Help - Squeaky Steering

Hello everyone,

This week-end a very perculiar thing has happened to my steering - it squeaks!

It sounds as if a rubber or plastic component is rubbing against metal. The squeak disappears if you jack up the front end of the car. The squeak seems to be intermittent too - for instance it had all but gone on the drive to work this morning.

The squeak happens on both left and right turns. It also happens if you turn the wheel when the car is stationary.

I spent yesterday underneath the car looking at the steering rack - the rubber gaiters are fine and there's no sign of them rubbing against the "tunnel." Likewise with the track-rod ends.

The front tyres clear the wheel wells, and in any case, any sign they'd been rubbing would be apparent.

I've checked in the "smuggler's compartment" and the universal joint seems to be several mm clear of the metal housing.

Only one possibility remains - the plastic bearing in the steering column itself. BUT sure this noise wouldn't go away when the jacked the front of the car up?

Any ideas welcome.

Thanks,

- roGER