binding in steering during '81 SC test drive
 

Over the weekend I test drove an '81 SC owned by my brother that I'm planning to purchase. I noticed that there was a strange binding feeling in the steering at speed when the wheel was turned slightly to the right, then back to the left. The feeling was like there was something binding and I found that if I turned the wheel hard (through the binding), it would free up and feel fine.

I did some searches and found references to the coupling (U-joints) in the steering that could lead to this. So, we pulled the cover in the trunk and notice that the U-joints didn't appear to have any grease and were just dry looking. All we had handy was some gear lube so we just dribbled some over the joint area, took the car for a drive, and the problem appears be be solved.

Additional info, the car has been lowered which based on some comments found via searches, can effect the ngle on the U-joints. Is this true?

Also, when I orignally felt the binding, the car was nearly out of gas so I filled it up before oiling the joints. Is there any chance that the change to the suspension geometry with a full tank of gas (and associate weight) caused the problem to go away temporarily? Can dry U-joints lead to binding in the steering?

My brother had noticed that there was some groaning in the steering recently that would go away after the car was drive a few miles.

I'm a little concerned as I plan to buy the car and drive it home which about a 300 mile interstate drive from my brother's house. Any opinions?

Possibility: There is a plastic bushing in the steering column that fails. It exhibits binding, loose wheel (moving up/down/left/right w/ no rotation), crunching sounds, etc...

Easy replacement with the metal 928 part. Search and you will find a how too I'm sure.


Best regards,

-Michael

If you sit in the car as EURO911SC said and without turning left or right but you can shake the wheel up and down a bit its the steering column bushing, Id start there, I just did mine a few days ago and it fixed alot of slack in the steering. Very cheap and very easy. You need a 27mm socket to pull the steering wheel.

Pelican has the cheapest one...
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911M/POR_911M_SUSprf_pg27.htm#item26

Another thing you could check is the steering joint, open the smugglers box in the front and you'll see two u joints, I put Mobil 1 synthetic grease on them and the steering felt a bit more precise after doing these two things. Easy cheap fixes that the car prolly needs anyways...if you keep having problems work your way down...also check the tie rods.

Good luck-chris

Install instructions as per the fantastic pelican tech page.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_Steering-bushing/911_steering_bushing.htm

have the steering rack checked. This could be the problem and might be dangerous to drive at highway speeds for your trip if it fails. Ending up in the fence is not a good way to start off ownership. :mad:

thanks for the help -
- I'm aware of the steering bushing and plan to order one of these and replace it, cheap insurance. The steering wheel does not have any side to side or up/down play but there's a little grinding noise when you run it left/right while still. Is subtle but you can hear it and it sounds like it's coming from the bearing area.

Ahhh, now I know what the "smugglers box" is. Seen many references to this when searching the archives! This is where I found the steering U-joints (thanks to a good shop manual)

- Regarding the steering joint, this is the section I lubricated that made the problem go away. I would like to know if dry joints in this area could lead to the binding that I felt in the steering? Any thoughts?

My brother has owned and maintained this car for 15 years so I'm fairly confident that the steering rack hasn't suddenly gone bad but you never know. Do 911 steering racks give you any warning before they fail?

Another bit of info, the rack feels pretty tight. I move the wheel back and forth with my fingers and watched the front wheel move with the slightest change in wheel position.

thanks,

mike