Steering Column Clunk
 

I get a really annoying
rattle in the steering column when going over any decent sized bump. I thought my plastic column bearing had failed, so I pulled the wheel to replace the bearing, and found that it seemed to be fine - zero play in any direction. Does anyone know if there is a bearing at the lower end of
the column that fails? I can't find a mention of a lower column bearing in
Bentley. Any ideas??
Tony K
85 Carrera

Just spent another hour chasing this down. There is absolutely no lateral play in the shaft - removed the wheel and eyeballed the shaft and upper bearing area carefully. Its tight. The clunk comes in teh first few degrees of rotation - either direction. Could this be rack slap?? It sounds like the clunk is being generated in the column itself - not way down at the rack. Still workin' it.
Tony K
85 Carrera

I had the same clunk. Turned out to be the nut that holds the flange to the pinion was loose. It was clunking back and forth on the splines.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

Also check the steering column U-joints. Does it do this while steering or while going over sharp bumps. Mine would do it 2 or 3 times per revolution of the steering wheel and rattled over sharp bumps.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

Thanks Tyson - this makes sense. No noise at all when rotating the wheel, but loud rattling over sharp bumps. Just checked my Bentley, but can't quite tell if the shaft to pinion joint can be reached to check withour pulling the entire rack. Did you find this loose bolt without pulling the rack??
Tony K
85 carrera

You can do it in-car. You must remove the plastic cover (in the smugglers trunk) and all will be evident. Separate the flanges and you will be able to see the nut that holds the lower flange to the rack. I'm going from memory here, so I hope that's right. Good luck.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet
92 C-2 Cabriolet

Looks like the source is somewhere in the top universal. Working up from the flange, the few degrees of rotational slack and associated clunk appears to be coming from that area. Not enough time today to rip out the blowers and plumbing that are blocking access to the top universal, but that looks like the next step.
Tony K
85 Carrera