Steering column maint.

REDBED

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I would like to remove the upper steering column covers in order to clean and lubricate. Do I remove the woood trim, the instrument panel trim and then remove the screws in the bottom steering column cover? Do these screws also hold the upper cover on? Thank you for any advice in this matter. this is for a gen 2 if that matters.
 
I don't remember what (if any) trim has to be removed. I can say that the two screws from the bottom of the bottom cover hold the top cover on. (They clamp the two covers together.)

If there is no noise now from the tilt or telescopic functions, I recommend that you do not do any cleaning or lubricating to those areas.
 
My tilt and telescope sound fine... squeaks when I turn the wheel though.
Sounds like 2 pieced of rubber rubbing on each other when you turn it. Nothing grinding or mechanical sounding.

I have seen others with it on here as well, but I have't looked at the threads lately
 
Hi Joe
I do have a squeak that originates under the upper cover. It's not the power steering pump(been there done that). I was hoping that it might be a bushing or sleeve that could be lubricated, also to lube the tilt/telescope gears, they have never been done. Am i in danger off setting off the air bag?I wonder why you would discourage this? Thank You.
 
Hi Hinzy
There was a TSB for the column squeaking. They added friction modifier to the Pwr str fluid. Mine is noisy when cold then disappears. When there was a problem with the pump it was just the opp. noisy when reaching operating temp and fine when cold. Good luck
 
Hi Joe
I do have a squeak that originates under the upper cover. It's not the power steering pump(been there done that). I was hoping that it might be a bushing or sleeve that could be lubricated, also to lube the tilt/telescope gears, they have never been done. Am i in danger off setting off the air bag?I wonder why you would discourage this? Thank You.

I discourage it because some sort of special grease was apparently used at the factory. My 04 has never been touched and it still works with no noise. My 06 had some warranty work done and they re-greased the tilt/telescope stuff. Now, I have to re-lube it every couple of months because it gets very noisy as the wheel is retracting when you take the key out.

I would have sworn to you that the squeaks on my 04 when turning the steering wheel were coming from somewhere in the column cover. They were coming from the intermediate shaft under the hood. I guess the metal shaft transmits the noise. Of course, it could be different for you.
 
Got to love Ford =properiatery grease. I'll give mine a shot if taking off the shroud gives acss. Im waiting for either the AC comp to fail or the steering col. Thank you for the reply. Good Luck
PS I never thought it would be the IM shaft but I guess anything is possible. (The 3 ppl. who posted here with confirmed failures were south of the border(jk). I wonder if the lack of cold weather/salt/ ****ty roads contributes to a short life span .
 
Spray some silicon lube on the two u-joints on the intermediate shaft (access from above and below), and on the shaft going into the rack. If this gets rid of your noise, then you know that it's not inside the car and there's not reason to take the column covers off. If it doesn't alter the noise at all, then you'll know that it is indeed inside the column.
 
It's cheaper/less time to do your advise in reverse. Give the steering colm. a shot and if that dont fix it Ill go from there. Thank You for your reply
 
It's cheaper/less time to do your advise in reverse. Give the steering colm. a shot and if that dont fix it Ill go from there. Thank You for your reply

You see it differently than me. You have to remove some screws and panels to spray the column inside. To spray to joints outside, just open the hood. Seems like that would be easier to me. The cost should be the same either way.
 
Mine does kind of a rubbing chirp, figure it's in the springy thingy so I just turned the radio up a bit.
 

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