Clunking through steering on rough terrain - 300tdi

Wonder if anyone would know the potential cause of this. When driving over rough or rutted terrain (which I don't do very often) I get a very noticeable clunking from and through the steering wheel. Nothing of the sort when driving on normal roads and the steering damper isn't particularly old as well as one of the UJs having been changed last year. Other than that the steering is spot on with no issues whatsoever

the_wolf said:

Wonder if anyone would know the potential cause of this. When driving over rough or rutted terrain (which I don't do very often) I get a very noticeable clunking from and through the steering wheel. Nothing of the sort when driving on normal roads and the steering damper isn't particularly old as well as one of the UJs having been changed last year. Other than that the steering is spot on with no issues whatsoever

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Shockers, bushes gone or oil leaked out? Broken coil spring?

check your swivel bearings are nice and tight. The ones on the top of the hub came loose on mine and I had something similar. No idea how it happened.

Rear shock bush's are good at this, just had to do mine top and bottom. One axle bracket hole also gone rather large leading to side to side movement as well. Welded up.

NiallRussell said:

check your swivel bearings are nice and tight. The ones on the top of the hub came loose on mine and I had something similar. No idea how it happened.

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I've not long rebuilt the left hub as it badly needed it, the right hand side is next when I get the cash so that'll no doubt be just as shot.

tottot said:

Rear shock bush's are good at this, just had to do mine top and bottom. One axle bracket hole also gone rather large leading to side to side movement as well. Welded up.

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My rear shocks including the bushes are fairly new (few months old) and they're good quality Monroes so hopefully I can rule that out.

Al2O3 said:

Shockers, bushes gone or oil leaked out? Broken coil spring?

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Will need to have a look at those, never even thought of the springs and I'm guessing they're probably well past their best. I'm pretty confident the springs front and rear are originals!

the_wolf said:

Wonder if anyone would know the potential cause of this. When driving over rough or rutted terrain (which I don't do very often) I get a very noticeable clunking from and through the steering wheel. Nothing of the sort when driving on normal roads and the steering damper isn't particularly old as well as one of the UJs having been changed last year. Other than that the steering is spot on with no issues whatsoever

Click to expand...

Probably a steering shaft bearing.

Hold the body of the UJ where it connects to the steering shaft that goes up to the steering wheel and rock the shaft back and forth as much as you can, you will probably then feel the knock above if it is indeed a shaft bearing.