What do I need to lube these parts?

lordrobs

lordrobs

lordrobs

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Sorry for bringing this same problem up again. Basically my steering is still clicking and I think that my current solution of driving with the radio on so I can't hear it probably isn't the best idea :o The noise is definately coming from somewhere between the floor and the steering wheel so its a component of the steering column rather than anything more mechanical with the steering itself.

Anyway as I still can't find a solution I'm going to randomly start doing things to see if it helps... firstly seeing if its something that has dried out so I'm going to lube up the following, what I don't know is what to use-

CIMG0189.jpg


CIMG0187.jpg


As you can see there is residue of some kind of grease on the shafty bit (technical term) and I'll lube the mechanism in the second pic too.

What should I be using? First thought was lithium grease, that any good?

TIA :)
 
Can you tell which piece is causing the click? Bit pointless slapping/spraying grease onto items that won't benefit.

The UJ is normally sealed so you could bury it grease and nothing would help.
 
One possibility is that the splined connection between the rack and the column is loose (probably under the rubber cover in bottom pic). There is usualy a pinch bolt that clamps the column onto the rack, they can come loose.

Clicking from the steering column can be caused by a knackered universal joint (the bit above the yellow sleeve in the second picture. They rarely wear out as such, but the needle rollers inside can get jammed and make it stiff to turn over part of it's movement. (Ka's and Fiestas were very prone to this). If this is the case no amount of lubrication will help, and the bearings are sealed anyway so squirting grease in there is unlikely to do anything except attract dust and fluff.

Why not get someone to turn the wheel while you have your head down in the footwell? By holding various parts of the column as the steering is moved, you should be able to feel the "click" and pinpoint the area it's coming from.
 
Dogbreath said:
One possibility is that the splined connection between the rack and the column is loose (probably under the rubber cover in bottom pic). There is usualy a pinch bolt that clamps the column onto the rack, they can come loose.

Clicking from the steering column can be caused by a knackered universal joint (the bit above the yellow sleeve in the second picture. They rarely wear out as such, but the needle rollers inside can get jammed and make it stiff to turn over part of it's movement. (Ka's and Fiestas were very prone to this). If this is the case no amount of lubrication will help, and the bearings are sealed anyway so squirting grease in there is unlikely to do anything except attract dust and fluff.

Why not get someone to turn the wheel while you have your head down in the footwell? By holding various parts of the column as the steering is moved, you should be able to feel the "click" and pinpoint the area it's coming from.
Click to expand...

Great stuff, some food for thought there.

It is really hard to diagnose because I can go from lock to lock with the car sat on my drive and its silent. Steering at say 30 it clicks a bit and steering at 50 it clicks louder/more so it seems it varies with the increased load.

I'm not quite friendly enough with my mechanic to drive down a nice twisty road with his head down by my knees listening to where the noise is coming from :p
 
Dogbreath whats the cure for that problem. My Mum has said her steering wheel is clicking but I haven't checked it out yet. (Mk5 Fiesta 1.6)
 
Tesla said:
Dogbreath whats the cure for that problem. My Mum has said her steering wheel is clicking but I haven't checked it out yet. (Mk5 Fiesta 1.6)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it requires a new steering column as the UJ is not replaceable. It's a more common problem on the Ka, so there's a good chance it will just be something trivial.
 
lordrobs said:
It is really hard to diagnose because I can go from lock to lock with the car sat on my drive and its silent. Steering at say 30 it clicks a bit and steering at 50 it clicks louder/more so it seems it varies with the increased load.
Click to expand...

Can you "feel" the click through the steering wheel?
 
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