82 911 Sc

[Robert Neal]

I hit a bump the other day and all of a sudden about 1/4-3/8 play showed up in the steering wheel. What is the proper way to remove the horn to see what has happened? I have seen pictures of turning the horn counterclockwise and pulling. Is that proper for my car? Do I push and turn or just turn? I don't want to damage the horn. The car is all stock.

[vash]

grab it and yank (the horn pad).

if the steering wheel moves up and down, my money is on the steering bushing. good news...cheapest, easiest, most satisfying project, EVER! on our cars. do a search. giggle.

[porsche930dude]

theres a nylon bushing right at the top that wears out. They make a steel relacement its easy to put in

[widgeon13]

Don't believe anything will show under the steering wheel pad. That should not happen, check the smuggler's box and steering rack, something must be loose.

[JoeyD911]

Do you mean the wheel moves around in the column or that the steering now has play? Either way taking the pad off alone won't show anything,. You'll need to pull the wheel. If it's never been off before, it might be a SOB to get off. Breaking the 27mm nut is the hard part. Either way, just pull the horn pad straight off with constant pressure as evenly as you can. Just as you think it's going to break, she'll come right off

If you have steering play after hitting a bump hard, you should start looking at some of the more expensive possibilities If the wheel is wiggling around in the column, you'll get out cheap. Good luck

[scottb]

There's no need to pull the wheel, yet. Do a simple test -- grab the wheel at 3:00 and 9:00. Try to wiggle it from side-to-side and then top-to-bottom. If you have play, then it's likely the bushing in the steering column is shot. Our host sells a replacement -- part number 928-347-739-02-M100. $12. Here's a tech article on replacing the bushing: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_Steering-bushing/911_steering_bushing.htm.

It's a very easy job, and Vash is right, very rewarding too.