Billy944mac

Hi there, I have just got a '86,944. I am getting a sort of clunk/knock from the steering wheel boss area, it sounds like a worn knuckle/bush or something similar. I took off the wheel, but unless I got involved in a more serious strip down there was nothing to see. Has anyone came across a similar problem? Please tell me the fix! Any advice gratefully taken! Except for that minor prob, the car is excellent, and something I've wanted to own for near 2 decades! Here's to happy motoring. Regards Billy.

my944

Hi Billy,

What exactly do you mean when you mention the steering wheel "boss" area?

Billy944mac

Hi, I mean the centre of the steering wheel, the splined hub that joins the wheel to the column shaft. (you are serious, yeah?) Cheers Billy.

my944

Sorry, Billy. I really thought you were refering more to a front end noise near the actual tire area. I could've only helped in this area :0(

Billy944mac

Found out what it is, it's the steering rod with the 2 universal joints thats between the column and the rack. The top one is worn due to the hose that goes from the clutch reservoir to the master cylinder leaking brake fluid over it. Must have been happening for a while as there was no fluid left in the reservoir. Have priced a new one £117 and £193 !!! depending on where I order it from. Oh well, suppose this is just the start......Regards Billy.

adie

Good news is that it only takes ten minutes to replace, I think that Porsche have decided that if you can do it yourself they will charge as much as possable to even out there loss in labour.

Billy944mac

The prices were not from Porsche! Euro £193 (outright) and Porscheshop £117 (exchange). Know any other suppliers? Like you say tho' it looks an easy job. Cheers Billy.

nib5

I don't know if this will be useful to you, but check the uj's carefully before scrapping it and buying a new shaft. I happened upon an short article in an old classic mag about the 944 steering shaft. It seems that the uj's sometimes need re-staking. I can't vouch for this, but here goes...

"The joints are staked and can work loose causing rattle and vagueness. If this is the case, remove the shaft, re-stake the joint with a square end chisel, then re-pack the joints with grease using a large hypodermic needle."

There are pictures, but they are so fuzzy as to be useless if scanned. It took me a while to work out what he was talking about, but it seems the bearing cups that the cross shaped centre piece runs in are held tight by a lip formed by the hammered (pressed?) outer edge of the holes in the yokes - The u-shaped parts (sorry if that seems patronising). Re-staking involves hammering the lips down again with the chisel.

This is a bit of guesswork, but I'm not going to go rooting around under the bonnet at 1 a.m. with a torch. Where the hypo goes, I don't know, but I'm sure it will become apparent.

I hope this provides a new (cheaper) avenue for you, but it can't hurt anything trying it.

adie

Sorry I didn't see where you were from, try sending me an e-mail and I'll dig out the place in B/ham that is about 50%cheaper than euro C/P, and there is douglas vally breakers, also in 911& porsche world web site there is a breakers near you that is real cheap, like 300 for an S2 box, so I don't think that it will cost that much.

Billy944mac

Thanks for the help. Got a no of a breakers that I'll try tomorrow. Failing that, I am thinking about removing the shaft and trying to replace the universal joint. I've done them many times on prop shafts, it's just the problem of getting a suitable joint I suppose. Adie, is the shop in/near Birmingham called "Porscheshop"? if it is I've tried them, if not will you post the name? Thanks again.Regards Billy.

adie

no porsche shop are quite useless, most of the breakers however seem to be in that area, the place I use race porsches all day lond and have everything laying around.