Steering column nut strangeness
Hi:
I'm trying to use the info on this site to tighten the steering column nut. But the more I play with it, the less it seems to make sense according to the info on this site.
- My car had steering play so I pulled everything apart and gave it a 1/2 turn clockwise
- Steering got significantly better and play seems to be gone. But I still felt the shift above the u-joint have slight looseness. So I gave it another couple of turns clockwise. Steering seems to gotten slightly stiffer but the slight u-joint looseness is still present.
- During the test drive, I noticed front end clunking/popping noise when I push accelerator slightly quickly and remove acceleration quickly. Think of it as a rocking motion. Not sure if this noise was there before. Fearing I might have tightened steering too much. I started backing off the nut counter clockwise for several turns. But the noise never went away.
- Now I'm at a point where I can turn the nut clockwise for many turns until about 1/2 inch of thread is showing. And it gets easier and easier to turn to the point where my bare hands can turn it. I opted to stop turning at this point since it didn't match the info on this site. My manual telescoping steering wheel would never stiffing up.
- I turn the nut many turns counter clock wise until it got stiff (about 1/4 inch of thread is showing) And the telescoping steering wheel getting stiff. I then turn clockwise for about 1/2 turn.
- My steering play seems to be gone and steering response doesn't change whether I turn the nut with 1/2 or 1/4 inch thread showing (many many turns) This metal clunking/popping noise would not go away when the nut is anywhere in the range.
In fear that I may have damaged my steering. I thought I ask before continuing. Car is very drivable, steering is reasonable with less play than ebfore. Just this annoying clunk/popping sound that won't go away when I quickly tap accel or decel in S mode driving.
Based on what I read here, I'm not suppose to be able to do so many turns clockwise until 1/2 inch of thread showing and getting easier and easier to turn.
1992 BMW 535iA trying to become The Ultimate Driving Machine
2001 Volvo V70 T5 ASR Our first Volvo. Wife says we are Volvo for Life
Sammamish, WA