steering CLACK noise turning left under load
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 157
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From: Boston ma
1998 C43, 05 Mini Cooper s
steering CLACK noise turning left under load
Ive got a odd noise from the front passenger area. turning to the left close to lock, and under load im getting a CLACK noise! upper and lower control arms, shocks, swaybar bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, all new! checked the drag link on the lift today seems fine spring seated correctly? Steering box seems to need adjusting, but other than that can find the issue???
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
Can you get the front end up in the air on both sides? Pull the wheel on that side and move the steering knuckle from lock to lock. Any noise? Next I would pull the spring and detach the sway bar so that you can articulate the control arms up and down. Any noise? Disconnect the sway bar at the other side and then move that up and down to see if there is any noise. Next I would start isolating components. Separate the tie rods ends from the steering knuckle and then articulate the suspension. Is the noise still there? Obviously, continue the process until you narrow it down to the faulty component. If you move a sway bar or control arm beyond its reasonable travel, it may very well contact something and make noise, so be reasonable with it. Also be careful separating ball joints that you don't destroy the ball joint trying to get it apart. A pickle fork will likely destroy the ball joint boot, so I would stick to some kind of small ball joint clamp style separator.
What sucks is when you can't get it to make the noises with the tires off of the ground because that generally means it only occurs when the suspension is loaded, which is more difficult to diagnose without a lift (which I don't have).
I'm sure you were hoping someone would say "Oh, I've had that issue and it is this," and hopefully that person will chime in below. Fortunately for me, I haven't had to deal with any suspension issues on the C43, but have had to on other vehicles. Above is the logical, but very general, diagnostic process for moving through the system to find the culprit.
What sucks is when you can't get it to make the noises with the tires off of the ground because that generally means it only occurs when the suspension is loaded, which is more difficult to diagnose without a lift (which I don't have).
I'm sure you were hoping someone would say "Oh, I've had that issue and it is this," and hopefully that person will chime in below. Fortunately for me, I haven't had to deal with any suspension issues on the C43, but have had to on other vehicles. Above is the logical, but very general, diagnostic process for moving through the system to find the culprit.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 40
From: Bay Area, CA
98 C43, 15 Alfa 4C LE, 18 Tesla Model 3 DM Perf, 08 Duc S1000, 02 Duc 998, 98 Duc 748, 01 Miata
One more thing to add: Trying moving the steering knuckle side to side down at the knuckle, but then also following it up with moving it side to side with the steering wheel. If it knocks at the steering wheel, but not when you do it at the steering knuckle, that tells you something. I'm not intimately familiar with the recirculating ball steering system that we have, so I'm not sure what a likely failure point would be.
Play with the front hub a bit, check the wheel bearings for any grinding noises by spinning it.
Disconnect your steering damper under the car and see if that makes any impact.
Good luck!
Play with the front hub a bit, check the wheel bearings for any grinding noises by spinning it.
Disconnect your steering damper under the car and see if that makes any impact.
Good luck!
