Took delivery today on my refreshed 76 914. Changed my avatar to reflect what the car looks like now that it has been delivered.

I had expected to find things that will need to be changed and/or fixed. I was not disappointed. I have a list of several items.

The major items, to me, are two issues with the steering.

First, there is a loud squeak/squeal from somewhere along the steering column. Sounds like a dry bushing rubbing on the steering shaft of perhaps a seized bearing. Any ideas of the common failures that would create the load squeak/squeal that I hear every time I turn the wheel to the right or left?

The second steering issue is play in the steering wheel. I had expected none since I have replaced every suspension piece that would create any sloppiness. I want the steering to be very tight with very little if any play in the wheel.

In the suspension, I have replaced all front end suspension bushings, ball joints, tie rods, and struts. I did NOT replace the rack since the seller indicated that it appeared fine. And, to my knowledge, nothing was replaced in the steering system between the rack and the steering wheel of the car.

The steering wheel play is quite a lot - 2 to 3 inches to the left and right of center before the steering feels that it hooks up with the suspension. I had a similar symptom on one of my BMW's and solved the issue by replacing the U-joint on the steering shaft where it connected to the rack. How many U-joints are there in a 914 steering system? And, how difficult are they to replace? How pricey are the joints and where is the best place to source them?

Thanks in advance for any pointers you can provide from past history on your cars.

there is a coupler at the rack to the steering shaft that could be bad

There are two U-joints and the coupler. The U-joints have bolts that can loosen, and the coupler can progressively fail.

--DD

This is probably the issue...unfortunately it requires you to take out the gas tank to get to it!

I had this exact problem. Basically, at the end of the steering shaft after it goes through the fire wall, there is a rubber 'coupler' that requires bolts to go up from the bottom (to hold the coupler to the steering shaft) and down from the top (to hold the coupler to the steering rack) through this rubber coupler. (in the first picture, the little nubs you see on the right and left of the steering shaft 'flange are the bolt ends coming from the other side of the rubber coupler to hold it to the shaft...the bolt heads you see go through and bolt to the steering rack...)

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

there are 'tubes' for the bolts to go through to keep them from wearing down the rubber. If any of these bolts come loose, you will experience exactly what you are feeling. You will notice that there is a little band that is supposed to be bent around the bolt head to keep it from moving...PITA to pry open if you have to fix this.

the other thing we had happen was the bolts that hold the steering rack to the chassis came loose...That's an easy fix: take off the under pan that covers the steering rack and make sure the bolts that hold it to the chassis are tight.

last thing to check is the bushing and guide that goes through the firewall (again, the gas tank needs to come out to check this)

good luck!

Thanks for the narrative and the pictures. I really appreciate that. So, once I have the fuel tank out of the car, how difficult is it to access the coupler, the bushing, and the U-joints? And, do the U-joints have a history of wearing out, or is it just their securing hardware that is an issue?

The u joints are under the dash inside the car. I have never seen a worn one.
You may also have bad inner tie rod ends. They are rubber bushings that get worn and sloppy. You can check them with the steering rack cover removed.

I had the same slop in steering. Coupler was worn out. (See picture)

Replacing the steering coupler is not that hard because even I did it.

Remove gas tank.
I cut the plastic steering cover off.
Remove the bracket at the top of the steering column.
Remove bolts in coupler and replace.

I got a new one from Chris at Tangerine Racing:

http://www.tangerineracing.com/otherproducts.htm

I got longer bolts with lock nuts. Maybe overkill but made me feel safer!

Let see some more pictures of your car. I really like the color and the red interior.
Here's a picture I have
Click to view attachment

I might be able to help you with that in a few days Ernie. Be careful taking the tank out. You'll want to take the hood off so you don't scratch that new paint. Sounds like the coupler might be it. Could just be loose or it's worn out. Now that you widened the track and added wider tires it has to work just a little harder. The steering rack mechanism itself is rarely a problem BTW.