Squeaking and scratching noises when turn wheel left or right...

[bkfitz]

Trying to get this FJ62 I just bought to a smooth running daily driver baseline.. rough high idle, new tires, sanding and painting wiper arms, etc.

Noise #1:

Noticing a squeaking sound when I turn the wheel left or right... after I stop moving the wheel it stops. Basically only hear it during the turning motion. Don't notice it worse during hot/cold weather, but it happens going both directions... its not super loud, but it is noticeable from outside the car. Power steering?

UPDATE: I listened more closely today and discovered that the sound does not only occur during the turning motion only. It happens whenever the wheel is not 'centered'.

Noise #2:

I'm also noticing a noise inside the interior steering column (sounds like right behind the steering wheel). This noise is more like a metal rubbing metal sound. It's not very loud but I notice it when the radio is off and the windows are up. Just enough to annoy me and get me on iH8mud Only makes the noise when turning the wheel, not when the wheel is stationary. Can I pull that bottom panel off of the steering wheel column and hit it with some silicon spray? Where would it be metal to metal?

Thanks guys!!!!

 

[klinetime574]

Noise #1 - I've got no clue

Noise #2 - Could be the horn pin behind your steering wheel. A spring loaded pin that rides against a plate on the wheel so the horn can make contact and work. When it wears down it will make noise and the horn won't work. Entirely possible that yours still does though. I greased mine with di-electic grease after hearing some racket from it.

 

[Rigger]

On Noise #2, I agree w Kline. Gotta be the horn plate.

 

[jmstu76]

I just picked up a 62 with the same sound. I took my favorite lube spray and doused the crap out of the joint between the wheel and column. Yes the lube dripped all over my pants, but the noise is gone. I will most likely have to disassemble and grease properly in the near future.

 

[gregnash]

#1 - could possibly be your knuckles making noise or your steering box or power steering pump. As it is only apparent when turning I am leaning towards a steering issue. I have read that the steering shaft that goes into the steering box has a grease nipple on it. Maybe start there and try that first if that doesn't seem to alleviate then move on to other such steering items.

#2 - Would either agree with Kline or could possibly be your speedo cable needing some lube.

 

[GeologistFelix]

Could Noise #1 be your steering pump howling? Does the engine idle-down at all or run a bit rough when it does it?

 

[bkfitz]

Noise #1 Update:

I listened more closely today and discovered that the sound does not only occur during the turning motion only. It happens whenever the wheel is not 'centered'. To my untrained ear, it sounds like a belt or something causing a really high squeaking.

 

[GeologistFelix]

Unless you already have, I'd check the tension on the PS belt.

Just to be clear, when you say the wheel is off-center, does that mean holding it in place, or more like...if you turn the tires to one side and then take your hands off the steering wheel?

If it's the first, that really does sound like the PS pump. If it's the second one...I'm a bit stumped without hearing it in person.

 

[bkfitz]

As soon as I turn the wheel more than a quarter turn in either direction I start to hear the sqeaking... it doesn't stop until I re-center it... so if I make a turn, I hear the noise throughout the turn... not just when I'm moving the wheel.

 

[gregnash]

Sounds like the powersteering pump is going.

 

[bkfitz]

Ugh... get an aftermarket or SOR or junkyard?

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

get an OEM PS pump from Cruiser Dan Or Beno. With the mud discount, it was going to be about $450 shipped. FWIW, mine is starting to go just now.....there are 327,000 miles on this pump, so 500 buck for another 300K don't seem unreasonable to me. that, and I have not had the best luck with longevity and fitment with some of the aftermarket parts. some things are ok to get by with A/M, but the major stuff should be replaced by OEM for quality and reliability....ask me about Ujoints some people have tried to rebuild these things, but I was told to not waste my time on it and just get NEW OEM. You know, you might want to take the advice already given and check belt tension. there is also an idler pulley on that belt for taking up slack...when I first got mine, it was locked up and causing all kind of trouble up there...I do believe your first noise is the PS pump or drive belt.....start with the cheap ez stuff first, spend money as a last resort and only when you know what to buy-don't guess when the replacement part is 500 bones, you'll be unhappy. HTH

 

[GeologistFelix]

If your tires are bigger than stock (235/75r15) and you ever want to take it off of pavement, you might want to consider a Saginaw pump conversion, because even a brand new OEM pump will have trouble with 31+ inch tires off-road.

The main obstacle is deciding where/how to mount it.

 

[bkfitz]

Update: the weather has been warmer the last few days (70 instead of 40) and I don't hear it. Would this indicate that the belt needs to be tightened or a cooincidence?

 

[bpud]

Noise #2 - Could be the horn pin behind your steering wheel. A spring loaded pin that rides against a plate on the wheel so the horn can make contact and work. When it wears down it will make noise and the horn won't work. Entirely possible that yours still does though. I greased mine with di-electic grease after hearing some racket from it.

Just saying thanks! I had the same problem and your suggestion to add the dielectric grease fixed my problem. No more strange looks from my passengers.

 

[DuxTom]

Just saying thanks! I had the same problem and your suggestion to add the dielectric grease fixed my problem. No more strange looks from my passengers.

Old thread here… but where exactly did you add the dielectric and how did you access this spot? My 62 sounds like a Star Wars TIE Fighter when the steering wheel is turned. Thanks!

 

[franklin40]

if you pull the steering wheel you’ll see the horn ring and pin (brass pin on a spring). clean the ring as over the years dirt and crap gets caught in the old grease and will cause it to “grind”. degrease and install wheel. super easy. you may not need a wheel puller. just rock the wheel in your hands when the nut is off

 

[DuxTom]

if you pull the steering wheel you’ll see the horn ring and pin (brass pin on a spring). clean the ring as over the years dirt and crap gets caught in the old grease and will cause it to “grind”. degrease and install wheel. super easy. you may not need a wheel puller. just rock the wheel in your hands when the nut is off

Thanks! I actually just split the halves on the plastic column cover yesterday and was able to access the horn pin and ring from the back side. Didnt clean it, but applied a layer of dielectric to the ring for now and problem solved. Smooth, quiet and the horn still works!

When I have more time, I will get back there and clean it properly and re-grease. Do you know if you can still get that brass cap? Mine seems to be pretty worn, lots of tiny brass shavings/dust in the lower half of the column cover. Thanks!

 

[franklin40]

yes i believe the horn pin is still available