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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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 Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 6:49 pm Post subject: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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So I was having a lot of sway when on the highway, I talked to the guys at Van Cafe and to T3 and got steering rack bushings and anti sway bar bushings. Good news is that I can now go 70+ on the highway and she tracks straight and feels safe! My local mechanic said the rack bushings were shot.
The problem is, when i steer at a slow rate of speed it feels like the steering column is rubbing and slightly grinding on something.
Anything to check over before I take it back to him. I am mechanically inclined but wanted to pay for these jobs to be done for liability factor of front end work |
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Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2321
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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I suggest you lube the horn contact. Get some silicon electrical grease, usually called “Dielectric grease” available at FLAPS. Spear some on a stiff piece of paper. Get under the steering column inside the crack rotate it looking for the slider parts. Smear the grease on the brass ring surface, or work the paper between the contact tab and the ring and rotate the wheel.
I do it once a year whether it needs it or not. The bonus is that your horn contacts will last forever.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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| Gnarlodious wrote: |
I suggest you lube the horn contact. Get some silicon electrical grease, usually called “Dielectric grease” available at FLAPS. Spear some on a stiff piece of paper. Get under the steering column inside the crack rotate it looking for the slider parts. Smear the grease on the brass ring surface, or work the paper between the contact tab and the ring and rotate the wheel.
I do it once a year whether it needs it or not. The bonus is that your horn contacts will last forever. |
I’ll double check this but I have had that happen once before with the horn contacts. This grinding feels much deeper and more pronounced |
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Tobias Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2013
Posts: 1390
Location: Taos NM
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| Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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| Marshj wrote: |
| Gnarlodious wrote: |
I suggest you lube the horn contact. Get some silicon electrical grease, usually called “Dielectric grease” available at FLAPS. Spear some on a stiff piece of paper. Get under the steering column inside the crack rotate it looking for the slider parts. Smear the grease on the brass ring surface, or work the paper between the contact tab and the ring and rotate the wheel.
I do it once a year whether it needs it or not. The bonus is that your horn contacts will last forever. |
I’ll double check this but I have had that happen once before with the horn contacts. This grinding feels much deeper and more pronounced |
Sometimes the grinding can be really bad if a chunk of that ring flips up. Feels like a brake pad that has gone to metal on metal.
Look for brass filings on the column. |
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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Marshj
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017
Posts: 268
Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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Turns out you CAN install the stabilizer bar upside down..
The mechanic installed it so the arch on the stabilizer bar was up, this caused it to be rubbing the steering shaft where it entered the steering rack.. glad I found this and didnt drive far.
I pulled it all apart, and reinstalled it correctly.. basically redoing the work I paid him to do that he did incorrectly..
Jeff |
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Gnarlodious
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2321
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: Steering Column Grinding on Slow turns? |
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I know the feeling. I just had to redo some suspension trouble the mechanic did wrong.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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