Happy New Year to everybody!

Now to my problem...
ONLY when it's cold outside and the car itself is still cold too, the following weird problem occurs..

When I'm turning the steering wheel with a lot of power to the left or right it gets maladjusted from its center point caused by a slippage of approx 1/2 inch. This slipping is escorted by a squeezing noise. But as soon as the car is at normal temperature this is no more possible! So driving is still safe!

I searched for hours to locate the exact position where the slippage could possibly occur. But no success!
So far I am 100% sure that it happens at a steering shaft position that's very close to the steering wheel!

Does anyone have any idea???

Thanks for any helpful input,
Kay

Ensure the rack and pinion is tight. There is a main bolt on the driver's side and the clamp with two nuts on the passenger side.

Check the condition of your tie rods and dont overlook at the ball joints, lug nuts and perhaps the rack and pinion just gave up on you.

I agree with PLRX's comments... but also check the fluid.

it also sounds a bit like the dreaded morning sickness.

You can help it a little... get the fluid good and warm, turn off the engine, then using what we call a "turkey baster", suck out the fluid from the power steering reservour.



I would then replace the fluid with something like Mobil 1 or Castrol synthetic power steering fluid. Restart, rewarm, and crank the wheel from left to right 3 or 4 times. Then do the drain/refill process again. That should about get rid of all the old fluid and give you nothing but fresh synthetic.

I know it's been REAL cold in Germany, so weak fluid will become even more weaker.

One final fear... and this is possible, but rare... the welded mounts for the rack have failed. If the car was ever in an accident or has been exposed to flooded conditions or salts could have damaged the mounts. I say to check this as you check the mounting bolts. I DOUBT this is the problem. I would more expect a loose bolt or the bad fluid. But it is possible... rare? yes, possible? maybe.

You will also want to make sure the tie rod ends are good and tight, too. If they are shifting about, wierd things would happen.

If all of the above check out, the rack and/or the pump have worn out.

It has to be real cool to drive that thing on the Autobahn!

Thank you guys for all the tips!
But I'm 100% sure that the slippage occurs somewhere
between the steering wheel and the first shaft knuckle. The noise when the wheel is slipping comes definitely from within the driver compartment.
Could it be that the last part of the steering shaft is simply split into 2 parts and there's simply a worn out connection between it?

Thanks,
Kay

I don't think there's anything in there to slip. Check the single bolt that goes through the steering rack bushing. Mine was loose and caused the same thing.

the rubber donut could be bad...

I know the problem you are talking about. It's strange... my Jeep does it, too. And I don't know why.

Hi Andy,
I finally figured it out today when I asked a friend to turn the steering wheel while I was checking the behavior of the steering shaft under the hood...

The slippage occurs at the steering shaft itself very close to the steering rack input. The end of the shaft is pressed into a bigger piece of shaft before it is mounted to the steering rack input. And that's the weak part! I guess I'll simply weld both parts together to fix the problem!

I will post a picture tomorrow!

Thanks,
Kay

Eww. I've heard the steering shaft is collapsable on non-airbag cars. I'm guessing that's where it slips? Keep that in mind if you weld it. I wonder if the sacrificial joint on yours failed from a previous collision or bad mechanic. Did the previous owner have a punctured lung?

I have about that much slippage in my current rack which is one of the reasons it's getting replaced.

Finally a picture of the problem and how I'm going to fix it...
I think I'll simply weld to little peaces of a steal on the locations where the arrows are pointing and the slippage will be history!!

Thanks again for all your input,
Kay

where is that?

Quote:

This is right there where the shaft goes into the steering rack.

Regards,
Kay

I will be curious if that fixes it.

The 84 service manual says there is plastic injected in the shaft that is sacrificial in a front end collision. Not sure if it's in that part or not.

Quote:

Yes you're right!
That plastic inside between the thin shaft and the thicker end is the problem. It's worn out and causes the shaft to slip left and right! After I weld some metal plate between the shaft and the thicker thing it should be fixed!