Squeak While Turning The Steering Wheel - keywords bearing column intermediate noise seal shaft upper wheel whine

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Some early production vehicles may experience a squeak while turning the steering wheel. The squeak can occur at any vehicle speed or steering rotational rate. It tends to be worse when the vehicle is cold. It tends to come in and out as the steering wheel is taken through full rotations. The condition may be due to an unseated upper bearing (1) in the intermediate steering shaft upper seal (2), or because the seal is rotationally misaligned (3). The seal may have been misaligned or the bearing unseated during vehicle assembly.

Inspect the bearing and seal and reposition using the following procedure:

1. Remove the left instrument panel insulator assembly.
2. If the bearing (1) is caught on the peens (4) at the end of the intermediate steering shaft, push it forward in the vehicle until it dislodges.



3. Push the bearing (1) slightly forward on the intermediate shaft and place locking pliers on the shaft just reward of the bearing to keep it from moving in the direction of the peens (4).



4. Pull the rubber collar of the seal back over the bearing until it is reseated in the seal. A curved needle nose pliers is helpful. All the corner ribs of the seal bearing pocket (5) should be visible.
5. The molded-in arrow (6) at the bottom of the rear side of the seal (viewed from inside the vehicle) needs to be at the 6 O'clock position.
6. f out of position, grasp the front part of the seal, which is reached from underhood and rotate to the correct position. It may be helpful to apply soapy water where the seal lip contacts the bulkhead.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.