Squeaky steering

[nick4501]

Hi guys.

My steering has always clicked when I rotate the wheel. It sounds like it's coming from directly behind the steering wheel (as opposed to the rack), and has always done it during my ownership of the car. I was told that this is likely to be the slip ring that sits behind the wheel.

This hasn't got any worse, however, a new noise has now developed around the same area. This is more of a squeel and generally only does it when I'm turning the wheel at slow speeds. I hoped that this was the steering fluid, and after checking it I saw that it was on "minimum". I bought some fluid from Audi and topped it up, but this hasn't solved the problem.

Any ideas? I don't see how it could be the rack, since it really does just sound like something is jammed behind the wheel...

 

[nick4501]

...Anyone?

 

[s3dave]

Auxillary belt would squeak in these damp conditions, check for wear

 

[nick4501]

Isn't the belt spinning all the time though?...It only squeaks when I turn the wheel. The sound is definitely coming from directly behind the wheel, not the engine bay...

 

[s3dave]

When you turn the wheel it puts load on the belt, if not in the engine bay maybe cowling is rubbing around the wheel?

 

[nick4501]

When you turn the wheel it puts load on the belt, if not in the engine bay maybe cowling is rubbing around the wheel?

Is this a good thing (price wise!)?!

How can I correct it?...Is it a fairly common problem? Do you think it's related to the slip ring click?

 

[s3dave]

Is this a good thing (price wise!)?!

How can I correct it?...Is it a fairly common problem? Do you think it's related to the slip ring click?

just move the rake on the wheel and see if it alters..

 

[nick4501]

Not quite sure what you mean by rake. This is now becoming a serious problem. The noise has got worse. Sounds like my steering wheel is going to fall off! What can I do?!

Adjusting the height of the wheel does nothing to change the noise...