Smart steering column

alexanderfoti

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Hi all

My wife has been complaining about odd steering in her smart 450.

I drove it last week, and it has an odd notchyness off centre.

anyway, I let her drive it for a week and she told me today that it's gotten much worse.

I drove it again this evening and it seems that the steering is much more notchy and no longer returns back to centre by itself. Some reading seems to indicate that that the UJ's go on the steering column. Some people suggest lubricating them up and freeing them off, but its my thoughts that if its notchy then they are worn and lubricating them is not fixing it.

Thoughts before I tear the dash apart?
 

LostKiwi

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Notchy steering is a common Defender issue and lubrication fixes them for months at a time. Definitely worth a try as the UJ may just be dry not worn.
 
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alexanderfoti

alexanderfoti

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Notchy steering is a common Defender issue and lubrication fixes them for months at a time. Definitely worth a try as the UJ may just be dry not worn.

I will give it a go tomorrow then, Lets see how easy they are to get to...

A new one is £208 so worth a shot, I am just concerned with how quickly its gotten bad.
 
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alexanderfoti

alexanderfoti

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LostKiwi

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Thanks, after reading about them failing suddenly I'm just concerned about possible failure
Interesting. I've not heard of them failing but then I'm more on the Smart Roadster forums and not the 4-2.
 

V6Matty

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Thanks, after reading about them failing suddenly I'm just concerned about possible failure
Hmm your right Alex, I'm just reading a couple of threads about it. That said forums are the worst place to get an real world failure rate on :p;)
 
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alexanderfoti

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Hmm your right Alex, I'm just reading a couple of threads about it. That said forums are the worst place to get an real world failure rate on :p;)

Absolutely, nobody is coming online to post "my steering is working perfectly fine" :):):)

I will take a look at the joints an see what they look like.
 

V6Matty

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Wise idea, I'd maybe find out how quickly a replacement can be delivered just in case you need to replace it
 
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alexanderfoti

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Apparently
Ast-1539 fits in the bottom UJ as a straight replacement. On its way but I hope not to have to remove the column for now.
 
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alexanderfoti

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EmilysDad

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Have you checked bottom ball joints? Our Roadster's steering could feel a bit notchy when one of those was on its way out goosed.
 
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alexanderfoti

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Have you checked bottom ball joints? Our Roadster's steering could feel a bit notchy when one of those was on its way out goosed.

I have just finished replacing all 4 ball joints at the front :(
 
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alexanderfoti

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After spending a good few hours, heating the joint up, spraying penentrating luricant into it, and turning the wheel back and forth, also replacing all 4 ball joints (2 on each side). I can now report that the car is back to normal.

It did take a few days of driving after the above treatment to get back to normal, but I attribute that to the ball joints loosening up slightly.
 

LostKiwi

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It takes a while for the lubricant to get into the UJ. Best thing to use is 50/50 Acetone/ATF and keep dousing it.

Good you have it sorted.
 
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alexanderfoti

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It takes a while for the lubricant to get into the UJ. Best thing to use is 50/50 Acetone/ATF and keep dousing it.

Good you have it sorted.

I thought that may be the case.

I did buy a replacement joint "Ast-1539" so if it happens again, I will pull the column and just replace it.
 
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