RCR steering column rattle

[Michael Holmes]

having trouble finding a way to reduce the amount of rattle/play in the steering column. Everything can be made tight has, including drilling and placing a set screw where the column is expandable. Most of the noise is coming from the bearing joints.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Craig White]

I will just run through some of the basic stuff, just in case you have missed something...

Make sure you have tightened up the grub screw in that top column bearing.

Also make sure the uni-joints are clamping down on the column correctly. Just because the bolts do up tight may not mean the uni is clamping down correctly.

The quick release introduces a little bit of movement that can sometimes be mistaken for slop as well. Not noticable when driving the vehicle though.

Our columns are configured slightly differently here and we use the same type of bearing for the top and middle mounts as you get the benefit of being able to lock the column shaft into the bearing with the grub screws. For RHD we found it beneficial to raise the column height and that meant changing the location of the middle mount which made it possible to easily change the bearing used.

See if that helps.

 

[Chuck]

Mike:

I am guessing the rattle is at the second support bearing under the dash. It does not have a set screw. Try jiggling it. Or hold your hand on the steering shaft while wiggling the steering wheel to see if that is the source of the problem. A fraction of an inch of play can feel like a lot more at the steering wheel. The flattened surfaces on the round steering shaft creates a bit of play.

My solution is not very elegant but seems to work. I made a tiny wedge out a piece of aluminum, jammed in in place along the flat surface of the steering column, and then put a wire tie around it to keep it in place. It solved the problem.

Also note that the first support was reinforced with a pair of threaded rods. Page 44 of the 'Book' has the details.

Pictures are attached. You will probably scratch your head trying to figure out what they show, but if you have spent much time lying under the dash they should make sense.

Chuck