hey fellas, what causes squeaking in the steering wheel, I assume there is something that has either run out of grease or something plastic that needs replacing but I need a little foresight/wisdom before I go tearing into the column searching for worn parts

 

Might be your clock springs. Mine squeaks when you turn the wheel too. I haven't fixed mine as it is a crappy ordeal to fix I believe.

 

I agree. Clock springs. There are contacts behind the wheeel that control horn and cruise functions. Usually these contacts start to squeek as they get old. Mine does it too especially when it is cold.

 

clock springs, looks like I will have to find some contactor lube, after I pull the wheel how far into the column are the clcok springs?

 

actually our trucks don't have clock springs. there is just 3 contactors that run in three rings. the contactors are spring loaded rods. They have lube on them but they maybe getting dry. The F-150's that have airbags have clock springs but not our trucks.

 

Dumb question time: What is a clock spring and what does it look like?

Rog

 

Rog, No such thing
It's A coil of wire mounted under the steering wheel allowing steering wheel control buttons (Cruise, Air bag, Radio ect) to past through the steering column and to rotate with the wheel instead of the way Tim mentioned above.

 

I would check the plastic around the column first.

My little truck squeks like a bitch when it is cold. Plastic rubbing together is all it is.

 

the crazy thing is that it hardly squeaks at all when it's cold, but when I have been driving for 15min or so is when it starts making noise, sounds like an old creaky door hinge that needs oiled