2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering Wheel Clunk / Rattle : Solved With Column Bushing Fix !

[Gregg Mig]

thanks Dave, anything I can do to rectify the problem will not only help me but others with similar problems! after all thats what this site is for. I will keep you and everyone posted on the surgery thanks again, Gregg

 

[benhall]

Dave,



How long would it take to get the new bushing once it's ordered?



Ben

 

[CTD12V]

Sorry to switch the subject a bit, but has anybody else had problems with their bushing in cold temps (I mean like single digits to below zero like we've been having recently in Colorado)? When it gets that cold, the bushing material must contract enough to squeeze the steering shaft, and the steering is REALLY stiff. I lubricated the bushing and shaft with Teflon dry lube when I assembled it. Is there a better, cold-temp grease that would stay slick in cold temps like this and eliminate this problem, or does the bushing need to be reamed? It fit smoothly and snugly when I installed it this summer.



Thanks,



CTD12V

 

[ProspectorTim]

Quite the opposite.
I had problems with extremely stiff steering when ambient temps were over 100F; and I used dry ice to shrink the bushing enough to be able to remove and re-size it without damaging it. If you are having steering problems in cold weather, I'd suspect that water or slush has been splashed up there and re-frozen.

Freezing the bushing definitly made the steering EASIER in my case.

 

[KDoerr]

Good Day. Well here is a up date on the bushing repair. I have the bushing in three trucks and the two drivers love the repair the only beef they had was for the first month or so and it was because it was hard to turn but after the month they loved it and there arms are also bigger. For my self it was money well spend. Since the repair I had put on about 144,000 km and it is still good but it is getting some slop but it should last for another 144,000 km and some more. The bushing is very well and a good product and I will be back for more.



thanks



Keith

 

[KBrasch]

Sorry to switch the subject a bit, but has anybody else had problems with their bushing in cold temps (I mean like single digits to below zero like we've been having recently in Colorado)? When it gets that cold, the bushing material must contract enough to squeeze the steering shaft, and the steering is REALLY stiff. I lubricated the bushing and shaft with Teflon dry lube when I assembled it. Is there a better, cold-temp grease that would stay slick in cold temps like this and eliminate this problem, or does the bushing need to be reamed? It fit smoothly and snugly when I installed it this summer.



Thanks,



CTD12V

I had the same problem with the cold weather. I installed the bushing this weekend in my garrage (40-45 deg) with a light coating of LE products grease. The wheel felt much more solid but did not rotate very stiff. Left the garrage for test in 9-10 deg weather. I could feel the steering getting MUCH stiffer. Returned to the garrage and put the map torch to the shaft only to try and strech the bushing. Next drive same thing. Next day got mad and removed bushing reamed it a bit and re-installed with LE 10w30 coated on it and same grease in the top and it has worked great sense. I dont think the problem was the lube because I left some out on the drive for a while and it never even got stiff. Mabee we just got the friday afternoon f-ups.

 

[JSTC]

Column Bushing

Thanks for this tread. . Made my bushing as described with a little alteration. I made mine out of delrin & inserted a bronze bushing. All other steering components are stock. I made a couple spares for people I know.

 

[CTD12V]

Thanks for the input, guys. I guess I'll try some different lube first. Hopefully that will solve it. I don't really want to ream the bushing since it is great in milder temps.



CTD12V

 

[RDHamill]

This past week we had some fairly cold mornings ( -25C, about -10F), my steering was VERY tight for the first few miles, in fact it was a two hand effort to turn the wheel. Things got better after a bit, and was fine by mid morning. I figure my bushing is to blame as there was not sound from the PS pump that it was working hard or under stress. For as often as this happens, I"ll live with it rather than loosen the bushing, and have slack during the warm weather.

 

[CTD12V]

This past week we had some fairly cold mornings ( -25C, about -10F), my steering was VERY tight for the first few miles, in fact it was a two hand effort to turn the wheel. Things got better after a bit, and was fine by mid morning. I figure my bushing is to blame as there was not sound from the PS pump that it was working hard or under stress. For as often as this happens, I"ll live with it rather than loosen the bushing, and have slack during the warm weather.

Sorry to hear you've had the same trouble, RD. What worries me is getting in a wreck with oncoming traffic if I'm driving through drifted areas on the road and the truck pulls into the opposite lane before I can manhandle the wheel enough to correct for it (or getting pulled off into the snowbank on the opposite side). Like you said, the problem decreases or goes away after it has warmed up a bit. What kind of lube did you use when you installed your bushing?



CTD12V

 

[RDHamill]

I had used synthetic grease, most likely Amsoil on it. I'm going to try and warm it overnight during the next cold spell, just to make certain that I'm correct as to what the problem is. I'll lay a battery blanket on it, and see what it does.

Strange that the bushing expands when cold???? I'd have thought it would contract.

