Whine coming from steering column

Tiny
NOLAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 FORD F-350
  • 7.3L
  • V8
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Steering is fine, just really annoying. Sounds like something needs lubricating. Recently flushed power steering and that didn't help. Also sprayed lube around rubber boot where steering shaft goes through firewall. Also didn't help but It seems to be coming from somewhere around there.
Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 AT 4:49 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Hi Nolan,

Yep, with 30 years in the automotive field I have seen my share of steering column noises, It sounds like it could be a bearing at the base of the column. Can you hear kind of where the noise is being generated? Top or bottom? Also I have seen where the steering box will telescope noise up the column. We need to get an idea of where it is coming from to start.

Please let me know what you find so we can get this fixed and back on the road.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Here is a pic of an exploded view of the column
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
NOLAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Its coming from right where the shaft goes through the fire wall into the eng compartment. Theres a plastic piece around the shaft where it goes thru and I think its coming from there
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Try to use a small amount of lube at the firewall boot such as wd40 and see if that helps, please get back to me.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
NOLAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I already tried that. It was in my original question
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
NOLAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
When I hold a stethoscope on the bottom of the steering column, directly below the tilt adjust lever, I can hear it there. Is there a bearing in there somewhere?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
Yes, a bearing is right at the bottom of the column tube. You might have to take apart the column to replace it. #13 in the pic I posted earlier. Seems weird though, I have not replaced many of these but its not impossible that the bearing went bad. Can you remove the intermediate shaft to see if the noise is still there?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 15th, 2014 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
NOLAN57
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Removed the intermediate shaft and there is no noise in the column. So its definately coming from below that
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 16th, 2014 AT 11:49 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
That only leaves the steering box, It must be going bad or have a bad bearing. Check it out and let me know.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, October 16th, 2014 AT 8:42 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Steering Column Content

VIEW MORE