Steering wheel judder: column bush worn?!?
Steering wheel judder: column bush worn?!?
Author
Discussion

ed_crouch

Original Poster:

1,169 posts

271 months

Tuesday 29th May 2007
quotequote all
When manoeuvring out of the garage, the steering judders and makes a creaking noise if I turn the wheel quickly. It is an 88 390SE, and has Power Steering (woooo-oooo-ooooh...!).

Does this match the symptoms of a knackered bottom steering column bush??

Having grabbed the bottom of the steering shaft and shaken it, there is a very small (but nevertheless it IS there) amount of play.

Ta.

Ed.

Gav T

56 posts

236 months

Tuesday 29th May 2007
quotequote all
ed,

I have a 1986 280i Federal with the SD1 column. If I move the steering wheel from side to side when the car is standing still I get a knocking sound. I thought it was a tie rod end but when I checked things out it seemed that the knocking was coming from the column. If I grab the base of the column it moves quite a bit and produces the knocking sound. I also get alot of rattle from the column when driving. So now I need to find out if the SLFL3/4 bearing will also fit the SD1 column.

ed_crouch

Original Poster:

1,169 posts

271 months

Tuesday 29th May 2007
quotequote all
Id measure the diameter of the bottom end of the shaft, and go to www.simplybearings.co.uk and get a self aligning bearing to fit the shaft. It diesnt have to be an EXACT fit: +/- 0.5mm or so will do as the inner race is held on with either an eccentric locking collar or a grubscrew or 2.

Ed.

Wedg1e

27,038 posts

294 months

Tuesday 29th May 2007
quotequote all
ed_crouch said:
When manoeuvring out of the garage, the steering judders and makes a creaking noise if I turn the wheel quickly. It is an 88 390SE, and has Power Steering (woooo-oooo-ooooh...!).

Does this match the symptoms of a knackered bottom steering column bush??

Having grabbed the bottom of the steering shaft and shaken it, there is a very small (but nevertheless it IS there) amount of play.

Ta.

Ed.
Hmmm... my '87 390SE with PAS makes a whining noise as you load up the pump when turning, but I wouldn't say the symptoms are as you describe them.

That very small amount of play is more than enough to warrant replacing the bearing, though. You won't believe the improvement.

ed_crouch

Original Poster:

1,169 posts

271 months

Wednesday 30th May 2007
quotequote all
My PAS pump whines like hell all the time. Thought it was normal!

Do I have an ailing pump?? Its got plenty of fluid in it and doesnt use any...

Ed.