[DeTomaso] Steering Column Bird Noises

[Asa Jay Laughton]

I have two photos of what mine looked like here:
http://www.teampanteraracing.com/gallery2/v/asajay/steer/
One shot shows the column at rest (knuckle against the tube)
The other shows the clearance that -should- be there, and now is, after 
ordering parts from Dennis Quella and installing them on my steering 
column as outlined in the article Mike linked to.

Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired

& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA

1973 Pantera L 5533
[ASASCAT]
    
******************************     
http://www.asajay.com
http://www.351c.info
  



MikeLDrew at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 11/8/07 6:46:35 PM, claywillmott at hotmail.com writes:
>
>
>   
>> I have a new steering wheel noise that is a shrill chirp when I hit bumps 
>> and heard mainly from the steering wheel.  I did not notice it before having 
>> to remove and replace the steering wheel twice recently-long story.  My rack 
>> was rebuilt a few years ago from my cars records.  This is not the same as a 
>> clunk from a bad rack is it?  I will put the car up and check the front wheels 
>> side to side as well.
>>
>> Any input?  Or parts in the column itself that are prone to failure?
>>
>>     
>
> A-ha.   You removed and replaced the wheel recently?   Can I assume that you 
> don't have a stock wheel, but perhaps a LaCarra replacement?  Overtightening 
> the nut which holds the hub to the steering shaft can break the nylon bushing 
> at the bottom of the tube which is bolted to the underside of the support 
> (which is part of the chassis structure).
>
> Try this experiment--sit in the car, and push straight in on the steering 
> wheel.   Does it move a quarter inch or more, sort of 'boing' in and out?   Get 
> out of the car, and look at the bottom of the tube.   There should be 1/8 inch 
> of clearance or more between the bottom of the tube, and the U-joint.   Is the 
> U-joint touching the tube?
>
> Both of those symptoms would confirm the diagnosis of a broken plastic 
> bushing (or, less likely, the snap ring holding the shaft in place against the 
> bushing might have popped out of the groove in the steering shaft).
>
> I wrote an article detailing the problems and solutions to this problem--it 
> was published in a recent PCNC newsletter, June 2007.   You can download the 
> article (complete with full-color photos) at 
>
> http://www.panteraclubnorcal.com/articles/News0706.pdf
>
> Cheers!
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
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