cracking steering

[thomasfarina]

I own a 1997 E 320, and have recent had an odd problem with my steering. A few days ago I noticed that I was having trouble turning my steering wheel all the way counter clockwise, but if I forced it it would go. The next day as I was turning it there was a cracking noise coming from inside my steering column where it joins to the steering wheel. Now that cracking noise persists and can be felt whenever i turn it in whichever direction ... I can feel it mechanically. It sounds like crackling paper or plastic. Any thoughts? Also does anybody have a good mechanic in San Diego they trust?

[t walgamuth]

like your collapsable portion of the steering col might be collapsing. i would def check it out.

tom w

[pimprig]

Have you taken the steering wheel off? I took mine off because I was having a squeaking problem and I found out that there is a part in there that has a paper thin wire that winds up like. It seems to me that maybe that wire snapped because it was forced. It carries the wiring for the horn and the air bag. Here in California it costs about $380. Good luck it’s not hard to replace.

[mr. Goodwrench]

The clockspring assembly at the top of the steering column and the sliding portion of the collapsible column wouldn't make it hard to turn the wheel. I think your problen is dry bearings in the "U" joint where the steering column meets the steering gearbox or rack. Don't pull the steering wheel off and disturb the clockspring setting or you will break it and the airbag will not deploy in an accident. This will display a warning light and set DTCodes.

[thomasfarina]

the horn ring assembly indeed has paper-thin cabling that winds around about a dozen times .... it was unraveled and damaged causing my horn not to work, srs light to come in, and disrupting steering. was about $400 .... thanks