19 replies to this topic

[Tornado99]

Though likely already checked, I'd suggest removing the lower column clamp bolt and inspecting it. Mine was showing signs of damage and even deformation/bending. I had a few episodes of clunking through the steering wheel at parking lot full lock turns. I suspect the torque was not sufficient and the clamp had slipped over the splines under loading. I found a correct length, shouldered bolt in Grade 8 hardness at a local hardware store and fit it using a washer under bolt head and another under nut (original had no washers); locktite on the nut. My workshop manual called for a trivial 11 ft-lbs torque here...which seemed to not squeeze the clamp. I snugged it nearly double that until I got the clamp to actually visibly squeeze down a bit.  No more clunks and no looseness steering wheel to tires.

[mini-mad-mark]

Have you got the steering rack anti-friction strip* under the U-bolts - I cant remember where I read (on here I expect) but these are important, and maybe the cause of your noise?

 

* These

https://www.minispar...|Back to search

[Spider]

Something else to check here is the Ball Joints. They may not have any or much discernible play, however, I've found that sometime, greasing them via the Grease Nipple isn't always enough, with the grease sometimes only reaching the smaller ball and seat and going no further or others that have poor grease paths. I've found that stripping them down about every 15 000 - 20 000 km to clean them up and grease them while apart often helps.

[Daveontoast]

The noise is definitely coming from the rack. It’s seems to come from the pinion gear, I can actual see it rise up a little when turning left and drop when turning right as it comes through the toeboard. It has the new plastic strips, ubolts, foam washer, column bushes and track rod ends. The ball joints are also new, and it’s definitely not coming from them. I’m a bit reluctant to fill a brand new rack with what I presume is a freshly greased rack.

[Spider]

Sounds like one of the Bearings in the Rack has collapsed.