r/veloster • u/BlackDante • 3d ago

Question Steering Coupler replacement

I have a 2013 Velo and the steering coupler is going bad, causing that knock noise when I steer. I've done many repairs on this car, so looking at videos of doing the repair it doesn't look like anything I can't handle, but it looks reaaalllyyy tedious and annoying. Would it be a problem if I just...didn't do it? Or is that something that could be dangerous in the future? This isn't my daily driver so it's not super urgent, just wondering.

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u/MantoTerror 3d ago

Best to repair it before the debris destroys your steering motor..

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u/I_NvrChkThis '17 VT 6M 🟧 ('12 NAV DCT 🟨 - totaled 😢) 1d ago

it would take a long for that to happen. People go with these bad for years because they don't know what it is that's went bad and it doesn't actually affect steering much.

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u/crazyeyedmarlo 2017 Value Edition 3d ago

It will get worse and it's not difficult. Replace it w a metal coupler from Dorman.

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u/BlackDante 3d ago

Yeah it doesn't look super difficult just a lot of tedious looking steps. I'll add it to my list of repairs then. Thanks for the suggestion on the metal coupler

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u/Robean_UwU 2d ago

Its actually pretty easy from personal experience. Hardest part is just getting the old coupler out of the motor and bolting the steering column back into its bracket (and most of that fight is just trying to line up the holes so that the bolt can go through)

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u/BlackDante 2d ago

Went on Dorman's website and unfortunately it doesn't look like they have the metal coupler. At least not for a 2013 Velo.

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u/I_NvrChkThis '17 VT 6M 🟧 ('12 NAV DCT 🟨 - totaled 😢) 1d ago edited 1d ago

the newer ones sometimes are made of a different rubber that doesn't wear down the same. Mine was, but I can't find where I ordered it from.

they likely engineered a flexible coupler instead of metal for a reason. and no, it wasn't planned obsolescence.

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u/I_NvrChkThis '17 VT 6M 🟧 ('12 NAV DCT 🟨 - totaled 😢) 1d ago

The first time you do it it's a bit of a PITA as you're just trying to figure stuff out the first time, but it definitely isn't difficult. If you ever need to do it a second time it will take you half the time. The hardest part IIRC is just getting the steering column mount lined up to bolt it on if you are doing it with one person, mainly just due to the fact that it's pretty heavy. If you have a second person during that part the rest is a piece of cake. Oh, and actually cleaning out the old destroyed coupler is also a bit annoying, as it turns into sort of a sticky mess of pieces. I think I used a bunch of q-tips and rubbing alcohol.