Steering knock

[Perry]

Been trawling through threads to see what kind of things could be causing the knock on my steering, but wondering if anyone can give any clearer answers after a description. Basically there's a knock on the steering of my car (54 plate 182) when turning either way at low revs/barely moving (possibly worse when turning right after turning the wheel a decent amount to the left?). It appears to be worse if you've turned the steering a decent amount one way and then turn back the other. It's a real 'clunk' of a noise and doesn't seem to affect steering, but the noise has gotten worse over the last few weeks/month.

I haven't been able to get under the car to have a good look, but during the last few weeks when the noise has got that bit worse I've also heard the kind of creaking I used to get before I done the washer/shim fix on the strut tops, mainly on the passenger side, so I'm not sure if this is related.

I realise that without getting under it/getting it looked at it could possibly be anything from the rack, rod ends, ball joint, top mount etc, but can anyone shed any more light on it given the symtoms?

 

[Perry]

Just had the car up on a couple of jacks. Doesn't seem to be any play in the ball joints. When I turn the steering when I've got hold of the wheel I can hear a kind of scraping noise coming from somewhere beyond the track rods, but because it's only on jacks I couldn't get under it enough to find out where. When I move the steering side to side fast it changed from a scraping noise to a bit of a clunk. Whatever it is it seems to be coming from somewhere on the steering rack, but not the rod ends, anyone got any ideas?

 

[Perry]

Anyone?

 

[Dan1587]

Got a video of this mate?
Does it happen when the whole front is jacked up?

 

[Jon.G]

CV joint/driveshaft possibly.

 

[Perry]

Got a video of this mate?
Does it happen when the whole front is jacked up?

Haven't got a video as I'm not really sure what to video, just a noise really.

When the front is jacked up and I turn the steering by moving the road wheels side to side it makes a scraping noise. When I move the steering faster using more power in the same way I can feel (and hear) a slight knock.

 

[Phil_ip]

Any updates on this? I've had the same sort of noise for a few months now and am still unable to find out where its coming from....

 

[Perry]

Not yet mate. Bit skint at the moment as I've just started work after a few months, but I think I'm gonna take it to a local Renault specialist as now I'm down here I've got no way of getting under it.

 

[scaffers]

hey mine's bin doing that,so had it on a ramp at work and fully checked over it,n all i came across was the bolts that are on the end of the antiroll bar were goosed,so replaced them n tightened up the gearbox mount n seems a bit less crakin.hope this helps.

 

[Perry]

Took it to DDC in Doncaster and the first thing he tried to do was tighten the steering column bolt. At which point I mentioned the steering rack bolts/mounts as a potential problem and the bloke coming out of the office more or less fobbed me off suggesting it wasn't a problem on a 182 (when I knew it was). Anyway they then tried the steering again (after I'd showed them how to create the 'knock') and it was still there. The younger lad of the two was now adamant it was something to do with the rack and so tightened up the rack mount bolts (which I'd have done ages ago had I been able to get under it) and touch wood - since then it's been fine. In fact it's been more than fine, the steering feels much more precise and less willing to follow camber/bumps in the road since I got it 3 years and two months ago! £20 well spent.

Driving home the management light came on again though...get one thing sorted and another appears!

 

[Jon.G]

Cheers for the update on that. Was it the UJ Joint then?

I'll have to find some time to get mine looked at!