Steering Wheel Play
I have an '84 944 and noticed my steering wheel started wiggling around. I can basically move it up & down and on the freeway it causes a hell of a lot of vibration. I've looked up diagrams and noticed that there's a bearing that goes into the ignition housing and I believe that it has worn down on the inside. Is this the cause of the problem or is it something else?
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usury
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When you say "up and down", do you mean like a tilt steering column in a more modern car?
Or do you mean like a telescoping steering column?
Neither is good.
If it's like "telescoping", my first though is to check the nut that holds the steering wheel to the splined steering shaft. The nut is found under the horn pad on late cars. I presume it's similar on early ones too.
On power steering cars (maybe manual too), there is a torsion rod integral to the input shaft on the power steering rack, at least I think there is. If somehow that managed to break I imagine it leading to odd vibrations and dangerous road manners.
If the steering shaft coupler is falling off the steering rack input shaft, that too is incredibly dangerous and would mean total loss of steering control when it finishes falling off. It's hard to imagine it spontaneously falling off as they seem to be rust-welded in place most of the time, but it's worth getting under the car with a flashlight to check.
If it's like "tilt", well I'm at a loss off the top of my head. The column supports are robustly bolted to the dash under structure. This is my 1987...
Or do you mean like a telescoping steering column?
Neither is good.
If it's like "telescoping", my first though is to check the nut that holds the steering wheel to the splined steering shaft. The nut is found under the horn pad on late cars. I presume it's similar on early ones too.
On power steering cars (maybe manual too), there is a torsion rod integral to the input shaft on the power steering rack, at least I think there is. If somehow that managed to break I imagine it leading to odd vibrations and dangerous road manners.
If the steering shaft coupler is falling off the steering rack input shaft, that too is incredibly dangerous and would mean total loss of steering control when it finishes falling off. It's hard to imagine it spontaneously falling off as they seem to be rust-welded in place most of the time, but it's worth getting under the car with a flashlight to check.
If it's like "tilt", well I'm at a loss off the top of my head. The column supports are robustly bolted to the dash under structure. This is my 1987...
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1987 944na with S2/Turbo facelift
Seattle, Washington, USA
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1987 944na with S2/Turbo facelift
Seattle, Washington, USA
I mean that it feels like the wheel is rattling in place. I believe that the steering column itself is the issue and that it's somehow gotten loose but only way to check would be for me to take off the steering wheel and maybe even the dash. I'll still inspect the nut - maybe it has gotten loose overtime.
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Tom
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My guess would be the plastic bushing inside the column (part # 171 419 341) . The plastic gets old and breaks/crumbles. These pictures from 944online give you the idea...
https://944online.com/steering-column-bushing.html
https://944online.com/steering-column-bushing.html
Took the wheel off and other accessories and yeah looks like that was the main issue. My steering column was missing that plastic bushing entirely and was just riding on the bearing. I'll be sure to get a new one and hopefully that fixes it!
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944ChumpCar
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does anybody know what this bushing is made out of? looking to see if i can 3d print this part, as i need it asap