Thread: Steering Knock ?

A knock in the steering is likely to be a tie rod or drag link ball joint, loose panhard rod bolts or worn bushes (although this is more likely to be noticed as wander), loose steering box, loose pitman arm, or possibly badly worn steering box. Possible, but unlikely worn swivel bearings or swivel housings loose on the axle housing.

As a long shot, loose or worn radius rod bushes.

Another possibility, just to be optimistic, is a cracked chassis, probably resulting from terminal rust.

The steering damper is pretty unlikely.

I haven't had anything like it on the 110, similar symptoms on the 2a were loose U-bolts.

John

My Disco does this too. On mine it is the sway bar links. They have a ball joint at the diff end and a rubber bush at the bar end. The ball joints are worn and they clunk (under my feet) as the car rolls into a corner. It will do it on a straight road too if the car rocks on rough roads. It's worse after rain. The water seems to loosen them up a bit. I'll have to replace them ... one day .
I know that the later Discos are a little different in this area (depending on what type of help-you-go-around-corners gadgetry you have) but it should give you somewhere to look.

Yea when i was having a look the other day i contemplated that it might be those ball joints on the ends of the steering and tie/track rods ? Are these an expensive item to replace ?? if not might replace them and see how they go?

I have this on my '93 Discovery too? Even though the mounts are there, I don't have the sway bars fitted.

Graeme Cooper identified it as the A-frame balljoint and replaced it.

The "clunk" is still there!

Originally Posted by LRDV8

Yea when i was having a look the other day i contemplated that it might be those ball joints on the ends of the steering and tie/track rods ? Are these an expensive item to replace ?? if not might replace them and see how they go?

Not particularly expensive, but you should be able to check them - get someone to vigourously rock the steering wheel while you hold a hand against the joint. If you feel no movement, it is probably OK.

John

Watts link maybe, or the front radius arm bushes.

Baz.

The main culprits usually are either the panhard rod or the radius arm bushes... The ones that mount the arms to the axles are made of cheese!

If you're driving a lot of dirt or carry heavy loads on a regular basis (even just having a roo bar & winch) then the radius arm bushes wear out very quickly as they're taking a severe pounding.

M

I used to get this knock sound - mainly on acceleration.

After a hundred different checks it ended up just being a loose hub-nut on my front wheel bearings. Making my passenger wheel feel a bit loose. Jack it up each wheel and check for bearing play.
Luckily the local mechanic pointed it was loose when doing a rego check.

Bearings were replaced last year and after wearing in needed some grease repacking and tightening. Now all is good.