Steering column rattle

[Captain Jack]

Despite numerous attempts to stop the rattle coming from somewhere within the steering wheel column, the annoying rattling is still there. Mainly heard during moving off and when the engine RPM is around 1000. The rattle almost disappears if I hold the steering wheel tightly.

Anyway, so I am on the lookout for the new column. Are all the steering columns the same across the 406 range, such as diesel/petrol/saloon/estate/D8/D9?

[Welly]

You want a new steering column?

I can't see the column itself being at fault really. Is it a metallic rattle or some trim or something inside the plastic cowling?

[steve_earwig]

Mine's got some noise coming from around there somewhere, it seems to resonate about 1500rpm. It's not as loud as the injectors so it doesn't bother me as much as they do.

No access to Pervert's Socks? Oh dear, oh dear etc.
D9:
4123 K4 ... UNTIL RPO No. 09002
4123 L7 ... SINCE RPO No. 09003
i.e. the same across saloon, estate & coupe, lhd & rhd, variable & unvariable. Just a change in July 2001 (com2000?)

Btw D8s use the K4 too.

[Captain Jack]

I can't see the column itself being at fault really. Is it a metallic rattle or some trim or something inside the plastic cowling?

It sounds metallic and as soon as I push the column itself (with the plastic covers and everything off) the rattle stops. So, I am guessing something there has gone. I had the whole thing in pieces and the rattle went away for a while but is now back with a vengeance

[jasper5]

Have you checked the tightness of the bolt on the clamp at the bottom?

Check for play in the universal joint at the bottom of the column as well.

[Captain Jack]

Have you checked the tightness of the bolt on the clamp at the bottom?

Hm, well, I've taken it almost completely apart, so I would guess so. That said, I don't exactly know which clamp you mean.

Check for play in the universal joint at the bottom of the column as well.

That, yes. Although, it does see that the rattle is coming from down there somewhere...

[jasper5]

The universal joint at the bottom is held onto the steering rack by a pinch bolt, it also has a pinch bolt holding the universal joint onto the steering column.....it's possible either of these could be loose.
Each bolt is where the splines of the rack and column slide into the lower coupling (universal joint).

[FarmerPug]

Use rubber washsers in all the joints with locking nuts, get it as tight as possible and it might work. My cruise control stalk and radio stalk were loose (just normal french build quality loose, nothing to worry about loose) so i wedged a bit of post it note in, now they feel like they belong in an audi, but it goes to show how good wedging a bit of paper does. No rattles, no squeaks and its easy to wedge it in.

[Doggy]

Having just replaced some rotten floorboards in the dining room and stopped the gale blowing round the edges with some expanding foam, I've just had a blinding flash of insight into the ultimate floppy-stalk fix.

I would however like to point out that the dogmobile's stalks are not and never have been aflicted by 'droop'. We have a progressive relationship, built on mutual trust. If it wants to self-cancel, I let it. If it resists my efforts to indicate, I back off momentarily before completing the manouver. We're cool. (Unless I want to sound the horn without applying in writing).

[FarmerPug]

reference has been made to my large tub of vaseline in your signature

[Doggy]

Sorry, 406exec.

I've fixed it now.

[FarmerPug]

no i didnt mind it at all, perhaps i should use a pic of the large tub as my avatar, but i prefer quagmire.

[Captain Jack]

Sorry, old thread but problem still there.

The universal joint at the bottom is held onto the steering rack by a pinch bolt

Checked - it's very tight.

it also has a pinch bolt holding the universal joint onto the steering column

Errr... where's that? I know where it joins the steering column at the top but it just slides in and out without effort.

It's getting worse and worse now. I think the thing that's rattling is the airbag. Have tried removing it and making the springs tighter but the rattle is still there. Need to try removing it completely and see if the rattle is still there without the aigbag in.

[steve_earwig]

Err, 4 and 6 I guess Is that another UJ I can see lurking at the top?

[Captain Jack]

I swear I did not see a bolt there at all. Time for another looksie methinks.