Sent those instructions off-list. An interesting side benefit that I wasn't
expecting was that my horn sounded very anemic before I did this. I was
assuming that I had a horn wiring problem, but after lubing the brass ring
and contact, the horn sounded brand new! I'm happy when a mechanical fix
takes care of a presumed electrical problem!

Marc Perdue

On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 6:25 PM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net> wrote:

> If easy, Please give me a description of the process.  I had asked my
> mechanic to do this but he seemed concerned about messing with the steering
> wheel.  With good directions I'd be glad to fix this sound.
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto
> On Jun 17, 2014, at 5:56 PM, David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
> wrote:
>
> > Or it could be the steering wheel contacting the plastic column.  Easy
> adjustment.  Do both while the steering wheel is off.
> >
> > Dave B.
> >
> > On 06/17/14, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
> >
> > Be prepared to replace one or both parts. The brass can wear so thin it
> > works like an instrument reed, hence the squeak sound--it's vibrating
> when
> > scraped by the contact. Lube will fix it for a while, maybe a long while,
> > until it wears though and breaks.
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Eric Caron
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 2:06 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Sound improvement success
> >
> > The steering wheel sound for me is not gritty more like a high squeak.
> Still
> > checking this area and cleaning up horn contacts should be a good thing
> to
> > do.
> >
> >
> > Just can't imagine that is where the squeak is coming from.
> >
> > Eric Caron
> > 85 GL Auto Westfalia
> >
> >
> > On Jun 17, 2014, at 4:38 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Yes, Bentley says "all-purpose grease." Darn, I need to do this job.
> >>
> >> Stuart
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> >> Richard Koerner
> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 1:32 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: Sound improvement success
> >>
> >> If it's kind of a "gritty" squeak, I agree that it is probably the horn
> >> contact ring. I disagree with GoWesty's advice to use dielectric grease;
> >> when I used dielectric grease it only lasted about 9 months (and that
> >> happened twice in a row). When I switched to white lithium grease, it's
> > now
> >> lasted over 3 years of smooth and quiet operation. Dielectric "grease"
> is
> >> really only a smeary coating to keep corrosion at bay yet not short out
> >> things, not as lubricious as real grease.
> >>
> >> Rich
> >> San Diego
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 1:18 PM
> >> Subject: Re: Sound improvement success
> >>
> >>
> >> That squeak might not be the plastic cover rubbing, it could be the horn
> >> contact ring. Pull the steering wheel and clean and lube it with
> > all-purpose
> >> grease. Good article on both issues here:
> >> http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=318
> >>
> >> Stuart
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> >> Eric Caron
> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 1:11 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Sound improvement success
> >>
> >> Now, if I could just fix the squeak made by the steering wheel turning
> >> against the plastic column I be really pleased.
> >>
> >> Eric Caron
> >> 85 GL Auto Westfalia
>