Squeaking when steering, any solutions?

[stan1541]

So, I don't know if I just noticed it or what, but my outdrive squeaks pretty bad when turning. I'm on the Volvo Penta 5.7 GXI DP outdrive. I can only see one lubrication point which goes into the drivetrain. When turning, it appears to come from the two connection points outside, not inside. There is no point to lubricate. Any thoughts on how to fix this?

[Big Block Power]

If you want you can replace the 2 pivot joints. Just about every Volvo I've owned has done that. I don't get too excited over it. Slideruler might be able to way in on this. I have tried to grey since lube up there but not much luck. Not a great design.

[cmattj]

So, I don't know if I just noticed it or what, but my outdrive squeaks pretty bad when turning. I'm on the Volvo Penta 5.7 GXI DP outdrive. I can only see one lubrication point which goes into the drivetrain. When turning, it appears to come from the two connection points outside, not inside. There is no point to lubricate. Any thoughts on how to fix this?

If you can duplicate the noise by moving the outdrive while it's on the trailer and not running...by hand left and right it's most likely the steering pin pivot bushing. ( small tube )Dead center on the bottom of the drive. Easy to get to with the drive off but you could support the drive in full up trim and remove and lubricate it.

A good idea if the season you have the drive pulled to check gimbal and bellows ask them to lube it.

[cmattj]

If you want you can replace the 2 pivot joints. Just about every Volvo I've owned has done that. I don't get too excited over it. Slideruler might be able to way in on this. I have tried to grey since lube up there but not much luck. Not a great design.

I gotta type faster. Yes what BBP said

[Big Block Power]

If you want you can replace the 2 pivot joints. Just about every Volvo I've owned has done that. I don't get too excited over it. Slideruler might be able to way in on this. I have tried to grey since lube up there but not much luck. Not a great design.

I gotta type faster. Yes what BBP said

Yes what Matt said. Lol
Dam we would make a great team. Lol

[AsLan7]

Yes...what they both said.

[Big Block Power]

Yes...what they both said.

[stan1541]

That was basically what I figured. Was hoping for simpler, but I got an answer. Thanks!

[cmattj]

[quote=cmattj
If you want you can replace the 2 pivot joints. Just about every Volvo I've owned has done that.

Yes what Matt said. Lol
Dam we would make a great team. Lol

Yeah buddy!!

Stan don’t worry too much about it as BB mentioned it’s a sqwaky creaking noise that usually won’t harm anything and it’s actually the simplest noise you can get from an out drive..

Boat on! And get your pics in the July Thread.

[Big Block Power]

[quote=cmattj
If you want you can replace the 2 pivot joints. Just about every Volvo I've owned has done that.

Yes what Matt said. Lol
Dam we would make a great team. Lol

Yeah buddy!!

Stan don’t worry too much about it as BB mentioned it’s a sqwaky creaking noise that usually won’t harm anything and it’s actually the simplest noise you can get from an out drive..

Boat on! And get your pics in the July Thread.

Honestly once it's in the water the noise is gone. If you still hear it then your going to want to fix it.

[slideruleracer]

Hey folks,
Sorry that I'm just seeing this. If it's squeaking for left/right movements and you're sure it's coming from the 2 connection points at the top and bottom of the gimbal, then I will say that replacing those bushings is not for the faint of heart - ESPECIALLY, if your steering shaft has any corrosion on it. Mine is an older style 'square' cutout version and required ample heat and my 20 ton press to get off... there's no way in hell I would have been able to get that off while the transom assembly was still mounted to the boat. Now, if there's no corrosion and your parts come off without much trouble, then you STILL need to use a press of some kind to get the phenolic/fiber bushings in and out of their bores, but at least for the lower one you'll be doing it on a gimbal that's on your workbench at that point. The upper one, though is still on the transom assy on the boat. The bushings are circled in BLUE on these illustrations.

Before you do any of that, though, I would spray some penetrating grease onto the plastic discs that are installed to take up the clearances - these are circled in RED. it could be that those plastic washers/discs are just squeaking against each other. If soaking those with some spray grease quiets them down, then at least you know the problem is ONLY audible - in otherwords, if those plastic discs are the source, then you really have nothing to worry about as long as they aren't about to fall apart.

The steering arm that I mentioned is highlighted in yellow for reference.

[slideruleracer]

Oh - the lubrication point you see is squirting grease into the gimbal bearing/race.

[Big Block Power]

Great info slide!
Mine seems to be louder at the top by #7
I'll have to spray around to see if anything gets quieter. Mine is not corroded at all. All fresh water which I think helps a ton. Again thanks.

[cmattj]

Good read slide. My lower port side was noisy after sitting dry.. hosed it off and no squeek.it’s acessable in full up and I’m thinking with no salt water it would be easy. But I’m really not concerned on mine.
Oh your post on drive removal due to salt water still haunts me but what a issue it can be right?

I still recommend doing during a remove and bellow inspection. Hopefully no corrosion issues for Stan

[slideruleracer]

I realized that my post sounds really ominous.. If you can get your steering shaft off, then removing the gimbal housing is not that big of a project. At that point, you can just grease the parts that go through those bushings. How long the grease will last is anybody's guess, but I meant to make a point that those bushings are really hard to replace and probably don't need to replaced very often and it appears I forgot to make that point.

My drive had not been very well taken care of and my bushings *still* didn't appear to have any play in them. I replaced them anyways, because that's just who I am, but they probably didn't need it. So, if spraying some grease into the plastic discs doesn't help, you could take on a fall project of greasing the bosses that go through the bushings.. Hell, if it's just the lower one, you can probably do that without even taking the drive out (just make sure you support it's weight. That lower piece will come out the bottom with I think 5 bolts and a little persuasion and the rest of the drive assembly can pretty much stay in place (steering shaft included).