Creaking noise from steering wheel

[kriso]

Recently I've developed a quiet but noticeble creaking noise when moving the steering wheel sometimes. It sounds like something is rubbing slightly. It only happens when turning it certain ways, so quite intermittent.

Could this be easily fixed?

 

[matt l]

mines the same so wouldnt mind finding out if its an easy fix

 

[Bondiblu]

Mine's also got this annoying creaking/squeeking.

 

[the bear1986]

i had this problem early this year took it to ford as thats where i bought the car from they sent it to seat and the problem was that wear the wheel meets with the fabric just behind the dash it just needed losing. it did solve the problem for a few weeks but the problem came back so i just keep adjusting the steering wheel and that helps.

 

[Tricky Red]

I had this too and thought that it was just 'as it was' and seemed to be worse in summer. Thought it might just be expansion.

When the car went in for a service I asked the garage to check it out. They had to replace some parts under warranty, but did say that it would have been a costly job to fix. I don't know what they did, but it's been fine since.

I would imagine it would be worth getting it checked out. It shouldn't be like that.

 

[Altech]

My steering used to creak. Turned out to be worn arb bushes. Had everything changed and the creak has gone.

 

[kriso]

The creak is coming from just behind the steering wheel inside the car. It's def not coming from anywhere around the ARB. Altho I do have a seperate problem with a strange creaking when on full right lock which I tried to fix today by stripping down the brakes as I thought it might be them. But I still seem to have it

 

[Altech]

Spray a load of WD-40 on the arb bushes....if the creak stops then they're your problem. Also check that your roll bar retainers are in good nick, your car may have metal retainers which should be fine (my ibiza had crappy plastic ones which broke apart and allowed the bar to move way to much)

As for inside the car i can only suggest removing the bits of trim around the steering column and have a fiddle!

 

[kriso]

Spray a load of WD-40 on the arb bushes....if the creak stops then they're your problem. Also check that your roll bar retainers are in good nick, your car may have metal retainers which should be fine (my ibiza had crappy plastic ones which broke apart and allowed the bar to move way to much)

As for inside the car i can only suggest removing the bits of trim around the steering column and have a fiddle!

Cheers Altech I will give that a go. I was looking at the ARB retainers today actually as I remember there being different types. If I was looking at the right thing, mine is plastic. Is the bush inside that?

The bit in the top-right corner:

 

[Altech]

Yep that's the retainer, the bush is directly behind it. It's held in place by a metal bracket.

 

[kriso]

Cheers, Ive had a look at some diagrams and these look pretty easy to replace without removing anything else.

 

[Altech]

Bushes are pretty straight forward to replace, however the whole arb is a different story! Subframe needs dropping etc. If your plastic retainers are still ok then i wouldn't bother replacing the whole arb. If your car is still under warranty then you might be able to kick up a fuss at Seat and try an get the revised vRS arb with metal retainers...might be a long shot..

 

[kriso]

Yea I know replacing the front ARB is a pain. Think I'll order the retainers, the bushes (or washers as Seat call them!) and possiby the bolts. Should come to less than £15. Hopefully there isn't too much tension on the ARB and I won't have to loosen anything else.

 

[Altech]

I don't think that the plastic retainers can be replaced. On my new vRS arb the retainers are welded on to the bar

 

[kriso]

I think they just bolt onto something: