Steering column woes

[ølaf]

hi all -

I recently investigated some scraping feel and sound coming from the steering column every time I made a full turn. After removing the boot to create the joints, I saw what looks like a steering column that sits off-center, and is now running on the outside of the "hole.

See attached picture.
How could this have happened, and is there an easy fix?

Thanks mucho! :yo:

 

[aontkos]

Am I correct to assume that this picture is from the inside of the truck, just below the steering wheel?

This is an interesting problem. I would check to make sure that your steering rack bushings are in good shape; they would have to awful to impact the entire steering column to that extent.

 

[ølaf]

Am I correct to assume that this picture is from the inside of the truck, just below the steering wheel?

This is an interesting problem. I would check to make sure that your steering rack bushings are in good shape; they would have to awful to impact the entire steering column to that extent.

Yes, pic is from the floorboard, behind the plastic boot.
Steering rack and bushing is brand new. But scraping noise existed before I had that replaced. I think it must have something to do with the in-cab part of the column that somehow is out of place.

 

[ølaf]

Bumpy-di-pump.

Any ideas at all???

I reattached the photo, since it somehow got turned sideways in the initial post.
Thanks for looking!

 

[phattyduck]

Body lift with no steering spacer? Accident history?

-Charlie

 

[ølaf]

Body lift with no steering spacer? Accident history?

-Charlie

Nope. no body lift. No accidents. Brand new rack - but scraping existed prior to new rack. Weird, I know ...

 

[MarkamisPrime]

My truck does the same thing
I thought it was my clock spring but now that I see this I gotta check it out.
I'll let you know what I find if anything

 

[ølaf]

My truck does the same thing
I thought it was my clock spring but now that I see this I gotta check it out.
I'll let you know what I find if anything

Right on! Let me know what you find. Thanks!

 

[Kanoe]

Is there any force holding the shaft off center or is it just flopping around? If it is the latter, that bushing/seal is replaceable. It does require pulling the steering shaft to replace it.

 

[ølaf]

Is there any force holding the shaft off center or is it just flopping around? If it is the latter, that bushing/seal is replaceable. It does require pulling the steering shaft to replace it.

The shaft is definitely not flopping around. It's being held in that position firmly. It's my understanding that the part it is passing through is just a dust seal, not a bushing, that has no physical impact on the location of the shaft.

Something on either side of the firewall must contribute to this mis-location of the steering shaft???

- ø

 

[Kanoe]

Yes, you are right. The seal is just rubber and has very little structural integrity. From below, that shaft slips into a fitting on top of the rag joint. Does the shaft move around when you steer? (as in a bent shaft wobbling?) If it's straight and just out of position I would think the steering rack is dictating where it sits.

 

[nc-grayson]

Any chance it sounds like this?

https://youtu.be/LMZ0gjpOoLA

Sorry I can't contribute with a solution, but I'm curious to know if this is what I'm dealing with.

Thank you !

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I haven't payed attention on 3rd gen specifically, but I've dropped steering columns that have some wiggle room in their mounting.
Maybe you could drop the knee panel, loosen the steering column, and adjust it.
Now that I'm saying that, I feel like our columns are riveted in, and not anything that can be adjusted. Worth a look though.