Alcoas - Steering Column Noise

[peter brandt]

Thanks Wayne,

Makes sense!
That was one of the noises I heard on the way home from Albuquerque, (still
my only "long" trip with the GMC)! I'll get one next time I order something
from Sirium.

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Nesbitt"
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 5:20 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoas

> From: "Peter Brandt" writes
>
> In your post you mentioned a "tapping in the (steering?)wheel" on smooth
> pavement. What causes that noise?
>
> Wayne Nesbit writes
> You will notice a little from the movement of the chassis of the coach
> moving up and down as you go along the road. It pushes up on the steering
> column spline area and exerts a force on the lower steering column
bearing.
> With time the small bearing in the bottom of the steering column wears and
> the taping gets worse.
>
> Alex Sirum had them in Florida. He would probably mail you one if needed.
> They aren't hard to put in.
>
>

 

[peter brandt]

Arch,

Good point.
I just looked at your pictures again and went out to the coach to take a
look at my steering shaft.
The splined section on my shaft has a little (too much?) play and I can
slide it up and down a bit, so at least it doesn't seem to be stuck. I also
found a small crack in the boot - so there's another project for me! I will
clean things up, replace the boot and the bearing and see what happens. I
don't think a rebuilt steering shaft is in the budget right now.
Thank you for taking the time to put all the pictures on PhotoPoint!

Happy Easter ( and thanks for the "card" )

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Alcoas - Steering Column Noise

> In a message dated 04/22/2000 11:55:54 PM Central Daylight Time,

>
> > Makes sense!
> > That was one of the noises I heard on the way home from Albuquerque,
(still
> > my only "long" trip with the GMC)! I'll get one next time I order
something
> > from Sirium.
> >
> Peter
>
> I would like to add something here. Having just repaired my steering shaft
> with the splines on it I want to say that I dont think replacing the
bearing
> will do a lot of good unless you take the shaft apart and make sure the
> slip that is supposed to be there is. My spline was frozen solid. There
> was no movement at all. If you replace the bearing without fixing the
> spline you will just beat out the new bearing. I would also be afraid
> that if the spline is frozen you might even bend the steering column
> shaft if all you did is replace the bearing. I will be glad to listen to
> those with more experience than I have.
>
> Take Care
> Arch
>

 

[wayne nesbitt]

Peter Brandt" wrote
Good point.
I just looked at your pictures again and went out to the coach to take a
look at my steering shaft.
The splined section on my shaft has a little (too much?) play and I can
slide it up and down a bit, so at least it doesn't seem to be stuck. I also
found a small crack in the boot - so there's another project for me! I will
clean things up, replace the boot and the bearing and see what happens. I
don't think a rebuilt steering shaft is in the budget right now.
Thank you for taking the time to put all the pictures on PhotoPoint!

Wayne Nesbit writes
IIRC You need the steering shaft open to replace the bearing. It seems to me
that little clip up above has to slide out to let the bearing down then you
grease the new brg. slide it up, put the retaining clip in then reinstall
the shaft.. You should leave the CV joint top band clamp off until you
reistall the shaft. They often need a little taping upwards to get them
aligned for the top bolt and you don't want to tap on the new boot. That is
the way it works for me anyway.

Before I travel I always pump grease into the top grease nipple if the coach
has been sitting and water always gets pushed out of the slip joint.
Wayne

 

[peter brandt]

Thanks again Wayne, good suggestions!

Peter
77 Eleganza II
Colorado

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Nesbitt"
To:
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2000 8:34 PM
Subject: GMC: Alcoas - Steering Column Noise

> Wayne Nesbit writes
> IIRC You need the steering shaft open to replace the bearing. It seems to
me
> that little clip up above has to slide out to let the bearing down then
you
> grease the new brg. slide it up, put the retaining clip in then reinstall
> the shaft.. You should leave the CV joint top band clamp off until you
> reistall the shaft. They often need a little taping upwards to get them
> aligned for the top bolt and you don't want to tap on the new boot. That
is
> the way it works for me anyway.
>
> Before I travel I always pump grease into the top grease nipple if the
coach
> has been sitting and water always gets pushed out of the slip joint.
> Wayne
>
>
>