Ferrari Mondial-squeak from steering wheel?

I took my 1986 Mondial 3.2 cab for a drive today and noticed a pretty bad squeaking sound from just behind the steering wheel. It is a lower pitched squeak, almost like a creaking door opening and closing and its pretty loud. It only occurs in the first 45 degrees of rotation. At first I thought the plastic cover was rubbing, but I have ruled that out. Unlike the higher pitched squeak I occasionally get from just behind the wheel in really cold weather, this one is not weather dependent. I am reluctant to keep driving it until I know what is going on because its not a very pleasant sound and would rather not destroy an otherwise sound steering rack.


Any thoughts?

 

Ok, I took the cover off and the sound is coming from right behind the Steering wheel hub and inside the Commutator housing. Its sounds like something rubbing together. The steering column is dry and I don't see any signs of leaking. The sound has a rubbing sound to it, like two things scraping together. It started without warning, which leads me to believe something has come loose within the housing, rather than a lack of lubricant or something, which I would imagine would start small and get louder. It also begins occurs before enough steering is induced to even activate the lower shaft. Another words, I don't have to put any stress on the rack whatsoever for the sound to occur.

Does this help?

 

Thanks for your help!

I am now about 100% confident it is coming from the horn ring, just aft of the steering wheel hub. I don't know what it is called, but it is the brass ring that has the springloaded piece that rotates around and activates the horn--if that makes any sense. I haven't visually inspected the part, ---but I know its there

Looking at the parts diagrams, it is the only part that could possibly be causing the sound. I imagine the lube has just worn away over time. Now the issue is, is there any easy way to get to it without taking apart the column, and if so, what lubricant to use to get to the part. I anticipate that I will be able to see the brass ring from below the column, but I haven't tried yet (That is what my evenings are for apparently) . I also got to figure out what lube can I put on that will get me another 22 years of service If I use a WD-40 type lube, it will just dissipate in a few months and I will be doing this semi-annually forever. I have no idea what is currently used. Any suggestions, thoughts on anything I have said?