looked through my Bentley manual and cannot find and reference to a smuggler's box. Where is it, how do I get to it, and what does it do?

In the trunk, under the carpet, behind the gas tank on the left is a hinged trap door with a compartment below. Thats the smugglers box. It has access to the steering u-joint and on later models, the a/c evaporator and fan.

Bill Douglas · 07-03-2006, 12:50 PM

I remmember a thread like this years ago where someone recommended we oil allthe bearings/couplers on the steering shaft - accessable through the smugglers box. And a lot of us reported back a big improvement in steering. I'm off to oil mine now.

wcwv04 · 07-06-2006, 04:23 AM

I have not found any evidence of bearing failure on the steering shaft?
Spoke with a P mechanic and he thinks it might be the steering wheel lock?
Does anyone have a good procedure on removing the lock?

wcwv04 · 07-15-2006, 07:46 AM

Well, I finally got a chance to take it all apart to find the locked steering problem.
After I got the weight off the front wheels I wanted to see if I could hear any grinding or binding noises. What I found was rather puzzling....The steering felt tight at the wheel but took little effort to turn the wheel. I wanted to get under the car to listen to the steering rack as I turn the wheels. I found that I couldn't turn the wheel by pushing on the tires? I got out from underneath the car and pushed on the tires and with the added leverage I was able to turn the wheel...but with some effort.

I took of the tie rods (replacing with turbo tie rods) and inspected the rack. The seals looked good and I was able to push the rack back and forth by pushing and pulling. I didn't feel any bad gears or burrs. I also turned the steering wheel to find the resistance was almost gone and the wheel turned with no evidence of rough spots or binding positions.

I installed the turbo tie rods and put all back together. I found that I could turn the wheel by pushing on the tires with a 1/4 off the effort I needed to before the upgrade.

I checked all bearings in the steering and everything was tight and smooth.

Is it possible that the tie rods were the cause?

I took it for a drive and found no problems except a slight mis alignment.

I'm still weary of the steering locking up while driving...Does anyone have any input on this?

Thanks,

Chuck Moreland · 07-15-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wcwv04
Well, I finally got a chance to take it all apart to find the locked
Is it possible that the tie rods were the cause?

You can be almost certain the tie rods are not the cause.

I'd focus on the steering shaft. The bearing #23 in the diagram, the "U" joints in the shaft linkage, the lockout mechanism.

My money says your problem is there.