Steering clunk
 

Hi my citroen saxo diesel has developed a big clunk when steering is on full lock and car is stationary, no clunks when the car is moving. I thought it was the spring plate of the strut so i welded both of them but still clunking. Struts were both replaced because they both failed recently.

Wishbones and inner and outer tie rods were replaced also because they were worn.

Im suspecting the steering rack, any ideas ? Thanks

Could be many things. Might help if you describe the noise, how it happens, is it only when going over a bump, does it only happen once or repeatedly etc.

At first guess, a clunk when going to full lock to me would be strut top mount. It has a bearing which allows the spring to rotate. If this sticks, then the spring instead of rotating smoothly, can jump causing a loud clunk. You said struts were renewed, were the bearings / top mount renewed too?

Noise happens only when car is stationary and not driving

And when stationary and turning the steering wheel to almost full lock on both left and right i hear a knock sound from the front

Someyimes it doesnt do it at all but most times yes

Strut top mounts were good when i replaced the struts a few months ago. They werent cracked at all. And the bearings i cleaned and packed them with fresh grease also.

Sounds to me as if you may have a bottom ball packing packing up.

This may also manifest itself as a 'wandering' sometimes as you drive along.

YOU MUST check this out.

I have had a bottom ball joint come apart and the result is instantaneous. No warning.

It threw the car right across the road into the opposite traffic flow, and I was only going along at about 20 mph.

Dave.

Wishbones are brand new with new bushings so cant be that. Front end feels solid. Even theinner and outer tie rod are new

Any other ideas guys?

Steering rack mounting bolts maybe?

Mine used to do this, but for all the times I used full lock I never really investigated it.

Steering rack seems tight to me, i tried moving it with a pry bar itdidnt move a bit

Could a bad alignment cause this? As i didnt do an alignment after all the tie rods and inner tie rods replacement

Steering is a wee bit off to the left, i measured before taking everything apart and when jnstalling so it should be close to where it was

My experience of French cars has been that even after you have replaced everything, you will still be left with at least one 'mystery clunk'.

Haha youre not the only one that thinks that ! My fathers peugeot 305 we replaced a bunch of steering parts also it has this mystery clunk lol

It seems that it knocks only when the car is on, when i turn it with the csr off no noise

Power steering is adding a force that your arms can't when the car is turned off.

Check the ram that's bolted to the rack, it's probably got a tiny bit of play in it when its at full reach.

can't think of anything else

Which part is the ram?

The one that has the power steering fluid pipes attached? If so its tight i checked it. The shaft seems a bit wet tho but only a tiny amount

I ordered a pair of strut mounts and bearings, had a bit of free tIme and i checked the suspension and when i turn the steering wheel i can feel the clunk in the strut. Its only on the left side but i will change both sides

Good stuff

may as well do both sides I guess :)

Yeah, while im in there might aswell do them both. I should have replaced them when i replaced the struts but oh well :homme:

I dont understand, i changed the mounts and bearing and its still clunking. Do the top bolts need to be in a certain orientation? Mine are shaped like an L but in backwards. Both are like this