Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 15 April 2020, 22:16:03

Title: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 April 2020, 22:16:03

Evening guys, hope you’re all staying safe 👍

I have a slight clunk on my steering as I turn a few degrees either side of straight ahead. There’s no play in any of the under car linkages, idler arm etc. They are also all new 😃

I want to get a butchers at the steering shaft before it disappears underneath to go in to the steering box to see if it’s a UJ, rubber damper or something that’s causing this.

My question is... to take off the trim just above the pedals do I need to remove fuse/obd port cover or is there just a couple of screws I need to take out? Any info greatly welcomed 😘😘😘

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 April 2020, 22:23:36

Three turn clips and it falls out :y

Looking would have been quicker than typing the question :D

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 April 2020, 07:56:20

Lol thanks dg. 😃😃😃

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 April 2020, 10:45:35

I take it if I can’t find any issues at the column/steering shaft I presume the issue would be with the box and possible need for adjustment. Or replacement. Bearing in mind everything except centre tie rod is new. There’s also not excessive free play at the wheel. Just this irritating little click/clunk.

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: iansoutham on 16 April 2020, 10:52:33

I believe it is t the top just past the controls where the column tilts.

Mine has a similar thing sometimes if you get it just right and it appears to be from around there

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 April 2020, 11:42:24

The steering box isn't adjustable.

That's to say, get it half a smidgen of a gnats arse wrong and you'll be fitting a new one... ;)

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 April 2020, 12:33:43

Thanks Al.

As I rock the steering with my hand on the rubber coupling/bearing/damper thingy it definitely feels like it’s coming from there. I put my hand above the shaft and feeling gets lighter, below it the feeling gets lighter. Hand on the rubber it’s clunky. I smeared a bunch of grease on it and it felt ever so slightly better. Checked the two bolts. They’re both tight.

I see the rubber piece is riveted on. The rubber looks in good shape. What you think.... a bit of slop in those 20 year old rivets? It’s pretty close quarters in there. Not sure I fancy drilling rivets out there.

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 April 2020, 13:59:21

Any obvious cracking?

Basically it's a column out job to change, but actually that's only a handful of bolts on the Omega, plus a pinch bolt on the underneath of the rubber coupling :y

I would also be careful what you use to lubricate it as oil based lubricants may well caused it to fail/break up.

Silicon spray like you use on door rubbers/window seals would be the preferred choice... ;)

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 16 April 2020, 20:14:39

Thanks dg. Nope no cracks or anything. It visually looks a good piece. As said I wonder if it’s the rivets. Fek knows. I shan’t bother changing it. I’ll just live with it. However I suppose i was more concerned something was gonna drop off 🤣 but nothing I’ve seen gets me worried.

And I used silicone paste / grease 👍👍👍

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: YZ250 on 16 April 2020, 20:35:33

I had that on my first Omega, but only when slow manouvreing like parking etc. It only did it the once each time as well. Once it had clonked you wouldn't hear it during subsequent manouvreing.  :-\  On mine it felt like it was just below the steering wheel Boss but there was no play in the column. It was almost like a clonking ball race but only did it the once each time. I looked at it but as I always work alone on the car it was difficult to pin down so I just lived with it.  :y

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 16 April 2020, 21:04:22

Quote from: Webby the Bear on 16 April 2020, 20:14:39

Thanks dg. Nope no cracks or anything. It visually looks a good piece. As said I wonder if it’s the rivets. Fek knows. I shan’t bother changing it. I’ll just live with it. However I suppose i was more concerned something was gonna drop off 🤣 but nothing I’ve seen gets me worried.

And I used silicone paste / grease 👍👍👍

:y

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 April 2020, 20:23:17

Thanks for input guys. Yeah I’ll just live with it too 🤣🤣🤣 as I said before I was more concerned something was loose and I’d be driving one day and whatever was loose decided to leave 🤣🤣🤣 but it is all attached so I’ll forget about it 😃😃😃👍👍👍

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 17 April 2020, 20:25:30

Ps YZ this too is mainly parking / manoeuvring. Slow corners sometimes. And motorway speeds nothing when changing lanes.

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 17 April 2020, 20:50:19

If you use more than a twelfth of a turn of the steering wheel changing lanes on a motorway, you have MUCH bigger issues than a bit of steering creak... ;D

Title: Re: Lower steering column trim
Post by: Webby the Bear on 20 April 2020, 20:06:27

🤣🤣🤣 that is true 🤣🤣🤣