Steering Column - Knocking

[alane]

Hi all,
I wonder if anyone else experiences 'knocking' via the steering column which feeds through the steering wheel.
It only happens if you catch a random pot hole or the like.
It feels like a joint in a coupling on the column itself, but I would not know where.
The steering wheel is fixed solid and is not loose.
Anyone any ideas.....?
The model is a 944 Lux '87 with 116,000miles.
Apart from this the car is a beauty.
Would be interested to hear any thoughts.
I beleive the car is only one of 30 sold in the UK......to celebrate the 100,000 944 ? (High spec, Split Rear Seats, Kick Plates, Grey/black Studio Cloth, Zermat Silver...)
Brian Long mentiones them in his 'Porsche 944' book although I cannot find any place where I can confirm the validity of the claim.
Any one any ideas ??

Andy

 

[alane]

.

 

[Diver944]

I thought I had slight play in the steering column of my S2 and had read that the steering shaft knuckles were a common wear point. However when I replaced my front shocks after an MOT failure for excess play, the tiny jolts and knocks through the steering had gone away.

 

[Guest]

86 autolux with occasional 'creaking' noise from front offside rack/suspension, all sounds a bit similar? Lynx have been crawling all through the steering and found nothing wrong, maybe it's just endemic after 144k miles on good old British roads. My 944 HATES potholes, speedbumps, catseyes, etc. but LOVED the Brands parade laps, she didn't 'creak' then! Maybe with all the tax we pay we could have more smooth roads to drive on...

Best wishes,

KEITH SCZ

 

[alane]

It would be nice.........!!
My 'knocking' is a distinct 'knock' rather than a creak......perhaps a little further investigation is needed..
Andy

 

[944Turbo]

Have a good look at the front anti roll bar mountings,
Tony

 

[John Maddox]

I agree with last post. Mine had this problem and replacing the inner anti-roll bar on the drivers side curred it - less than £10 for bush if I remember correctly.

 

[NorthernBloke]

Ditto - one of my anti-roll bar mounts snapped and had the same knocking

 

[richthomas]

The universal joints in the steering shaft can wear too, on both my 944's I've had this problem, my current one needs replacing at the moment due to play in the joints. Do you feel a clunk in the steering wheel when parking at slow speeds or turning the steering wheel with the car stationary? If so then it's probably that. I think one of the problems is that the joints can get neglected and not get greased, and also the top one is very close to the exhaust maifold so the grease could dry up very quickly leading to wear. The main problem is the shaft is quite expensive, about £215+VAT then about an hour to fit it.

 

[alane]

Hi Rich
Yes........that sounds oh so familiar !
Does £215 get the original porsche replacement or other....?
Is it dangerous to drive as they are do you think ??

 

[richthomas]

The price is for an original Porsche shaft, and the labour was quoted from an OPC, remember we get 10% discount off parts at OPC's.

I've seen other companies offering rebuilt shafts, such as Porsche Shop, but the price isn't a lot different and I have heard of these needing to be replaced again after a year or so. I don't think it is dangerous to drive as long as there isn't a noticeable dead spot in the streering. Mine passed the MOT about two months back, even though I thought it might not, it was just that it was picked up at my last service as points noted.

Rich