Diagnosing a bad column?

[Geektrucker]

Here's the problem... when I turn the steering wheel (left or right doesn't seem to make a difference)... I hear a nasty "crunching / grinding" noise. It "sounds" to be the top end of the column.. sometimes, it will "bind" slightly requiring about twice the effort to over-come the spot and continue turning the wheel, or if I can (not in a hard corner etc), I turn back slightly, it "releases" and can turn freely.

I've checked the rag joint as best as I could myself (have no helper available) and it "appears" to be "ok"... in other words if I turn the shaft by hand from under the hood there IS a very SLIGHT amount of play in the joint, but certainly NOT trashed and nasty looking like I have seem some examples of.

So..my question is... is there any kind of support bearing in the column that could be dry / trashed and how do I check? This is my DD, so if I have to tear into the column at all, I need to order / have parts on hand prior to disassembly.

 

[gpmorgan]

Is it a tilt collumn? Might be best to just replace collumn . That's just my opinion.

 

[Geektrucker]

It is not a tilt column... I'd replace it but used ones are scarce and get a premium up here.

 

[skysurfer]

Have you tested the steering after disconnecting the shaft at the rag joint or at the steering box? That eliminates any issues you might have in the front end so you would at least know you're dealing with a bad column and not something else.

 

[Geektrucker]

Finally had a few minutes to start tearing into my column issue and immediately ran into this:

https://vimeo.com/124988830

"Well there's yer problem!"

So... What is that upper joint called and where can I get one?

 

[circuitguy]

Thats a bad lower column bearing, most likely caused by the failure of the upper bearings. Time to replace all the bearings or the column. Here is a pic of mine with metal shavings everywhere because of the bad bearings. You can fix all like new for $60.00 to $80.00 in parts.

 

[bucket]

I've seen a lot of those lower bearings completely fail and the column was still smooth and fairly quiet while turning. I'd also suspect bad upper bearings.

Does the steering wheel feel loose at all? Sometimes people take apart the column for a repair and don't have the tool for installing the lock plate clip. So they put it back together without the clip to hold it all together. It can cause some crunching/grinding noises and may be a very easy fix.