HELP! Steering "Clunk"

[Jon.G]

On my Trophy I've just had the shocks refurbished by BG Motorsport. After I put them back on noticed a clunking noise which could only be heard when driving at low speeds (over bumps) and turning. Also I can sit on the drive with the wheels centre aligned with the engine off and wiggle the wheel side to side and I can hear the clunk coming from the passenger side.

Now I though its the top mounts rubbing, so I unscrewed them and took them off whilst the car was on the drive. Tried wiggling the wheel side to side and still get the same clunk, so I assume it rules the strut top knocking out.

Ball joint was replaced about 2 months ago. My CV boot had come off on that side during the installation of the ball joint, but packed it with CV grease and hose clipped it back together. I had a quick look the other day (as its been raining loads!) at the CV boot and looks to have possibly split. Could the CV joint have pissed all the grease out and not be greased enough?

Any other ideas or things I could do to check where the clunk is coming from?

 

[bmh.01]

Only way to proceed is to get it up in the air and check everything, could be several things. Who fitted the shocks?

 

[Jon.G]

Only way to proceed is to get it up in the air and check everything, could be several things. Who fitted the shocks?

Yep, I'm waiting for a day off when its not pissing it down. I fitted them once, reassembled them and re-fitted them again. Everything is secure and torque'd accordingly, Just not been aligned and set up correctly as I want to find this clunk first or I'll have to do it again if its ball joint etc.

 

[Dunn]

you sure it isnt the exhaust hitting the beam or subframe further up?

will hear that as your sat still turning the wheel as you are shaking the car

 

[Jon.G]

Cant imagine so, as it doesn't clunk over 20mph.

As for shaking the car, I'm turning the wheel while it has some play, at the same point each time (left hand down) it clunks exactly the same each time. No matter how slow or fast you move it to the same position.

 

[Jon.G]

Right, had a bit of free time and the weather was ok. Wheel came off, checked the ARB, Wishbone, Ball Joint all fine. The driveshift/CV is the cause for sure. When you twist it in your hand you can replicate the clunk, sounds like its coming from inside the CV boot, which had split so tried my best to pack it with more CV grease and then tapped it up as a temp measure.

The question now is, I know it needs doing ASAP, but ideally Is it OK to drive on if its going to be replaced/re greased?

 

[Jon.G]

Anybody any answers to my driveshaft issue? I'll ring birchdown/BTM on monday and see what we can come up with.

 

[KEVRSI]

it will be ok mate if your doing it asap , a lawful old ladies style of driving is advised though. keep it low as you can on the m-way to.

 

[deer_dodger]

Mine had been exhibiting this same noise for a couple of months.

Took the wheels off this weekend and placed a bit of pressure on the track rod end ball joints.

The below YouTube clip was the result;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOJfw622s3g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

No adverse wear on the tyres, no play in the steering but clearly knackered!

New parts on the way tomorrow.


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- Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jon.G]

Yep, My ball joints have 0 play. Its the driveshaft as the CV Joint is on its way out, Booked into Birchdown next week to get changed.

 

[Goodj]

This thread just answered my problem.

 

[Jon.G]

Good to know, here is a video of my clunk:

 

[Kieran..]

Mm this is interesting, so that noise means driveshaft and cv boot or just or the other?

 

[Goodj]

Ah, that is different to mine as it happens (although tomorrow it could be different, being a Clio)

Mine sounds more like the ball joint issue that was posted on here

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...ing-Sterring-With-video&p=7974914#post7974914

 

[Jon.G]

Mm this is interesting, so that noise means driveshaft and cv boot or just or the other?

Well, I would say diagnose it properly as that noise could be anything loose around that area. All my bushes are tight etc, and when you grab the driveshaft and rock it forward and back the sound is replicated.

As you cannot replace the CV joint on these, you'd need a new driveshaft (which comes with cv+ boot)