Steering knock

[Adamm.]

Okay Clio seems to have developed a new problem, one thing after the next with this thing

Basically if I go round a bend and hit a bump or dip then as the car goes a bit light on the front I can feel like something is clunking only slightly through the steering wheel, almost like something is loose.

I'll check my wheel bolts (they came loose before) when I get up as I just done a night shift so it's bed time now lol. Just checking for any suggestions really, got my MOT in 18 days so need to get it sorted before then. Cheers.

 

[inpassing]

track rod end, ball joint, or anti-roll bar link. not an expensive fix. i replaced all of these last week. cost me £52 for everything from local motor factors and fitted my self.

 

[Adamm.]

Cheers mate, I'll get those looked at then. Track rod ends were done a few months ago so shouldn't be them.

 

[stevescort172]

Mine was ball joint would knock like hell going over even small bumps

 

[Adamm.]

Yeah its not too bad atm might just have to wait for it to fail MOT as I don't really have the time and I have a week off when the MOT is due anyway.

Wasn't the wheel bolts anyway just went and checked and they're still nice and tight.

 

[stevescort172]

I got my ball joints from ECP mate Part number 617745225 the m12 ones better than the m10 ones

 

[Harbinger]

If you sit still with the car running and wiggle the wheel about does it make any noises at all? Or just bumps?

 

[Adamm.]

I got my ball joints from ECP mate Part number 617745225 the m12 ones better than the m10 ones

Cheers mate will keep that in mind

If you sit still with the car running and wiggle the wheel about does it make any noises at all? Or just bumps?

Yeah gave this a try and wheels feel solid, I'll jack the car up tomorrow and have a better wiggle and fiddle. Thanks.

 

[inpassing]

Cheers mate, I'll get those looked at then. Track rod ends were done a few months ago so shouldn't be them.

dont rule them out just yet. i have to replace track rod ends about every 6 months! they are cheap crap. never had a decent 1 that can take a bit of a hamering lololol

 

[Carbonraider]

dont rule them out just yet. i have to replace track rod ends about every 6 months! they are cheap crap. never had a decent 1 that can take a bit of a hamering lololol

Regarding you previous post I think if you buy gen you won't have that problem of cheap s**t.

 

[stevescort172]

the lemforder ones i got from ECP are fine, same make as ball joints

 

[Adamm.]

My track rod ends were replaced by a trader on here so I'm pretty certain they will be genuine ones or just as good. Still I wont rule that out though. Thanks.

 

[Canary172]

I got my ball joints from ECP mate Part number 617745225 the m12 ones better than the m10 ones

The parts are cheaper on carparts4less, which is operated by Euro Car Parts. In fact, when my order for track rod ends and ball joints arrived, there were Eurocarparts stickers on the boxes....

 

[Adamm.]

Just jacked it up both sides and had a play with no obvious signs of anything being loose. Ball joins look a bit worse for wear but the rubbers not split or anything. When the cars on the ground if I really tug at the wheel there is a very minor knock but when in the air it felt solid :s.

No idea now so guess I will have to find out on its MOT lol.

I will say bump steer feels rather noticeable starting to wonder if its perhaps a steering component gone out, tracking also feels off slightly wants to go to the left more than the right not always noticeable but it certainly feels different to how it did a month or 2 ago.

 

[Adamm.]

Right I feel this may possibly be linked so I'm bumping this thread, I never actually came to sort the knock as it went. But now I have what feels like the car wants to steer itself, its only in a straight line or with a small amount of lock and the car feels quite stable still, there's no knocks.

Its noticeably bad over uneven bumpy roads and then you get up to speed on a duel carriage way etc and it feels fine. Also on full lock it feels like the tyre slips/moves, like when on snow for example. It's kind of like having a lot of toe out, but I've had a lot of toe out before and it wasn't exactly like this.

I've jacked it up and nothing knocks or feels loose, although if I really force it the wheel turns marginally and I mean tiny amount, but I figured this might be normal as your essentially trying to move the rack by using the wheel.

I'll need it looked at I think but any ideas of what the possibilities are will be nice, currently I'm dreading something like a new rack lol.

 

[Adamm.]

Oh and it feels like the problem area is just on the N/S front wheel.

 

[AlexW]

That sounds like the tracking is out.

 

[Adamm.]

Yeah I know it was set less than 6 months ago seems weird to go so out so soon, like something may have caused it to go out.

I'll check tyre pressures as there probably a bit low.

 

[Adamm.]

Put some air in the tyres on way home this morning, 22psi they were at lol now set front to 32 and rear 30 but the problem is still there, If I go full lock right and make a slow turn you can feel the wheel slipping.

New tyres will go on in next couple days if that doesn't sort it I'll have to get it looked at, just seems strange that nothing is loose but it feels it, not sure how the tracking would go out so much for no reason all of a sudden as it was fine a couple weeks ago.

I feel like smashing the c**t into a curb atm .

 

[Tony Hunter]

The wheels slip anyway on these, when on full lock.

 

[Adamm.]

Its noticeably worse going right though and it still pulls the steering about on uneven roads. It did a bit anyway as it does have a bit of toe out but it definitely doesn't feel right or how it was a month ago.

Its with Dan on 28th so I'll just have to get him to have a look and hope we find the cause.

 

[John Gordon]

I have a clunk that has developed that sounds very similar to you. I also have the slight wandering sensation (however I think these things just like to tram). I'm thinking the "clunk"may be my anti roll bar. I'm going to replace the bushes and see if this helps.

 

[Adamm.]

Yeah they do like to tram a bit, this feels too much though, like its actually putting quite a bit of force through the steering.

Another thing I do have noticed is that it seems to have less grip going round a roundabout (when that front left is loaded) I'm being cautious as I don't want to smash it up so its hard to say for definite that its not just the cold damp roads. I'll go get some tyres fitted later as these are right on the markers now.