Thanks, Jack,
The fill plug for the gearbox is the lowest one, as you say about 9 or so
inches (or lower) above the gearbox. I have read that you should put in
there the same oil you use for the rear end. SAE 90 as I recall - could be
wrong. I'll look it up.
I can't figure the upper rubber plug. It seems captive, with rubber
extending under the steering column metal. Maybe I should leave it alone.
Hopefully some knowledgeable lister will clue me in about that plug.
With regard to the felt bushing at the top -- one lister told me that he
used graphite there and it solved the problem. I'll try it. According to
one of my books (Ball) you should never use oil on it. I will loosen up
the adjustment nut and see if I can get some powdered graphite in there.
Incidentally, natives of Britain in the 60's must have had very long legs.
I am 5'10'', and with the steering wheel adjusted all the way down, it's
still in my face when I move the seat up to where I can reach the gas
pedal.
Sumner Weisman
62 TR-3B
----------
> From: Jack I. Brooks <brooks@belcotech.com>
> To: sweisman@gis.net
> Subject: Steering column squeak
> Date: Tuesday, July 14, 1998 12:48 PM
>
> Sumner,
>
> >I have an annoying squeak in the steering wheel.
>
> Me too.
>
> >I pulled out the large rubber plug and filled the steering gearbox with
> oil. >It's still there.
>
> Large rubber plug for filling......I missed that one. I've been using
the
> smaller rubber plug on the column, which you mention below.
>
> However, the squeak isn't down there, it's up top.
>
> >There is another smaller rubber plug higher up on the steering post,
that
> >doesn't want to come out. Is this the one that was discussed a couple
of
> >weeks ago where you temporarily screw in a grease fitting from
underneath
> >the car?
>
> That is the steering box fill port, assuming it is the one about 9 inches
> (my guess from memory) above the box itself.
>
> >Is there any way to oil or grease the steering wheel area, near the top
of
> >the steering post, without taking it apart? It has the adjustable
steering
> >wheel option. At least some of the noise is coming from that area.
>
> I believe I recall reading in one of the manuals(Bently or Haynes) that
the
> felt bushing at the top of the steering column was impregnated with some
> sort of dry lube. Mine does the same annoying thing, but I am rebuilding
> the box this winter, so I will replace the felt bushing. I've tried to
> squirt liquid, resin-based, dry film lubes up there, from both sides,
> without success.
>
> I suspect, with an adjustable, or split, steering column, you could pull
> the control head, pull the upper half of the column and replace the
> bushing, but that seems pretty involved for a squeak.
>
> The only way I can think of to avoid hearing that annoying squeaking
noise,
> short of replacing the felt bushing, would be to get a Monza exhaust
> <kidding>.
>
> Sorry I didn't have any good news for you.
>
> Jack (living with a squeaky steering wheel) Brooks
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