12 replies to this topic

[jmetal88]

I hope I didn't screw something up here, but the car drives find and steers smoothly so I'm not really sure what it is.

I replaced my steering rack on Wednesday, and I've noticed now when I drive I can hear a 'click' noise that sounds like it's coming from near the wheel hubs when I steer. I don't know for sure that that's where it's coming from, as everything looks like it's done up tight enough and I don't see any excess movement anywhere. It's always a single click, never more than one, and it seems to occur at different times during the turn each time it happens, but most commonly when the wheels are straightening out and I'm starting to accelerate after a turn, or when I turn the wheels really sharply as I'm backing out of a parking space.

Is this just something that happens with a new rack, or is it something I should be concerned about? The click, by the way, sounds similar to when you drive over a loose rock on a paved road.

[Ethel]

Does it click once as you turn the wheel or is it a series of clicks related to road speed?

Did you centre the rack when you fitted it?

[mini.cooper998]

probably cv joint if it happens when your turning the corner. does it do it only when moving and only when turning a corner if so cv joint

[jmetal88]

probably cv joint if it happens when your turning the corner. does it do it only when moving and only when turning a corner if so cv joint

No, it does it if I move the wheels sharply when stationary as well, although not as often.

EDIT: First time it happened though I didn't think anything about it as I thought it was just the sound of the tires scraping the pavement.

Edited by jmetal88, 08 November 2009 - 03:43 PM.

[jmetal88]

Does it click once as you turn the wheel or is it a series of clicks related to road speed?

Did you centre the rack when you fitted it?

It clicks once as I turn the wheel, but at different positions.

The description on centering the rack in the Haynes looked to be for a slightly different rack than the one I received, although the rack I received was a perfect match to the one already fitted on the car. I did the best job I could with it, but I suppose it could have moved again while I was fitting the steering column, as that was a very, very tight fit.

How would you recommend making sure it stays centered?

[mini_mad69]

Does it click once as you turn the wheel or is it a series of clicks related to road speed?

Did you centre the rack when you fitted it?

It clicks once as I turn the wheel, but at different positions.

The description on centering the rack in the Haynes looked to be for a slightly different rack than the one I received, although the rack I received was a perfect match to the one already fitted on the car. I did the best job I could with it, but I suppose it could have moved again while I was fitting the steering column, as that was a very, very tight fit.

How would you recommend making sure it stays centered?

Did you get your wheel alignment redone afterwards? not realy to do with your clicking problem but a good idea.


Did you use new track rod ends? Could you have used old worn ones?

[Ethel]

If the wheels aren't turning when it clicks then it's not going to be driveshaft joints. see if anything is fouling the boots or if the column pinch bolt is catching on the floor.

[jmetal88]

Does it click once as you turn the wheel or is it a series of clicks related to road speed?

Did you centre the rack when you fitted it?

It clicks once as I turn the wheel, but at different positions.

The description on centering the rack in the Haynes looked to be for a slightly different rack than the one I received, although the rack I received was a perfect match to the one already fitted on the car. I did the best job I could with it, but I suppose it could have moved again while I was fitting the steering column, as that was a very, very tight fit.

How would you recommend making sure it stays centered?

Did you get your wheel alignment redone afterwards? not realy to do with your clicking problem but a good idea.


Did you use new track rod ends? Could you have used old worn ones?

No, I haven't had a wheel alignment done yet. I've been planning on getting one done some time this week.

As for the track rod ends, I did kind of suspect those. I drove on them for a couple of weeks on the old rack, and I was kind of worried that I might have broken one of them while separating the shank before fitting them to the new rack, but I tried to make sure they both still moved properly and weren't loose.

Would you recommend that I go ahead and order a new set?

[jmetal88]

If the wheels aren't turning when it clicks then it's not going to be driveshaft joints. see if anything is fouling the boots or if the column pinch bolt is catching on the floor.

The new boots do look like they sit closer to the subframe than the old boots for some reason, although they don't actually look any bigger. I can't tell if they're actually catching it or not. Is there anything I can do about that?

As for the pinch bolt, I'm not sure if it's catching on the floor or not, but I'll watch it a little next time I go out. The old one was close enough to wear a ring in the carpet, I know. EDIT: Not that it's a new pinch bolt, it's the same pinch bolt, just on the new rack. I guess I mean the old fitting.

Edited by jmetal88, 08 November 2009 - 04:04 PM.

[mini_mad69]

I've never heard of them too click, but can't see how changing the rack could click.
The pinch bolt catching the floor is a good shout.
What was the reason for changing the original rack?

Can you feel the click through the wheel?

[jmetal88]

I've never heard of them too click, but can't see how changing the rack could click.
The pinch bolt catching the floor is a good shout.
What was the reason for changing the original rack?

Can you feel the click through the wheel?

I had been driving with a split rubber boot for a while and hadn't realized it, so one of my inner ball joints was rusty and clacking around, causing an unbelievable amount of steering wheel play and torque steer.

That problem was totally fixed by the new rack, and I can let go of the wheel and the car will continue moving in a straight line instead of pulling off to the right now.

No, I can't feel the click through the wheel.

One time, oddly enough, I thought I felt it through the clutch pedal, although I never felt it there again after that so I could be imagining it.

[jmetal88]

probably cv joint if it happens when your turning the corner. does it do it only when moving and only when turning a corner if so cv joint

No, it does it if I move the wheels sharply when stationary as well, although not as often.

EDIT: First time it happened though I didn't think anything about it as I thought it was just the sound of the tires scraping the pavement.

Actually, now I'm not sure it did. I've just been out, and the steering column does make a scraping noise when I turn the wheel, but I couldn't get it to do the clicking noise while I was stationary this time.

Is there any other way to tell if it's a CV joint without taking anything apart?

[jmetal88]

Update: It's not the CV joints.

I just found the relevant section in the Haynes manual, and it said worn CVs are designated by a metallic clicking noise while driving around slowly in a circle with the steering at full lock. I just tried that in a nearby cul-de-sac, and no clicking whatsoever.

I did notice something interesting though, the car clicked when I shifted gears after the turn when I took my foot off the clutch pedal. If it is coming from the clutch or transmission, but only after or during a turn, what could that be?