Steering column creak

[Tyron760]

I wonder has anyone had a creaking steering column when turning the wheel? Nothing seems to be binding that I can notice so I don't think its serious, but it is a bit annoying. Also right indicator often doesn't cancel so may be related.

Its on a '97 940 so has an airbag which I'm a bit reluctant to fiddle about with unless its an easy fix. Grateful for any experiences please, haven't found anything in FAQ's or by searching.

Tyron

[RollingThunder]

Hi Tyron,

I noticed a bulletin in VADIS a few mins ago when I was looking into something else. It seems there are two issues with the steering column. One is fairly straightforward and the other looks like a real PITA lol

The easier fix is the one that might apply to your car, although it is described as clicking rather than creaking. Apparently the bearing carrier at the top of the steering column has different tolerances to the bearing itself, so it can become skewiff. The fix is to remove the steering wheel, refit the carrier making sure its correctly aligned (90 degrees to column) then refit the wheel.

The other issue is to do with a bearing at the base of the column, and it looks like a load of work to swap that one out. Fortunately it sounds like your noise is from the top of the column

HAVING SAID THIS... I reckon your issue is more obvious - you said your indicator sometimes doesn't cancel? I reckon a small piece of plastic cancelling mechanism has broken off and is causing the noise. The fix might be to remove the wheel, replace the broken cancelling arm and refit the wheel.

HTH

EDIT - here is a pic of the cancellation arm on a Volvo x70 courtesy of MatthewsVolvoSite. The 940 one will be very similar

[bgarston]

Yes, mine does it too depending on the temperature. Its allegedly dust, etc in a bearing and is a design fault. I understand it is a common problem. I have read there is a fix which which involves dropping the steering column and replacing something (vague I know, sorry); there are some instructions on here somewhere. Other people I understand give the bearing a squirt of WD40 which I guess 'fixes' the problem all be it for a short while. I will sort mine out one day, perhaps, maybe but there are higher priority things to sort out at the mo so it's not a priority.

Hope this helps? Cheers

Ben

[GreenBrick]

I have a complete steering column with airbag steering wheel, if that is a help. It wasn't noisy.

[Rversteeg]

I have had them both, creaking and clicking. The clicking noise is high up in the steering column, just behind the steering wheel, and feels as if some part is stuck and suddenly comes loose during turning of the steering wheel. It comes and goes and doesn't bother me much.
The creaking noise is very annoying and comes from lower down the steering column. In my case I cured it for a long time by removing the panels around the column and spraying WD40 in the area where the lower bearing must be.

[Tyron760]

Many thanks for all the tips and thoughts so far chaps. I think I'll try the WD40 approach to start with.

[yoda960]

Originally Posted by Rversteeg

I have had them both, creaking and clicking. The clicking noise is high up in the steering column, just behind the steering wheel, and feels as if some part is stuck and suddenly comes loose during turning of the steering wheel. It comes and goes and doesn't bother me much.
The creaking noise is very annoying and comes from lower down the steering column. In my case I cured it for a long time by removing the panels around the column and spraying WD40 in the area where the lower bearing must be.

I've got exactly the same issue with my steering, the creaking one. It occasionally made a creak then a pop sound and feels like a part becoming stuck and suddenly coming loose as you say.

It's suddenly got a lot worse, the steering is very stiff now and creaks and pops every turn of the wheel, so I need to fix it asap. I think it's because the car isn't used very often at the moment, lack of use might have caused something to corrode perhaps.

I remember researching it some time ago when it hardly every happened, and someone told me it was some type of collar with bearings in, which would make sense with the noise.

Does that ring a bell with anyone? Anyone else has the same issue and fixed it?

OP - does yours just creak or does it make a 'pop' sound at all?

[Tyron760]

Originally Posted by yoda960

OP - does yours just creak or does it make a 'pop' sound at all?

Mine is just creaking, and I've noticed it seems to be worse the warmer it is so not sure what it'll be like in hot summer. I've only had this car a month so its all new to me. Never came across this issue in any of my 700 series.

Regards,
Tyron

[bgarston]

Further to last I've just picked this thread again and thought I had some information sat around on my computer about this issue....anyway here it is: 940 steering column repair (clicking issue).pdf.

Hope this helps?

Cheers


Ben

[RollingThunder]

Yep that's the VADIS bulletin.