Bad clunking sound in steering

**bushbasherss** · 3rd February 2012, 08:27 AM

G'Day all,

I've recently started to notice an increasing banging sound in the steering of my 200tdi disco. It always made a bit of a clunk on full left and right due to the stoppers, but now even when facing straight and turning slightly or quickly it makes a bang like its hitting or rubbing on something. Wheel bearings are fine so could this be play in the hubs or maybe steering arms??

**JDNSW** · 3rd February 2012, 08:43 AM

It will be free play somewhere in the steering (or possibly front suspension). I would look first at tie rod ends, and then at the panhard rod bushes. Also while at it check for a loose steering box, or the pitman arm loose on its shaft. Get someone to move the wheel back and forth while you crawl under and look for the lost movement or even better the clunk.

It could be in the steering box, swivels or, as you have checked, wheel bearings, although these, except for the box, do not usually clunk, or at least not before the clunk is the least of your worries. And CV joints usually only give noise when turning.

John

P.S. Late thought - check the wheel nuts, although if you checked wheel bearing you would probably have found these.

**popemobile** · 3rd February 2012, 10:53 AM

if it happens when u transition from one direction turning to the other. Ie changing the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, at any direction of the wheels, then it is most likely the pitman arm.

These steering boxes are also notorious for the input uni spline to the box, on the end of the steering column, working loose. Often, you are best to replace this uni, as tightening the pinch bolt wont remove all movement, even if it gets rid of the slop. Put a spanner over every nut bolt/ fixing of steering and front suspension, i do this once a month even when there are no clunks, well, that i can hear over the normal clatter.

The secret with the steering is to get a friend with big arms (read the missus

to waggle the steering, go over the system from one end (steering wheel) to the other....(right hand wheel back tierod) if you cant see or isolatedly hear the clunk, put your hand over each component and feel for it. be carefull not to pinch your pinkies

....Remember the panhard is part of the steering assembly, usually by the time its clunking its hard to stay in your lane though, altho a loose bolt may only result in a noise.

the other front end clunk that is common on your front end is the fore aft bushes or radius bushes clunking on the diff when the bolts are loose. if this is left for very long it wears the housing, but usually a new set of bushes and bolts and a good tighten and its all good. These bushes usually clunk on body roll more than steering lock, but in severe cases can clunk by waggling steering....make sure you replace the front end bolts, which from memory are a course metric 16mm dia bolt.... again, from memory....replace them with 5/8th UNF. For give me if my sizes are wrong, but convert to unf what ever the size on these suspension bolts. the clamping load of the latter is FAR greater, with less effort from you to tighten.

Hope some of this helps...

good luck,

Daniel

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