I might end up taking it off the truck and cutting it out about a . 001inch or so larger internal dia, on the lathe. Might also just live with it as is , perhaps it will wear enough over the summer to not be a problem by next winter

Good luck with yours.

 

[RDHamill]

I'm going down south to Maine this week, I'll see how I make out and perhaps try to do something about it next weekend.

 

[CTD12V]

Let me know what you come up with, RD. It does seem strange that the bushing would get tight with cold. It must shrink as a whole, rather than contract away from each surface. It also must contract and expand more than steel does for any given temp change.



Any thoughts DBazely?



CTD12V

 

[RDHamill]

I was in Portland Maine this week, down to -1F in the morning. Steering was tight, but not to bad, not as tight as it was the week before. Thursday morning in Bangor it was 5F, steering was only slightly noticablly tighter than the norm. This morning it was -25C ( about -5F), steering was tight again, but it seems to be getting better with each cold morning, perhaps by spring it will be fine .

If indeed the bushing contracts as a whole when cold, then I'm thinking the only solution is to know how much it contracts and machine it to fit for the lowest temp. expected. Hopefully this will not allow it to be to slack in warmer temps.

anyone else have other thoughts ???????

 

[JSTC]

I drilled mine like mentioned & ended up taking back out due to tightness. I bore mine & install a bronze bushing Now everything is great (honky dorey). .

 

[CTD12V]

I drilled mine like mentioned & ended up taking back out due to tightness. I bore mine & install a bronze bushing Now everything is great (honky dorey). .

So you have a bronze bushing in between the Delrin and the steering shaft?

 

[DBazley]

Back to you about colder temps...

I was in Portland Maine this week, down to -1F in the morning. Steering was tight, but not to bad, not as tight as it was the week before. Thursday morning in Bangor it was 5F, steering was only slightly noticablly tighter than the norm. This morning it was -25C ( about -5F), steering was tight again, but it seems to be getting better with each cold morning, perhaps by spring it will be fine .

If indeed the bushing contracts as a whole when cold, then I'm thinking the only solution is to know how much it contracts and machine it to fit for the lowest temp. expected. Hopefully this will not allow it to be to slack in warmer temps.

anyone else have other thoughts ???????

Hi RD:



Thanks for your reflections on temperature effects on the steering column bushing upgrade.



You're quite correct, the Delrin does contract about . 002 with extreme cold.



My upgrade bushing one was installed in June at 100 + degrees, and driven some thousands of miles since then, so it had time to 'wear in'.



I've driven in now at down to 8 deg F and it was ever so slighly tighter, if at all.



What we now suggest is that when you put in the bushing, if you feel any significant resistance to turning the steering wheel, go ahead and pull it out and use very fine sandpaper to lightly (very lighly) ream or smooth out the ID until the resistance is eliminated.



The problem we're up against, is that the inner steering shaft on our truck's column is not made from precision round stock, but roll formed - and thus the diameters do vary by a few thousandths.



We make the bushing to fit the middle 'range' of tolerance, with a slightly tight fit being preferrable as you can lightly cut away - with the 'sandpaper ream' method - to your ideal tolerance.



Our clear & concise instructions also advise several times to check on the tightness (or looseness) of fit before finalizing the rebuild & test driving.



We thought of making it of bronze or alloy material, but that would seem to be even more unforgiving than the more pliable Delrin --- and thus might create fit issues that more vexing.



Also, Delrin is proven to be extremely wear resistant, so much so that it should last many, many years.



Wear rate may depend upon how much grit & grime where one drives.



So, I appreciate your (& others) sharing their experiences and hope my reply can be of help !



Pleaes PM me if you or any others have any questions.



Best Regards,



DBazley

 

[getblown5.9]

anybody installed one on an 02 with all the ABS crap in the way wihtout taking the column out of the truck?

i've had my bushing sitting on the bench for about 7 months and i wont install it because i cant get to the steering column even on the lift. does the column HAVE to come out?

 

[DBazley]

anybody installed one on an 02 with all the ABS crap in the way wihtout taking the column out of the truck?



i've had my bushing sitting on the bench for about 7 months and i wont install it because i cant get to the steering column even on the lift. does the column HAVE to come out?

Is it impossible to even get your hands down to the lower column end ?



If so, then yes, it may require colunm removal.



It's not all that difficult a procedure - I've had mine out twice while developing this, and the three other trucks I've done - two auto's and a manual - we pulled them as well.



The factory manual shows the column removal procudure, plus there are tips on column removal our instructions that came with the kit.



A lot of the guys here decided to do it 'on truck' and now we estimate over 75 % are done that way - it's definetly the faster method.



But I hope some guys with your year truck can chime in... . anybody ?



thanks, David B.

 

[JSTC]

Yes. I have the bronze bearing against the steering shaft for 1. 25. ( bearing length)