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This may sound a bit trivial but is turning into a major operation.

For some time I have has a loud, progressively getting louder blood curdling squeak in behind the steering wheel on my brumby somewhere. Initial under dash diving hasn't revealed anything obvious and have now started to dismantle around the steering wheel. Couple of questions???

What could it be?? anything obvious that I am missing???

it appears to be coming from behind the steering column somewhere but can't see anything.

What holds the indicator pod on the column?
How does the instrument panel come out?
What other hardware behind there could be moving??

Any thoughts? thanx

(Those that know this brumby would know that it has a stinger ECU and remote locking and Dynatron security. Under the dash is a bloody nightmare of solinoids, relays, dodgy wiring, mousetraps,fuses etc etc. Don't know how far I can get into it.}

Cheers

could it be a mouse?

I'll throw a cat inside the car for the night and see what happens!!

there are 4 screws that hold the cover for the instrument panel in then from memory the same to hold the instrument panel in

from the sound it could be as simple as the contact for the horn has worn out and it grinding against the back of the steering wheel

I would first pull the steering wheel off and check the brass tongue that comes off the indicator stalk there should be a brass contact about 8 to 10 mm high that is on a brass strip that contacts the back of the steering wheel

if I can find my spare I will take a photo and post it to show what I mean

TOONGA

does it do the noise when, say, you jack up front end and turn steering wheel lock to lock ? Have a good friend slide under outside under secure stands to see if it is outside. There are some odd bushes at the base of steering column shaft.

Or, after thought, you can get a good sqeal out of somthing rubbing against the clear acrylic gauge window. Spray silicone spray around surrounding edges - surely can't hurt

Ok, if I am driving along and do a bit of jerky thing on the throttle, the squeak will "reek reek reek" (trying to paint a picture here) in time with the car. It sounds like it is under the dash but above the steering column. If you move your head from side to side, it seems to be coming centering around and above the steering column somewhere. Definitely inside the car, I'd say. It has got progressively worse and louder as whatever it is is coming free. I don't think it is the horn button, but anyhow, I've got that free and will continue to dismantle and test drive until I find it. The perspex story could be, but it really sounds like metal on metal. Not sure what other fixtures are up under the dash that might be coming loose other than the steering column but it looks (steering column) and feels ok. I'm 6'1" and about 130kg so not an easy job to lay upside down with your head under the dash trying to adjust your glasses and find the screwdriver that's under your butt.

Anyway, I shall persevere!!!!

130kg ! It's not your seat is it ? A mate is 143kg and an inch shorter and he kills seats. More seriously though there is a staked uni joint in the steering outside under the bonnet that can go to crap, generally though causes vibration but if it is dry, rusty tc it may just be it. Spray some penetrating stuff around it when engine is cool and see if that gives....

GOT IT !!

It is the engine stay rod bracket that shares the spare wheel carrier bracketry cracked or breaking away from its spot welds or previously repair weld to the firewall. This is likely the annoying death squeak you can get just before you lose clutching ability. Because it is just above the dash in the firewall sounds like it is under dash. I'd almost bet my left nut.....

Thanks mate, I'll have a look. Sounds like something that it would be. I'm just changing to vented brakes at the moment, so I'm immobile and on stands. As soon as I get the brakes done, I'll be on it. Thanks again. Will advise if we struck the jackpot.

steptoe wrote:GOT IT !!

It is the engine stay rod bracket that shares the spare wheel carrier bracketry cracked or breaking away from its spot welds or previously repair weld to the firewall. This is likely the annoying death squeak you can get just before you lose clutching ability. Because it is just above the dash in the firewall sounds like it is under dash. I'd almost bet my left nut.....

i noticed this with mine it was squeeking, then i swaped over motors mid swap i seen the bracket was loose on the fire wall, so i left the bar out
now im going there engin and gearbox mounts when 4x4

Ok, I've been down to the shed and had a look at this. What steptoe said had me thinking. Now I can't see the bracket that he mentions, but I grabbed the engine and standing in front of the car, rocked the engine lengthwise. I heard the squeak and it was coming from behind the engine near the firewall. To me it sounded like it was inside behind the dash.

Sometime ago, I fabricated some new heatshields for the turbo (EA82T) because I kept losing CV boots, and you guessed it, one of them is scraping on the steering column. The sound is telegraphing right up the steering and into the cabin. Whew, thanks everyone, should be a simple fix.

Cheers. T.

Great stuff, I trust no one wants the left nut?

Reminds me of another squeak I had in the L Turbo, a heat shield slipped and rubbing into the oil supply for the turbo

Your left nut is safe.

I hope that's it - Sunnie seems to have the same squeak but it seems to be the instrument cluster as it wasn't there before I put it in. First I thought it was the speedo cable not being re-fitted properly but that wasn't it...

I'd be interested to hear if that was actually the heat sheild - I don't know of a motor that rocks around while cruising along, they usually stay pretty much in one spot with a bit of engine mount twist with the torque of speeding up and slowing down using the motor...

Cheers

Bennie

Just put all the vented brakes back on, need to put the dash back together so should be this weekend. Will let you know the outcome, but I feel confident that it is the heatshield on the steering column. You can see the rub marks. When I say the engine rocked longways, I gave it a good push and shove. There would only need to be the least movement of metal on metal to make a noise.