C5 Steering Vibration

StevieOMG · Unread post by **StevieOMG** » 08 Oct 2011, 19:59

For the last few months, I have had a dull thump from the front wheels and steering vibration. Today I changed the droplinks and the dull thump has gone however, the steering vibration remains. Its not wheel balance or tracking as have had these checked. When driving today, I adjusted the steering rake and low and behold no vibration - at least for a short time and then it returned. I read somewhere that there was a known fault with a clamp on the steering rack that needed to be pinched tighter. Can anyone point me n the right direction or provide any advice.

p.s. it passed MOT last week and is a Mk1 110 diesel estate

Also might be worth saying that my rear has been dropping for the last eighteen months when parked. I raised the rear on trolley jacks and lubed everything I could and did some citrobics. Appears to have done the trick. so far anyway

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Oct 2011, 19:56

If it is the camlp on the steering rack then you will get a rattling/chatter through the steering wheel over rought surfaces. Are you getting this?

If the wheel wobble is at speedo and not making a noise in the above way, have a check that your front brakes are not binding on. The handbrake levers on the front calipers have a tendancy to get a bit sticky and hold the brake. This does very often cause a wheel wobble.

StevieOMG · Unread post by **StevieOMG** » 09 Oct 2011, 20:12

Citroenmad wrote:If it is the camlp on the steering rack then you will get a rattling/chatter through the steering wheel over rought surfaces. Are you getting this?

Cirtroenmad many thanks. Yes its only on rough surfaces and can best be described as a chattering. Have checked brakes are not binding and handsbrake ok.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 09 Oct 2011, 21:55

Yep, that does sound like a problem with the steering rack clamp having play in it.

I believe it can be removed and pinched and that does cure it. I have not done it myself though.

mlkey · Unread post by **mlkey** » 10 Oct 2011, 05:48

StevieOMG wrote:
Citroenmad wrote:If it is the camlp on the steering rack then you will get a rattling/chatter through the steering wheel over rought surfaces. Are you getting this?
Cirtroenmad many thanks. Yes its only on rough surfaces and can best be described as a chattering. Have checked brakes are not binding and handsbrake ok.

You will find it is where the column passes through a bush down low near the universal joint. It was a common issue on the early C5's, and a revised column was released. I had it on my 2002, never fixed it due to cost. Now driving around in one of the last Mk1's and happily this is not an issue.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 10 Oct 2011, 21:24

mlkey wrote:
StevieOMG wrote:
Citroenmad wrote:If it is the camlp on the steering rack then you will get a rattling/chatter through the steering wheel over rought surfaces. Are you getting this?
Cirtroenmad many thanks. Yes its only on rough surfaces and can best be described as a chattering. Have checked brakes are not binding and handsbrake ok.
You will find it is where the column passes through a bush down low near the universal joint. It was a common issue on the early C5's, and a revised column was released. I had it on my 2002, never fixed it due to cost. Now driving around in one of the last Mk1's and happily this is not an issue.

That is interesting, I didn't know it was modified along the production run. I have only had that problem on a 2002 C5 and not later ones, which explains it.