squeaky steering

Finally got round to looking at a problem that's literally driving me mad!!! When I turn the steering wheel I get a loud squeaking noise that sounds like rubber rubbing together. I thought it was the back of the vinyl steering wheel rubbing against the shroud as I had the steering wheel off recently to replace a broken indicator cancelling ring, anyway I took the shroud off and found that the squeaking/squeeling noise is coming from further down the steering column, a few inches down there is a rubber ring come flap thingy and this is whats causing the noise. I gave it a good squirt of WD40 but it made no difference (apart from stinking the car of WD) I don't want to have to replace the whole steering column just for a squeaky noise but I'll go insane first...It's a 300tdi by the way, 1995 vintage.

Has anybody had a similar issue or knows what the rubber bit is I'm on about, further more does anyone know how I can lubricate my shaft? Fnarr fnarr.

Lubricate the uj's on the steering column in the engine bay

Yeah I thought about that, the car's been laid up for awhile and the lower shaft looks dry/rusty.

What should I use to grease these or is it even worth it? Should I just replace the lower shaft all together?

Have you checked the power steering fluid's level? If it get's low it could cause a whining sound.

I wouldn't say it was a whinning sound (will check the level tomorrow though) it's definately a rubber on rubber sounding squeek..it's like having a small rodent living in your column shroud!

WD40 will penetrate into the uj's on the steering column and will lubricate them. You could put some grease over em then too to stop corrosion and damp getting into the uj's.