P38 Steering Clonk

kooky_guy · Jan 20, 2012

Hi Guys,

This week's fault is a nasty clonk that can be felt through the car (rather than the steering wheel) when on full lock. When turning right, it clonks on the right hand side and when turning left it clonks on the left hand side.

Doesn't do it all the time. In fact it doesn't do it far more often than it does it. Changing road angles seems to provoke it the most.

Any suggestions of what to check and how to check it? I'm thinking track rod ends...

wammers · Jan 20, 2012

kooky_guy said:
Hi Guys,

This week's fault is a nasty clonk that can be felt through the car (rather than the steering wheel) when on full lock. When turning right, it clonks on the right hand side and when turning left it clonks on the left hand side.

Doesn't do it all the time. In fact it doesn't do it far more often than it does it. Changing road angles seems to provoke it the most.

Any suggestions of what to check and how to check it? I'm thinking track rod ends...

One thing it's likely not to be, is trackrod ends. Unless they are about to fall off.

kooky_guy · Jan 20, 2012

wammers said:
One thing it's likely not to be, is trackrod ends. Unless they are about to fall off.

Well it's always possible with this car. Once something starts making a noise it's downhill pretty fast.

Hmm, seems unlikely that it would be ball joints - both sides wouldn't go at once, would they?

If it were the drag link ends, I would expect to be feeling it through the steering.

Roll bar bushes?

wammers · Jan 20, 2012

kooky_guy said:
Well it's always possible with this car. Once something starts making a noise it's downhill pretty fast.

Hmm, seems unlikely that it would be ball joints - both sides wouldn't go at once, would they?

If it were the drag link ends, I would expect to be feeling it through the steering.

Roll bar bushes?

Track rod ends don't usually clonk. Anti roll bar link maybe. In extreme cases drop arm slipping on sector shaft under load but very unusual. Suggest you get underneath and have a look.

kooky_guy · Jan 20, 2012

wammers said:
Track rod ends don't usually clonk. Anti roll bar link maybe. In extreme cases drop arm slipping on sector shaft under load but very unusual. Suggest you get underneath and have a look.

Ok. Had a quick look already but couldn't spot anything. Was after some pointers really.

SpacePig · Jan 27, 2012

kooky_guy said:
Ok. Had a quick look already but couldn't spot anything. Was after some pointers really.

I am not sure if this is relevant or not, but I had an "equivalent" problem/sound after Range Rover changed my Steering Gearbox, but when I was turning left. They found the problem and replaced some metallic pipes going from the steering Gearbox and no more sound.

Hope this will help you.

kooky_guy · Jan 27, 2012

Thanks for that. Not sure if it helps though. The clonk is a very sharp sound. It sounds and feels like something is 'twanging' into a new position if that makes any sense. Only seems to do it every so often on full lock.

I'll try and get under it again this weekend, but I don't really know what I'm looking for.

Think I'm going to have to save up for a garage trip.

6704nathan · Jan 27, 2012

when the noise occurs are you moving when on full lock? had a similar fault on my old v8 be fine for ages then on full lock when parking for example would get a loud metallic clunk noise from the hub area.
stripped hub and replaced cv joint and noise gone allthough i couldnt physically see any excess play in the joint cured it.

kooky_guy · Jan 27, 2012

6704nathan said:
when the noise occurs are you moving when on full lock? had a similar fault on my old v8 be fine for ages then on full lock when parking for example would get a loud metallic clunk noise from the hub area.
stripped hub and replaced cv joint and noise gone allthough i couldnt physically see any excess play in the joint cured it.

I've only noticed it while moving. Seem a bit unlikely that both CV joints would go at the same time...

I had discounted CVs as it's only a single clunk - I thought CVs usually gave a series of clunks. The whole axle was from an allegedly low mileage vehicle, but one thing that worries me a bit about it is that the rubbers round what I think are the bottom ball joints aren't in very good condition.

It almost feels like the car is stepping sideways when it clunks.

6704nathan · Jan 27, 2012

when mine used to do it never gave a series of clunks just a loud bang that could be felt through the car and would make it jump

kooky_guy · Jan 27, 2012

Whilst waiting at the petrol station earlier, I tried waggling the steering while stationary and did manage to get a clunk. Does this suggest it's not the cv joints?

6704nathan · Jan 28, 2012

prob not have you jacked up the front (both wheels off the ground) and checked for play, turning wheels lock to lock for smooth operation?

Jones6486 · May 6, 2012

Hi, how have you been getting on with the steering clonk? Mine has developed the same thing but only on right hand lock. Does it most when parking and going around roundabouts at speed.the local garage thought it was down to a bent anti roll bar. They straightened it and it seemed to go for a short while but now it's back. Starting to get on my nerves now.

kooky_guy · May 8, 2012

Jones6486 said:
Hi, how have you been getting on with the steering clonk? Mine has developed the same thing but only on right hand lock. Does it most when parking and going around roundabouts at speed.the local garage thought it was down to a bent anti roll bar. They straightened it and it seemed to go for a short while but now it's back. Starting to get on my nerves now.

Rather mysteriously it seems to have gone away....

It became less and less frequent and I've not had it for some weeks now. I'm sure I'll regret saying this.

I still think it's probably the bottom ball joints and given that the boots are torn on both of them, they're going to need replacing before the next MOT anyway. If the whole thing doesn't die first.

Stufer · May 8, 2012

I've had the metallic twanging noise when reversing on full lock, either side, for ages. I've heard other parking P38's do it too. I replaced the worn anti roll bar links with hope it was that.... nope

!! No different.

Datatek · May 8, 2012

Stufer said:
I've had the metallic twanging noise when reversing on full lock, either side, for ages. I've heard other parking P38's do it too. I replaced the worn anti roll bar links with hope it was that.... nope !! No different.

Mine does it occasionally but it's definately the TCS triggering for some reason best known to itself.

jamesmartin · May 8, 2012

think i be tempted to jack a front wheel up and see if v/c is seized

Datatek · May 8, 2012

jamesmartin said:
think i be tempted to jack a front wheel up and see if v/c is seized

I check it at every service, due again soon, but it's always just occasionaly twanged the TCS on full lock.

P38 Steering Clonk

kooky_guy

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

kooky_guy

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wammers

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