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1978 Bus creaky steering

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:42 pm
by khargis
hey folks, i recently had my steering box replaced and whenever i turn the wheel, its sounds like an old creaky door opening and closing. any thoughts? can i lubricate this on my own? thanks, kris

Re: 1978 Bus creaky steering

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:56 am
by Amskeptic
khargis wrote:hey folks, i recently had my steering box replaced and whenever i turn the wheel, its sounds like an old creaky door opening and closing. any thoughts? can i lubricate this on my own? thanks, kris
Get under the bus while someone else turns the wheel. Look and listen. Steering damper bushings?
Ball joints? Tie rods? Is there oil in the steering box? Late model buses rarely require a whole new box, why was yours replaced?
Colin

Re: 1978 Bus creaky steering

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:10 am
by khargis
it was replaced because on my way back from californina i heard a snap and then i could hardly turn and when i had a tighter turning radius it would pop more. traftons mentioned this rarely happens, but that this was the case. i will go through the steps you mentioned and get back to you. thanks colin

Re: 1978 Bus creaky steering

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:26 pm
by Amskeptic
Dermot147 wrote:Here are few things that can be the cause of your hard steering wheel.
1. under-inflated tires


4. overly tightened steering box adjustment screw

6. improper wheel alignment.


Hope this helps
I edited out those suggestions that do not relate to air-cooled VWs.
Colin
(p.s. weird sounds can be column-to-steering shaft contact. The column is adjustable after you loosen the two floor plate screws)