Hi everyone, I have a problem with my '92 W250 steering wheel, it moves up and down on the shaft and there seems to be quite a bit of freeplay between it and the shaft going to the steering box. The nut itself is tight and the shaft that comes out of the firewall is also tight (ie it doesn't move up and down). The reason for it being so loose is I took it in for a wheel alignment 2 or more years ago and the monkey that did it made the wheel sit the way it should when driving straight... and gave it back to me like that and I didn't notice until a few weeks later that it moved... Of course that was too late to have any warranty done... So now I'm stuck and don't know what to do, and if I can keep driving it. Is there some kind of linkage in there that might be broken? Any ideas would be wonderful. Oh yeah, it's an automatic without cruise control or tilt column... Thanks.

 

Spitzair,

I've read and re-read this post several times trying to figure out what it could be..... About the only thing I can think of is that there are a couple of nuts that hold the entire steering column up into the instrument panel, usually they are somewhat hidden. Is it possible they worked loose.?

On the other hand, I might be full of it, but I'm really struggling with your definition of whats happening without seeing it....

 

I had the same problem with an '89. I don't quite remember the detail, but it involves a slip joint in the housing that comes loose. If I remember, i could pull the wheel right out of the column.

If my senior moment passes, I will post the fix. It wasn't easy.

 

If its in the cab that you can move the steering wheel all around . i have a dakota that one of the ball bearing cage broke and the wheel could be wobbled about a inch or two all around (360)as you sat in the seat. I went to a junk yard and got a matching one , a little paint to match here and there, put my tumbler in for the key and wala....
untill now i hadnt thought about it.
Norm

 

Ok, I'll try to give you guys an idea with this picture... Wait a minute, how do I add a picture???
Anyways, the steering wheel seems to slide up and down the shaft with no lateral movement. I can pull it towards me maybe 3/4 inch and then it stops...

 

If you can pull it towards you, it has to be an internal bearing or something. I'm understanding that the column is secure, just the wheel will put out towards you.

Has to be something internal
I like "Norms" take on this.

 

Can you get someone to help push/pull the steering wheel while the other person watches the "u-joint" on the steering shaft in the engine compartment?

If the steering shaft in the engine compartment is moving up/down then the shaft might be loose down there where the steering shaft joins the power steering box.

If the steering shaft in the engine compartment isn't moving, then there must be something between the firewall and your steering wheel that is loose/failed. There is another "u-joint" near the top of the steering column.

 

There is a slip/ break off joint in the column