99 S70 Rubbing Noise When Steering

[83v45magna]

I know what you're thinking, clean and grease the steering bearing. Check, already done. I kept thinking that was it, and have re-done that a few times.

I finally noticed that the way the steering shaft sits and rotates in the rubber boot that goes through the firewall. It's not centered. I'd say it's off by at least a half an inch, minimum. The noise coincides with the non-concentric turns, rubbing on the boot. I've tried silicone on the boot itself but it still makes noise, sometimes even worse.

I've had this car since 2003 and it has not been in any accidents or had any steering repairs that would loosen the rack, not even tie rod ends, yet. The rack boots are both splitting and I have plans to replace those soon along with inner and outer tie rods.

All the pics I ever see of this area of other cars, it looks pretty well centered. Example from Bay 13:

I'm wondering, maybe it's not supposed to be perfectly centered, spinning through that boot. Maybe it is. If so, how would it get that far off and how should/could I go about correcting this? Thanks in advance for any insight on this.

[JRL]

There is a point when all the grease in the world won't help

Buy a new one, not very expensive

[83v45magna]

A new what, I assume you mean either the plastic bearing or the rubber boot? I would be thrilled if it was the plastic, but it looks like a new one now. It has made noise in freezing temps since I got it, so I have cleaned and lubed it many times trying to fix that.

Does anyone know if it is supposed to turn centered in the boot, or is it common for them to rotate in an oval path against the rubber boot?