I have a related problem with my new bushing. I cannot get it to go far enough onto the steering column. I have pounded it down, but don't want to use too much force. Should I have to really bash it to get it down far enough. Right now, I'm not able to see the area where the circlip should go. Thanks,

Don Ivey
'87 Carrera
Raleigh, NC

Don,

Did you remove the "C" clip? There has a been a couple of instances where for some reasons the distance between the bottom of the "c" clip groove and the top of the bearing was dimensionally different.

The trouble is that I never see this situations first hand so it's back and forth to rectify the problem. If you will PM me with your e-mail address we can work it out.

Thanks,

Mitch, thanks for responding so quickly. I solved the problem myself, after taking the bushing back out and doing some more cleaning of the area it had to fit into. Probably some scurf in there I didn't see at first, but she went in like buttah. Nice piece! Thanks,

Don Ivey

Don,

I'm glad it worked out, thanks for letting us know... Happy driving!

I installed Mitch's bushing a few weeks ago. Drove the car probably 2 hours, it was great. No squeak, felt like a brand new car.

Then I had an unrelated coil issue and my car was in the shop for a week.

I get my car back, and the squeak is back. Please note I am not blaming Mitch's bushing, I probably didn't do something right or was unfortunate to have some unrelated but similar (and of course, more expensive) issue facing me.

I took my wheel off today and I see wear on Mitch's bushing. I took off the bushing (thank goodness for those built in allen screws), and I took a stiff piece of paper and slid it all around in and out along the steering column. There was nothing in there. Then I sprayed a fair amount of wd-40 down there for good measure. Reinstalled Mitch's bushing, the c-clip, the wheel, the washer, and the 27mm nut. Still squeaking.

When I had the steering wheel pulled off in Orange, Randy the mechanic there thought maybe my squeak was coming from further down inside the column. He said that is gonna be almost $1000 to fix. Looks like others on here say that is indeed a tough job. SO hopefully I don't have to do that.

I took a video of my issue with audio, but Firefox keeps crashing on me when I try to upload it. I'll try again with IE later.

I'm thinking I need to tighten the c-clip and get the nut torqued properly. I'm using the stick-throgh-the-steering-wheel-under-your-arm-and-under-the-dash technique. I don't have a 3/4" torque wrench. Mine is only 1/2", so I can't use it here.

Hello szyzygy, can't you try to figure out where exactly the squeaking comes from? I think by moving the steering wheel back and forth when the car is on a lift and possibly holding a metal rod, screw driver, to the steering column in various places should narrow down the location of the squeak.

Maybe weekend after next I can make some plans to meetup with another Pelican who has a jack to check that out.

At least she's driveable. At 80mph, everything else is so loud I can't hear it.

But you know how we all love perfection on here.

Ok, I took everything off the steering column. I put just the wheel back on and I hear the same squeak from just behind the instrument panel section when I turn the wheel.

Wonder if the universal joint is shot or needs lube. Sprayed a hella lotta wd40 again. Squeak got a little better.

If that is what it is, then why did Mitch's bushing seem to work at first?
Seems like the wheel squeaked at random times beforehand, and now again back to that random frequency.

Is the c clip supposed to be able to move around in it's spot? Also, there is at least a mm between the c clip and the top of the bushing.

The bushing is easy to swivel around clockwise, counter clockwise, but is NOT able to be easily pulled out. Need to use the allen screws and a pair of pliers to get it out.

maybe I damaged the bushing when I installed and had that lip on the steering column?

Did other people's squeak come from where mine is coming from? What else can cause the squeak?

Thanks

szyzygy... I was going to suggest that you check your roller bearing to see if it is stuck or is in need of lubing. However I see that you were able to rotate the bearing "freely" with the bushing in place. Have you gotten some oil into the roller bearings?

Since the MDS Nylon is oil impregnated I think you'll need to look else where for the squeak. Maybe I missed it, but I'm assuming that you didn't have the squeak prior to the bushing installation? If so maybe the bushing has tighten up some other parts that are in need of oil or lube? Keep us posted...

I would suspect metal to metal contact. Perhaps a dab of grease on the steering wheel splines, and where the hub meets the c-clip.

Thanks guys

Yes, I had the squeak before the bushing replacement. Seems to come and go.

Hire do I oil the bearings?

I'll try oiling the splines, but out really sounds like the issue it's right begging my tach.

szyzygy...

I'm sure that russnak is correct when he says it has to be metal to metal contact. One more thing, I'm assuming (I hate using that word) that you 27mm socket is a 3/4" drive, do you have an adapter to go from your 1/2" torque wrench to the 3/4" socket? You can buy the adapter at a good auto parts store that carries tools. Make sure the adapter goes from a 1/2" female to a 3/4" male.

Also more tightening isn't probably going to help you with your squeak...

OK... if you had the squeak before the bushing install then the easiest thing would be to work in some light weight oil into the roller bearing. You would do this with the bushing out... I believe there's a small crack in the bearing diameter that can be accessed between the steering shaft and the edge of the roller bearing. Maybe take some WD40 and use the wand to force some oil into that area. You can't hurt anything so give it a try. Better than a $1,000 repair.

You're sure that your steering wheel isn't dragging on anything? However it doesn't sound like a plastic rubbing, but get in there with a flash light and look at all the moving parts to see if you can find the culprit. Is the steering column tight to the instrument panel?

If you can't find it after all of this I would put your car safely up on stands and rotate the steering wheel. Have someone down on the ground while the steering wheel is turned.

Not sure how "heavy" your squeak is, but my horn contact, with a Momo wheel mounted, drove me crazy until I realized what was squeaking and lubed it with Vaseline.

It's very loud.

I'm sure it is not anything upfront making the noise. I took everything off and put the wheel back on about 1/2 way on the spline to make sure it wasn't rubbing anything and turned it. Squeak was there, coming from right where the shaft goes behind the instrument panel.

I'll try to lube up that bearing later on today.

You might try some liquid TriFlow on the bearing, the steering u-joints, etc. If it's dry, then something like Bel Ray Chain Lube will provide long lasting lubrication