squeek coming from steering wheel (in the car)

[anyweb]

hi guys,

I don't know if this happened before, but now that I notice it, it's bugging me a lot, when I have the radio off when I do a full turn left or right (even a small turn) I hear what sounds like rubber/plastic rubbing against something, not for the full rotation but parts of it.

I've tried moving my fingers around the back side of the steering wheel where theres a small gap and i can feel what feels like a plastic ring, it moves if i push my fingers in but the squeek is still with me,

it's a mercedes C220 from 1995, and I'd like to know what is causing this,

cheers
anyweb

 

[jberks]

Hi anyweb.
I'd suspect it's a bush on the column - there are supports on the column shaft between the wheel and the rack - drop the under dash tray and try a bit of wd40 on the rubber bushes.
I see you can't part with your 1995 C220 either!

 

[Bolide]

It'll be the brushes & sliprings that give an electrical connection from the steering wheel to the column. I'd leave well alone unless you want to take the wheel off and clean or replace the rings & brushes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Blobcat]

It'll be the brushes & sliprings that give an electrical connection from the steering wheel to the column. I'd leave well alone unless you want to take the wheel off and clean or replace the rings & brushes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Hi Nick, What are your thoughts on a little silicone spray being applied to the area behind the wheel?

 

[tom7035]

hi guys,

I don't know if this happened before, but now that I notice it, it's bugging me a lot, when I have the radio off when I do a full turn left or right (even a small turn) I hear what sounds like rubber/plastic rubbing against something, not for the full rotation but parts of it.

I've tried moving my fingers around the back side of the steering wheel where theres a small gap and i can feel what feels like a plastic ring, it moves if i push my fingers in but the squeek is still with me,

it's a mercedes C220 from 1995, and I'd like to know what is causing this,

cheers
anyweb

Don't 'tippy-toe' around anyweb - give a blast of contact cleaner through all the little apertures around the steering wheel hub you can find! It may even just be the shroud fouling the wheel a little. Don't be bullied by a little squeak!
I've personally used WD40 for these issues for many years with complete success though this procedure is regularly shot down in flames. The important thing for me is that it always worked.
Cheers, Tom.

 

[anyweb]

hmm i tried this and the noise is still there,. very annoying it is too

what next ?

 

[anyweb]

fyi

solved

i had to take off the piece of black plastic under the steering (remove 6 or so screws holding it in, one of the screws is behind the bonnet release knob, one is behind the footbrake release knob. once it is out of the way, use a high powered torch and shine it the whole way down the steering wheel column

at the end is a dust catcher made of rubber which over time gets dry/dusty and quess what, squeeks !

so, after a liberal squirt of fatty oil the squeek is now banished forever.

the relief is something else i tell ya !

cheers
anyweb