Steering problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Steering problem
What is your quess, what is wrong with my steering...
I have 1 year old manual Steeroids R&P system in my standard steering column -73 vette. The stering column is original.
Today when driving suddenly the steering became very heavy and also a small noise is now there when turning the wheel like a bearing failure...or a too tight and dry bearing or something similar??? The steering resists quite much more the effort of turning the wheel and the movement is not smooth...
I have a first feeling the squeaky noise comes from somewhere inside the steering column...
I have 1 year old manual Steeroids R&P system in my standard steering column -73 vette. The stering column is original.
Today when driving suddenly the steering became very heavy and also a small noise is now there when turning the wheel like a bearing failure...or a too tight and dry bearing or something similar??? The steering resists quite much more the effort of turning the wheel and the movement is not smooth...
I have a first feeling the squeaky noise comes from somewhere inside the steering column...
Last edited by Vesa; May 1, 2010 at 03:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Tore apart the full steering column...and too it out of car...and found it to be in ok conditioning.
After further analysis the noise came from the double joint that replaced the rag joint in a steeroids setup like mine. Now after lbrication it and reattaching the steering shaft no noise or problems anymore. Maybe it was binding or needing lubrication....?
After further analysis the noise came from the double joint that replaced the rag joint in a steeroids setup like mine. Now after lbrication it and reattaching the steering shaft no noise or problems anymore. Maybe it was binding or needing lubrication....?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Those universals style steering components are found in millions of cars made for a long time now...like 20+ years, all makes and models....
they are steel with staked bearing caps, the install must have changed or angles different because something shifted around....came loose??
the joints are really picky about binging, because of the way it was designed, my setup was done before they went to market, I use just two universals, and a simpler mount....works for me....
they are steel with staked bearing caps, the install must have changed or angles different because something shifted around....came loose??
the joints are really picky about binging, because of the way it was designed, my setup was done before they went to market, I use just two universals, and a simpler mount....works for me....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Maybe your #1 or #2 body mount on the drivers side has collapsed or deteriorated and came apart and now the column is at a bad angle for the universal?
Is the noise constant as you turn the wheel or is it cyclical occurring only at certain degrees of the wheel being turned?
Is the noise constant as you turn the wheel or is it cyclical occurring only at certain degrees of the wheel being turned?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
Vesa, if you have several u-joints in the system check the steering shaft support bearing. Something might have happened to it to cause binding. Maybe its loose or shifted?
Its the one attached to a bracket in this photo, its there to align things and prevent binding:
Its the one attached to a bracket in this photo, its there to align things and prevent binding:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
I checked that support bearing as first act. And its fine (not like last year...then it had loosened and caused binding).
And before I fully tore all parts I located the noise into that double joint there...I could feel it with rotating the joint by hand...but now everything is fine and no noise or any problems left...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Maybe your #1 or #2 body mount on the drivers side has collapsed or deteriorated and came apart and now the column is at a bad angle for the universal?
Is the noise constant as you turn the wheel or is it cyclical occurring only at certain degrees of the wheel being turned?
Is the noise constant as you turn the wheel or is it cyclical occurring only at certain degrees of the wheel being turned?
It was more or less constant...like opening an old door in a 100 years old house.
Maybe it was just the double joint needing lubrication and having some dirt inside...also the lower mounting of the steering column might have been a bit loosely tightened...
Last edited by Vesa; May 3, 2010 at 01:14 PM.
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LOL
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Just had gone through the adjustments for my sterroids that was recently installed. That support bearing should be adjusted loose, then check for any binding and then tightened, I found that it binds easily making the wheel feel tight, I spoke to Eric/tech for steeroids today about the same thing, he said they are updating their website with some new info on adjustments...after making sure things were good went for a ride...handles just great....
Last edited by 73jst4fun; May 3, 2010 at 06:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 816
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Thanks!!!!