Steering Column Bearing - Scraping/Rasping Noise
84ford11Article No. 84-16-12
NOISE - "SCRAPING OR RASPY" - STEERING COLUMN BEARING (BOOT)
FORD 1984 TEMPO, ESCORT DIESEL
LINCOLN-MERCURY 1984 TOPAZ, LYNX DIESEL
A scraping or raspy noise which occurs when the steering wheel is rotated, may be caused by the bearing assembly in the steering column boot (at the dash panel). To help determine if this is the cause place your hand very lightly on the upper portion of the boot (care must be taken when first touching the boot assembly not to disturb its location), rotate the wheel, and feel for vibrations in the top of the boot. When vibration is found, push or jiggle the top of the boot down the shaft. Return it to its normal position and once again feel for the vibration. If the vibration has disappeared, the boot bearing is probably the cause and the rest of the procedure should be followed. However, if the "noise or vibration" persists, the cause is likely to be elsewhere in the steering system.
Once it has been determined that the boot bearing is the likely cause, it should be lubricated as follows:
^ Use Ford Spray Polyethylene Grease (Part No. D7AZ-19584-A). Try to spray the grease between the white and black plastic portion of the bearing.
NOTE: If other grease or means of application is used, the cause may not be permanently corrected.
^ If the lubrication does not correct the condition, replace the boot assembly (Base Part -3C611-) using the appropriate Shop Manual procedures (13-04).
OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: "INFORMATION ONLY"