steering coupler

[rowdie]

I was thinking more of a bad tie rod but you may be correct.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by tan man

Seems nobody is addressing the fact that in original post he mentioned he has a knock when standing still and turning the wheel from side to side. That doesn't sound like a bad coupler to me. That sounds like the steering gear box is loose. I believe the maintenance calls for the 3 bolts that hold it in place to be re-tightened every 30,000 miles.

A knocking in the steering column and excessive free play in the steering wheel is classic symptoms of coupler, albeit other "joints" and steering box will mimic, to some extent, the same. The coupler bushings, when gone, will allow metal-to-metal contact and looseness in the steering wheel.

The difference is whether he is talking about "turning" the steering wheel past the free play, or just rocking the steering wheel back and forth, taking up only the free play in the wheel. For the steeringbox and tierods, etc to make a noise, you have to be putting pressure on the steering system, engaging the parts to move.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by Gilly

Lighten up, Jack, you don't know sarcasm when you read it?

you forgot the obligatory "smilie-face"...

[Gilly]

Mmmm, not really. I thought the obligatory "winking guy" was more appropriate, which is what I used.

I have had to replace one of these on a 107 before, for this same complaint.

[Johnhazen]

Replacing the coupler (which was really shot) that fixed the clunking and tightened the steering back to what seems normal. Mechanic did not get the coupler back on the right spline on the steering wheel box and had to redo it to move it counter clockwise a spline or two to get the steering wheel straight. (turn signals cancelled ok, but steering wheel was way off)
I told him to spray paint it before disassembly based on forum advise. He tried to use a junk yard parts marker instead. That does not give accurate enough results apparently.