Steering Wheel Squeaking

[Pawel66]

I replaced the stock steering wheel with Nardi and Nardi hub. I also replaced the carbon brush for horn - fitted the new one.

All is great except there is a squeaking noise sometimes when I turn the wheel. Can be coming from the hub casing or from the carbon brush, I think.

Any experience with squeaking carbon brushes there? How best to deal with it? Lubricate with something? File them a bit?

[dirkbalter]

Hi Pawel,
If you are sure your squeaking comes from the new hub, it may be different. I had a squeaking (way back) and when I took my steering column apart for rebuilding / restauration, I recognized how bad the ball bearings were. These are open bearings (to the left in the pic) and were probably greased initially but never saw any lubrication afterwards. They were actually hard to turn be hand when removed.
Just food for thought.

[Pawel66]

Dirk, thank you for your kind attention.

I replaced both of them for new ones (they cost peanuts at Mercedes) - they worked nice and smooth as I fitted the shaft with the bearing housing.

[dirkbalter]

Dirk, thank you for your kind attention.

I replaced both of them for new ones (they cost peanuts at Mercedes) - they worked nice and smooth as I fitted the shaft with the bearing housing.

OK. I didn't like to open ones, I wanted them sealed.
(Either one will likely outlive me)

[Pawel66]

Yes, they collect dust, clearly seen when you get there. But even my old ones were, in essence, ok. I could just clean them, but it was faster to replace them.

I am pretty sure squeaking comes from the hub or those brushes...

[Pawel66]

Ok, got it done. Not housing, not brushes, not bearings. Upper clamp screw of the coupling was rubbing against the coupling cover.

It is quite funny: when I put my ear against the hub, I heard squeaking in the hub. When I leaned over the steering box in the engine bay - I heard it in the steering box. This steering spindle jacket works as resonator tube...

So layer after layer - removed the steering wheel and brushes - squeaks. Removed the bearing holder with both bearings - squeaks. Unscrewed and slid up the coupling cover - no squeak.

I removed the screw. I do not think I have a standard one - allen head screw appeared to be too high, so I took some of it on the grinder. Being there, I removed the spindle and properly lubricated the plastic sleeve as BBB says, because, honestly, I forgot to do it when I fitted it before.

Perhaps I should have inserted a shim between steering box and frame? Or maybe I just have a wrong screw there...