Squeeky Passat Steering Wheel

[vwmark]

Hi to everyone - my first posting.

The Steering wheel on my Pasat 130PDSE squeeks like hell at low spead. Had a look and nothing is rubbing so it looks like the upper bearing which means the airbag has to come off - how do you do it? Dissconect the battery and remove or is that too simple?

Cheers Mark

[adamss24]

Hi, disconect the battery 1/2 hour before removing the steering wheel. Male shure the car is on a level and flat surface and the front wheels/steering wheel are straight. Remove the 2 torx screws that hold the airbag from behind and lift the airbag+ handle with care. Take lots of pics to aid reinstalling. Disconect the spiral cable multiplug before removing the steering wheel. Spiral cable MUST NOT be rotated while steering wheel removed. The spiral cable in the middle have limited movement and has to centralised during reassenbly. REPLACE airbag bolts. Tighten torx bolts at 8 Nm and central bolt at 50 Nm. Good luck.

[vwmark]

Hi Again - how the hell do you get the wheel off? Just got the top plastic cover off but the bottom cover seemsto be held on by the wheel. I have removed the 2 torx screws and the 4mm allen screw but it won't move.

Squeek also seems to be comng from inside the steering wheel. Anyone else had this problem????

Thanks
Mark

[Studio54]

I have a similar intermittent problem as you’ve described recently.
On certain days, when the car has warmed up, and I’m stationary, if I turn the steering wheel in either direction….I get an almighty squeak.
I also notice that when this happens, the revs on my car drops slightly but idles normally once I’ve turned and left the wheel.
If I rev the car slightly and turn the wheel, the squeak goes away.
The squeak is even more noticeable when steering wheel is turned full lock in either position.
At first I was told to change the belt that drives my power steering pump, ac motor and I think the alternator.
This did the trick for about 3 days.
Then I was told to change the tensioner spring that keeps the belt taught.
This worked for about 2 weeks.
At this point in time, my engine needed an overhaul and mentioned to my mechanic that the squeak had come back but not as bad as before.
I was then advised to change my power steering pump, I assume the PS fluid was changed also taking that out of the equation.
After all this, the noise has slowly begun to raise its ugly little head again.
The noise is definitely coming from the tensioner spring, belt area of the car, i.e not by the sterring whell itself.
I just don’t know what else can cause this as the major parts have now been changed.

[Gaz the Cab]

I have a squelchy noise from mine, but, I think it's coming from the bottom of the Steering column, are you sure that not where its from.....driving up me up the wall........theres a big rubber thingy at the base of the column try spraying it with WD40.

[vwmark]

No - mine is deffo. coming from under the airbag - put a stethascope on it!
Drives me mad at low speeds and embarising when anyone is in the car with me!

[Studio54]

Gaz,

I was also thinking the noise maybe coming by the steering column.
What else left is there to change?
Come to mention it, the feedback I get from the wheel when turning it and it's squeaks is that of rubbery friction at the end of the steering column.
I will have a look in my Haynes manual tonight to see where this steering rack rubber thingy is and spray it with some WD40.
I just hope it's easily accessible.

[adamss24]

did you took the central bolt off ? If yes, you may need to tap it lightly with a rubber mallet to ease it off the splines as the holder is conical and is tight. Pay atention to what i wrote if in doubt buy a haynes manual ! Be carefull with the airbag as is a explosive device and remember to have the battery disconected.

[Gaz the Cab]

Gaz,

I was also thinking the noise maybe coming by the steering column.
What else left is there to change?
Come to mention it, the feedback I get from the wheel when turning it and it's squeaks is that of rubbery friction at the end of the steering column.
I will have a look in my Haynes manual tonight to see where this steering rack rubber thingy is and spray it with some WD40.
I just hope it's easily accessible.

You can actually see it from inside the car, just look for the base of the steering column.