Clicking/cracking type noise when turning the steering wheel

[Volvo3000]

This 1992 Volvo 940 estate makes a clicking or cracking type sound when turning the steering wheel - most noticeable when manouvering it into parking spaces. It doesn't sound like it's anything to do with the indicator as it makes this noise at all steering wheel positions. It seems to come from just behind the steering wheel.

Does anyone have any ideas what is causing it and what it would take to fix it?

The car has done well over 250,000 miles so could things be starting to wear out?

[Forrest]

The two most obvious potential causes are a worn trackrod end or a worn universal joint in the steering column. I believe it is easy to obtain trackrod ends and hard to obtain the right UJs. Replace the former if they look worn and maybe try oiling the latter to see if that helps.

Good luck.

[360beast]

As it's behind the steering wheel it could be the needle roller bearing at the base of the column, I worked on a 1991 940 that had a very slight tight spot but only occasionally in the steering and would make a cracking noise when it went past the spot and you could feel it free off. I lubed the UJ's and it made no difference so I suspect it was the bearing at the base of the column but the owner didn't want to pay to have all the column out.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by 360beast

As it's behind the steering wheel it could be the needle roller bearing at the base of the column, I worked on a 1991 940 that had a very slight tight spot but only occasionally in the steering and would make a cracking noise when it went past the spot and you could feel it free off. I lubed the UJ's and it made no difference so I suspect it was the bearing at the base of the column but the owner didn't want to pay to have all the column out.

If it's worse in warm weather Luke is right here. It's a common problem on 940's

[griston64]

If you can open this you will see why most people just live with it

[Rversteeg]

On later 940s (I believe after '95) a "moaning" or clicking sound when turning the steering wheel is a known issue. You could sometimes even feel a slight resistance around the middle position before it clicks/cracks and is temperature/weather related.
At the time Volvo did not consider it necessary to issue a recall on it, only if customers complained they repaired it under warranty. Apperantly it was not considered to be a safety issue, just annoying.
There should be a service bulletin, but it involves quite a lot of work.
My 98 940 suffered from this issue too, but after removing the plastic covers and spraying with lubircant as deeply as I could manage, the clicks have disappeared for many years now.

[baggy798]

My steering moaned for the first time a couple months ago, when straightening up from turning left, but only when it was that cold week of sub zero temps. Fking annoying, not sure I would be able to live with it.😂

[940volvoman]

I managed to replace the steering u/j on my 1998 Celebration with one from a 960.Same part no....

[Volvo3000]

Thanks. It hasn't got the airbag as it's 92 so that should make working on it easier.

I read online that someone took off the plastic covering on top of the steering column behind the steering wheel and lubricated inside. I've never worked on a steering column before so if anything needs replacing it will be a job for the garage. Problem is that there aren't many garages around here that like to work on old cars anymore.

[Pete940]

I had that. The roller bearing near the top of the column had disintegrated. The only really awkward part was getting the column to release from the U/J. They just seize together with age.