Squeaky Steering Wheel

[harrydunn]

During abnormally bitter temps here lately, my steering wheel has developed an annoying squeak until the cab gets warmed up. This leads me to believe it has to be a rubber boot on the shaft since it stops when warm? Curious if anybody else has experienced this and your product of choice? Silicone spray?

Thanks.

--Mark

 

[Michael Hanson]

Mine does it esp. in cold weather.Speed cable used to like crazy until I removed and lubed it. MIke

 

[dgangle]

nothing works well in the cold. I have had this symptom on a number of vehicles and all you can do is either start taking things apart to locate/lube or do what most do and ignore it until it warms up an goes away.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Thats so true ,there are plenty of other things to work on around the house. MIke

 

[harrydunn]

Sounds good. I'll just ignore it. Only squeaks for 10 minutes or so and only seems to occur when we're in the single digits and lower, which should be over soon.

 

[kidglove13]

Mine sqeaks as well when its cold.
Definitly more important things to worry about and or fix.
Like the honey do-list!

 

[greentruck]

Is it worse when you're wheel is turning to the left? That symptom, combined with it being worse when it's cold, means it most likely that the sound you are hearing is the clock spring.

It's located in the steering wheel assembly and provides the power to air bag. The part cost is in the area of $250. You need to get the FSM procedure and follow it, because it involve the air bag and you don't want any surprises when R&R-ing it.

I've got the same issue, but the fact that it goes away once warmed up makes it entirely livable with. I wasn't looking forward to hearing it squawk when wheeling Colorado, with all the tight turns that involves. Now that I know what it is and the fact that it goes away when the truck is warmed up makes it manageable.

 

[zx9r]

Is it worse when you're wheel is turning to the left? That symptom, combined with it being worse when it's cold, means it most likely that the sound you are hearing is the clock spring.

It's located in the steering wheel assembly and provides the power to air bag. The part cost is in the area of $250. You need to get the FSM procedure and follow it, because it involve the air bag and you don't want any surprises when R&R-ing it.

Living with it for years here. Clock spring is a good description. Definitely sounds like a metal-metal rubbing though. Non airbag '94 so related to something else in my case. I always imagined that there is an electrical contact ring inside for the horn so haven't wanted to spray anything that might short something out.

I recently picked up some corrosionx spray that says it is also great for electrical uses so I might try that.

 

[greentruck]

OC,
You may want to search some in past posts. There is some advice on what others have done to help with the non-airbag horn contacts, which is the issue with the older models (pre-'95 I think? or whenever the airbags were first installed.) You may be able to solve the issue without new parts for that problem based on what I came across when researching my squawking wheel.

 

[Atlanta Cruiser]

mine does this as well....very annoying.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Fire a bit of WD40 into the gap where the clock spring resides. Mine does this also in cold temps and this works for a couple years at a time. Use a straw sprayer so you can be precise and use minimal amounts though it's not a big deal on your non airbag model. I've done this on airbag vehicles as well.

Bet a lot of you guys experiencing cold also have the rear hatch struts not working so well? Heh.

DougM

 

[Stereo11]

If its non airbag model, like mine, you will have a carbon contact rubbing on a copper ring, they get shiny and squeak, bit of Copper Grease on the ring fixes it right up.

 

[zx9r]

If its non airbag model, like mine, you will have a carbon contact rubbing on a copper ring, they get shiny and squeak, bit of Copper Grease on the ring fixes it right up.

I'll give it a try. Thanks for the advice.

 

[darwink1]

The cruiser and the taco both get squeaky steering wheels in the cold. I just shoot some silicone spray between the back of the steering wheel and the column trim and it goes away for a while.

D

 

[allard6]

mine started make this sound only cold mornings leaving the driveway until i hit the end of the road. i sprayed a little homemade penetrant (50% atf 50% acetone) behind the steering wheel seemed to solve my problem, hope it helps. but dont use to much because of the acetone smell.

 

[IdahoDoug]

What do you use to spray acetone out of?

DougM

 

[super90]

I just put some dielectric grease on the horn ring using a Q-tip. Problem gone. I'm betting that's the issue. Happen on my 60, happen on my 80 and now my 100 is making that same squeak with the temps in the Teens.

 

[Blueegg]

Mine does the same thing.
Tried WD 40 and it seemed to make problem worse! I rarely drive it in cold weather.

 

[Cruisin']

I've had that on my rig. It was the plastic steering column shroud rubbing on the wheel. Just need to be moved around a bit. I was able to loosen the screws, push the shroud up (or was it down?) and tighten the screws while holding the shroud in the new location. Helped on mine.

 

[bruff]

I just put some dielectric grease on the horn ring using a Q-tip. Problem gone. I'm betting that's the issue. Happen on my 60, happen on my 80 and now my 100 is making that same squeak with the temps in the Teens.

Done this a couple of times and works like a charm!.