Steering wheel spins 360 degrees.

[luckyGAT]

Well i was making a left turn in to my driveway and heard a loud POP then out of no where the steering wheel looses all tension and freely spins 360 degrees. I am COMPLETELY clueless when it comes to the steering systems of cars.

What did i break and how much is it going to cost me to fix it?

Are there any common issues like this? i searched but didn't find much.

 

[hawkeye18]

I would have to guess that your steering wheel is no longer connected to the rack (as opposed to something in the rack breaking). My best guess is that your steering column shaft snapped.

They can be replaced, and the necessary parts are sold, but it's not the easiest thing in the world to replace.

stick your head down under the dash on the driver's side where the brake and gas pedals are, and look up at the steering shaft (can't miss it). Now turn the steering wheel. Does that shaft turn?

 

[gmorrell]

There are two couplings at the base of the steering shaft, one is a slide coupling that allows the rack and subframe to move fore/aft with respect to the steering column, the other is a universal that bends the shaft into the steering rack. You could have broken either of these as well.

The slide coupling is under the convoluted boot at the base of the column, the universal coupling is below the slide coupling on the rack input shaft.

Usually this stuff is very stout, as the consequences for failure of a mission critical system are pretty high, but if the car has been driven for some time without power steering, the stress on these components may cause a failure.

 

[St Louis SHO]

Oh, And your clockspring for the airbag is now broken, so the airbag light will be on.

 

[luckyGAT]

I would have to guess that your steering wheel is no longer connected to the rack (as opposed to something in the rack breaking). My best guess is that your steering column shaft snapped.

They can be replaced, and the necessary parts are sold, but it's not the easiest thing in the world to replace.

stick your head down under the dash on the driver's side where the brake and gas pedals are, and look up at the steering shaft (can't miss it). Now turn the steering wheel. Does that shaft turn?

I will check this out when i get out to the car tonight. If the shaft is not turning what does that mean in terms of damage? Do you know which specific parts i would need to replace?

 

[hawkeye18]

I will check this out when i get out to the car tonight. If the shaft is not turning what does that mean in terms of damage? Do you know which specific parts i would need to replace?

Only a pair of eyeballs at the scene is going to be able to tell you exactly what broke. The internetz can only do so much... at some point you just gotta go dive in yourself.

 

[luckyGAT]

There are two couplings at the base of the steering shaft, one is a slide coupling that allows the rack and subframe to move fore/aft with respect to the steering column, the other is a universal that bends the shaft into the steering rack. You could have broken either of these as well.

The slide coupling is under the convoluted boot at the base of the column, the universal coupling is below the slide coupling on the rack input shaft.

Usually this stuff is very stout, as the consequences for failure of a mission critical system are pretty high, but if the car has been driven for some time without power steering, the stress on these components may cause a failure.

The car WAS driven for about a month with out power steering but that was some time ago. I suppose the parts could have been compromised then.

How difficult are these things to replace if this is indeed the problem? Is this something i can fix in the driveway or will i need a mechanic and a lift for this?

 

[luckyGAT]

Only a pair of eyeballs at the scene is going to be able to tell you exactly what broke. The internetz can only do so much... at some point you just gotta go dive in yourself.

Would some pictures of the shaft/whatever you might request help?

 

[Shoaz]

Would some pictures of the shaft/whatever you might request help?

Steering is something that should be fixed properly. You're not going to get that done over the internet. Get some competent hands and eyeballs in there.

 

[luckyGAT]

Oh, And your clockspring for the airbag is now broken, so the airbag light will be on.

After 6 years of owning a SHO i would feel almost ***** with out my warning lights being on.

 

[Racer X]

Oh, And your clockspring for the airbag is now broken, so the airbag light will be on.

...and your cruise control and horn will no longer work.

 

[luckyGAT]

...and your cruise control and horn will no longer work.

Quick story about my cruise control about 4 years ago i was driving down the highway with my cc on out of nowhere the car just starts accelerating in 5th gear. The cc controls didn't respond it all. I was going 90(from the cc setting of 70ish) before i threw the clutch in and the engine revved all the way up. I had to **** the ignition to get the cc to release the throttle. After that the cc would never engage, all the fuses and such are in working order but if its probably for the best that its gone if its going to pull some crazy shit like that i would rather be with out.

 

[SHO Continental]

I had something similar happen, except it was the actual rack that broke.

You just have to pull the steering shaft boot from the drivers floor to see if it's indeed broken.

 

[luckyGAT]

I had something similar happen, except it was the actual rack that broke.

You just have to pull the steering shaft boot from the drivers floor to see if it's indeed broken.

I had that happen a few years back as well, only the tension remained in the steering wheel. When i turn this thing it spins like the wheel on The Price is Right.


Edit: The steering wheel spins freely, the shaft does not rotate like Hawkeye suggested it would. Since this is the case can i assume my rack is safe? Tomorrow when there is some light im going to try to figure out a way to get the steering wheel off and see what im working with. And as others have said, my horn is inoperable.

 

[Toolman]

Where in KS are you located?

 

[luckyGAT]

Where in KS are you located?

Kansas City

 

[SHO Continental]

The steering wheel spins freely, the shaft does not rotate

You already figured it out, replace the broken steering shaft.

 

[sperold]

I would look for a whole other steering column complete with all the electrical connectors, from the wheel right down to the universal joint. That way you know you have the right part. Sounds like you have a manual trans, (if it is a 93 - 95) so it will be a bit harder to find, but that is what I would do. And I would consider swapping the whole thing in.

 

[Shoaz]

I would look for a whole other steering column complete with all the electrical connectors, from the wheel right down to the universal joint. That way you know you have the right part. Sounds like you have a manual trans, (if it is a 93 - 95) so it will be a bit harder to find, but that is what I would do. And I would consider swapping the whole thing in.

That's not a bad idea, and is not all that hard to do. It'd also fix the clock spring problem so you'd have the airbag, cruise and horn working again. The tricky part may be finding one with the same color steering wheel, if you don't want to swap that out.

 

[hawkeye18]

Wasn't aware that the steering setup was different between ATX and MTX?