WRXEATR DIY: Replacing Your Steering Column Guibo

[m3f_96BmwCosmosM3]

some questions, make a long story short i have a vibration in my steering wheel at high way speeds only, not brake related, that i can not get rid of as well as a clunk when i hit rough roads, bumps etc. any way i have replaced tie rods, sway bar links, strut hat mounts, new control arms w ball joints, i dont seem to have any play when doing the 12-6 9-3 wheel grab test either. anyway read the write up and am wondering what symptoms you guys had exactly that lead you to replace this part? my vibration most noticable in my steering wheel after 65mph to 85

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[m3f_WRXEATR]

Replacing this will give your steering its backbone back. If your coupling is bad your steering wheel will feel very rubbery, not as responsive as it should be. It something that you don't notice much until you do it. When the new one is in, you'll feel the difference, I assure you.

[m3f_MPower90]

great write up!

[m3f_DontRevMe]

Ill be doing this later today if i can get the car high enough off of the ground.

[m3f_BleedsBlue]

Ill be doing this later today if i can get the car high enough off of the ground.

Hope you ate your Wheaties!

[m3f_Diesel///M3]

So just to be clear, I cannot just replace the guibo itself? I have to replace the entire coupling right? The reason I ask is I just noticed the other day that one of the rivets (bolt) through the guibo is missing! I know this can't be good, so I better buy a new complete universal joint right? Just want to confirm my suspicion.



Referring to #3 in the pic.

[m3f_Roland H]

The Guibo is piece #3, and normally the piece that wears out first. There are two bolts that go through it, one through the end that connects to the rack, and the other through the end that connects to the steering linkage. The guibo won't fall out if they aren't present, but you risk the situation of turning the wheel someday and having nothing happen with the bolts in.


It's nice to replace the rest of the linkage if you can afford it, but not necessary.

[m3f_Z3MCOUPE]

Great job Spencer - added to favorites

[m3f_WRXEATR]

You're welcome guys, it's good to see people are still finding this useful!

[m3f_T2]

GREAT write up!!

[m3f_PurduinaM3]

Most of the time that just means you need an alignment...

[m3f_Synenergy52]

How about this for locking the steering position:



Lock the steering wheel (when key is out) and pressing a long straight ruler on the brake rotor and let it touch the plastic fender liner and mark that with a marker or piece of scotch tape?

[m3f_das borgen]

sorry to bump this thread but if your steering is out of alignment, can this be compensated with removing and recentering the steering wheel?



or does the steering wheel have some kind of slot to make it go in only one way with a dowel pin or something like that?





btw: Bentley manual says that on the rack side, the slot of the guibo is supposed to line up with the arrow on the boot at the base on the steering rack's splines

[m3f_WRXEATR]

sorry to bump this thread but if your steering is out of alignment, can this be compensated with removing and recentering the steering wheel?


or does the steering wheel have some kind of slot to make it go in only one way with a dowel pin or something like that?


btw: Bentley manual says that on the rack side, the slot of the guibo is supposed to line up with the arrow on the boot at the base on the steering rack's splines

Your steering wheel is connected to the hub via a splined shaft similar to the ones you are connecting the guibo to. There is no unique key slot that needs to be aligned. I don't see any issues with removing the steering wheel and rotating its original orientation to get it centered.

[m3f_Synenergy52]

I got my guibo. Replacing this tonite!!