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Clunking steering column

Discussion in '612/599' started by swiss612, Mar 7, 2018.

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  1. swiss612

    swiss612 Karting

    May 10, 2016
    233
    Zurich
    Full Name:
    Michel
    #1 swiss612, Mar 7, 2018
    I have always had a clunking noise coming from around the steering wheel when I would drive on uneven roads, it has to be very bad like on cobble stones for example. So it is not a big annoyance.
    I thought it could have been a vibration coming from the suspension / tie rods, but the renovation of all that did not do a thing.
    My car is a gen 1 from 2004 with only 12000miles and I noted that this does not occur on another 612 bern GP I know that is from 2006 that has more mileage
    I therefore decided to dismantle everything around the steering wheel only to get the steering column

    Good News, I believe I found the culprit
    Bad news, it seems to be inherent to the steering column, I guess this design was later on modified by the oem supplier.
    The column due to its electric adjustment has pivoting points. One of them has play and it is clearly the sound I am hearing. the play is very minor unfortunately it is enough to make noise
    Problem is that the axles are pressure assembled and it is therefore not easy straight forward to reduce this play
    I will post some pictures later on

    Changing a steering column is actually very easy, and there are a few available on ebay, the only problem is that for safety purposes it goes with the steering lock and obviously set of keys... which you can imagine turns a DIY job to a mandatory garage visit.

    Here is a picture from ebay I circled the problematic pivot
    I am still working on it
    If you have an idea on how to solve it, please let me know
    Thanks
    Michel

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  2. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
    2,252
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    Robin
    #2 brogenville, Mar 8, 2018
    Curious one; I would first be looking to see how a later steering rack differs (if at all).

    If the joint has play, then you need a bushing (a circular shim effectively) to eliminate it. Something made from brass or nylon should do this whilst allowing the joint to operate smoothly. Taking it apart and reassembling it without ruining it would be the main challenge.

    As an interim fix, can you lock the joint out to prevent any movement? It doesn’t look to be part of the crash flexibility in the column, so there won’t be any safety implications of doing so. Something like a nylon wedge tapped in behind the pivot would restrict the play. Could be easily removed.

    If you got a new column, perhaps you could swap your ignition lock assembly into that one?
     
  3. swiss612

    swiss612 Karting

    May 10, 2016
    233
    Zurich
    Full Name:
    Michel
    #3 swiss612, Mar 8, 2018
    Thanks for your comments, I have used teflon shims. I made them out of a RC car Clutch pads that I had (Thank you kids), I cut them in a C shape and put them where there was play. I inserted them from the top, since it is not possible to disassemble the axles. Went for a test drive and it works!!!
    By the way, the picture above was not correct I figured out that it is another pivot that had the play
    See below, there is another similar pivot on the back of the column that is not visible on the first picture, you will see the second shim coming out on picture 2

    Anyway, if you have a clunking noise, there is now an easy fix !!!


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  4. brogenville

    brogenville Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2012
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    UK
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    Robin
    #4 brogenville, Mar 8, 2018
    Happy days. :D
     

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