steering shakes on bumps
 

Hi,

I have a 1997 miata and its very noisy going over bumps. I have narrowed down the source of the major noise is the steering wheel shifting from side to side make a metal on metal rattle noise.

Looking below the steering (see pic, its taken looking up from where your legs would be if you were driving) i notice the steering shaft is held in place by a metal U part and the assembly seems to be held together with the one bolt. If you look closely on the top right of the square part under the bolt there is a pointy looking thing, this is what moves from side to side causing the noise and shaking of the steering on bumps.

Anybody knows what this part is called? or where I can get a replacement or how to fix it?

Very hard to see in this picture, Perhaps take one a little more clear and/or circle the exact location you are looking at? I can check on my car and let you know.

that holds the steering column in place

Ok here is a bit of a better picture. I have labelled it to show the steering shaft and the red circles are the points at which when you push the entire steering to either side the pointy things will shift along and touch something causing a sound. I hope its clearer.

i would see if you can get those brackets new, replace them and hopefully they go away.

what are the brackets called? I have looked around but every time i do a search i find parts for the steering rack and pinion or power steering pump parts.

couldnt tell you, call a mazda dealer and describe it to them. they should be able to figure it out.

No you cannot buy it seperately, the bracket is welded to the shaft. I checked mazdaspeed dev. and its almost $300 for the steering "shock absorber" as they called it (which is the whole thing).

I will check when I get home if mine moves around, I assume you have checked if the bolt is tight and if nothing has moved into its path right?

if you look close it looks like there are metal shavings around the brackets.

Yea I check the bolt its totally tight and cannot be tightened further. There might be a rubber bushing around the square like part right underneath the bolt but I dont know....

And yea $300 is a lot.