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Author Topic: Creaking steering column bearing  (Read 3252 times)

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terry paget

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Creaking steering column bearing
« on: 03 September 2018, 15:41:09 »

3.2 manual saloon ex-police
My son Ben complains of a strange noise when he turns hard right. I have just tried it. It does it when the car is stationary. It is a creaking sort of noise, I reckon it is the steering column bearing. Is this a known old Omega affliction?
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Nick W

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #1 on: 03 September 2018, 15:55:16 »

Are you sure it's inside the car?


A dry strut bearing is much more likely.
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terry paget

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #2 on: 03 September 2018, 17:55:03 »

Are you sure it's inside the car?


A dry strut bearing is much more likely.
I had not thought of that. How do I check? Get car over pit and have son turn the steering with me in the pit?
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Tick Tock

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #3 on: 03 September 2018, 18:06:42 »

If you're in the pit, you couldn't get much further away from the bearing.... try listening in the engine compartment when he turns the steering without the engine running.
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terry paget

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #4 on: 03 September 2018, 18:39:55 »

If you're in the pit, you couldn't get much further away from the bearing.... try listening in the engine compartment when he turns the steering without the engine running.
Right. The strut bearing is at the top, isn't it. Will invetigate tomorrow.
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cam.in.head

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #5 on: 03 September 2018, 23:05:02 »

Anti roll bar drop links can also creak when turned
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dave the builder

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #6 on: 04 September 2018, 12:28:10 »

and the steering lock stops if on full lock can creak bad
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Enceladus

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #7 on: 04 September 2018, 13:13:00 »

and the steering lock stops if on full lock can creak bad
Common on Carltons and Senators. Dab of grease on the steering stops cured it.
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terry paget

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #8 on: 04 September 2018, 13:38:19 »

It's certainly not top strut bearing, nor anti-roll bar bush. Got the car over the pit, and am pretty sure its the o/s wishbone ball joint. It creaks loudly between full r/h lock and straight ahead. I last changed that wishbone in August 2011, 29,000 miles ago. It will be an ATP kit wishbone, so it's done well enough. Anybody else had a similar noise from a bottom ball joint? I've had several become sloppy, but none noisy before.
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #9 on: 04 September 2018, 13:49:37 »

With a finger on underneath the ball joint (away from squishing said finger) can you feel anything as it creaks?

Repeat for top mount and report back ;)
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terry paget

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #10 on: 04 September 2018, 16:10:25 »

With a finger on underneath the ball joint (away from squishing said finger) can you feel anything as it creaks?

Repeat for top mount and report back ;)
Not much, nothing conclusive, either top or bottom. Wife then asked whether it would help with the engine off, might be easier to hear, she said. With engine off the sound clearly came from the bottom. So wishbone ball joint it is.
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #11 on: 04 September 2018, 16:34:19 »

With a finger on underneath the ball joint (away from squishing said finger) can you feel anything as it creaks?

Repeat for top mount and report back ;)
Not much, nothing conclusive, either top or bottom. Wife then asked whether it would help with the engine off, might be easier to hear, she said. With engine off the sound clearly came from the bottom. So wishbone ball joint it is.
If you couldn't feel the noise through the ball joint then it isn't the ball joint ;)

If you are under the car, then the sound from the top mount will pass the ball joint on it's way to you having first resonated down the strut ::)
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terry paget

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #12 on: 04 September 2018, 17:45:53 »

With a finger on underneath the ball joint (away from squishing said finger) can you feel anything as it creaks?

Repeat for top mount and report back ;)
Not much, nothing conclusive, either top or bottom. Wife then asked whether it would help with the engine off, might be easier to hear, she said. With engine off the sound clearly came from the bottom. So wishbone ball joint it is.
If you couldn't feel the noise through the ball joint then it isn't the ball joint ;)

If you are under the car, then the sound from the top mount will pass the ball joint on it's way to you having first resonated down the strut ::)
I hear what you say, Doc. With my head at the top, beside the strut top bearing, the creaking sounded some way away. at the bottom of the strut. Standing in the pit, staring at the bottom ball joint, the creaking was miuch louder and seemed to come from the lower ball joint. I could take the wheel off, but I suspect without load it would not creak. Son Ben has taken the car away now, but will be back in the morning.
If the sound is resonating down the strut, might I feel it holding the strut?
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #13 on: 04 September 2018, 19:01:19 »

In theory yes, but you stand to lose a finger or two...

The top nut isn't insulated, so you should feel it there ;)
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BazaJT

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Re: Creaking steering column bearing
« Reply #14 on: 04 September 2018, 19:25:35 »

If it does turn out to be the ball joint then if all else is in order with the wishbone[inner bushes and the arm itself]then I'd just change the balljoint,this can even be done without removing the wishbone from the car if you wish.
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