Crackling noise coming from steering wheel

[996]

Hi Guys,

As the title states...there is a scratching/crackling noise coming from my steering wheel when I turn it. It happens when I am stopped and driving.

The car has about 160K miles on it, and it just started about 500 miles ago. I took a video. Please see the link below. My initial thoughts were there may be something stuck in there...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c6gdw3z0ppurh7f/20170707_180934.mp4?dl=0

Let me know your thoughts. Would greatly appreciate it!!!

Best,
M

 

[Sasquatch]

Do the buttons on your steering wheel work? If they`re out its most likely a bad clock spring.

If that`s not it i remember reading about a steering column shaft bearing going bad and making noise too.

 

[95escahoe]

Do the buttons on your steering wheel work? If they`re out its most likely a bad clock spring.

If that`s not it i remember reading about a steering column shaft bearing going bad and making noise too.

I had the bad shaft and bearing sounded nothing like that sounds like a clock spring like mentioned before


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[996]

All,

Thank you so much for the replies. The buttons on my steering wheel work. I'll do some digging on how to take apart the steering wheel and check out the clock spring.

Thank you, and will keep you updated.

M

 

[adventurenali92]

The steering wheel is pretty easy to take out, at least he wheel was. I just replaced my steering wheel with a new one and getting the wheel out was easy. Not sure what replacing a clock spring entails though. Start with disconnecting the battery and letting the electronics discharge for about a half hour, then The steering wheel is removed by popping an Allen wrench into to the two small holes on either side behind the airbag, that releases the airbag from the wheel. You can then disconnect the steering wheel control, horn and airbag wires. And then the retaining nut can be loosened with a 21mm deep socket and ratchet. Videos with show using a steering wheel puller to get it off, but mine came off with pretty minimal pulling. I one hand at 12 and the other at 6, held the bottom in place, and gave the top of the wheel a gentle yank, and it popped right off the shaft. And then from there you can just gently guide it off he steering shaft and it's off. Check out the second to last page if my build, you can see pics of my steering wheel removed. Also another member gave me some pretty detailed instructions. I'll put that link to that thread of in.
Edit: here's that thread. It was very helpful for me when I did the swap:
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/steering-wheel-removal.94481/

 

[Hermans]

Yeah, i had the same when i bought mine, its a known problem at least for the tahoe
worn out steering shaft bearing, you will hear a "clonking" noise when steering or riding on bumpy roads

Replace the steering shaft bearing, for example: (http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2425904&cc=1431156&jsn=456)