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Old 03-05-2010, 10:12 PM   #1
Riksta
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Default Noise When Steering

Well this one has been happening for a little while now, just wondering what the most likely problem would be and how many dollars I'd be up for to get it fixed.

Basically, when steering, there is a bit of a clunking/grinding (hard to explain!) noise coming from the front of the car. It only really seems to happen just off centre in either direction, in that if I go from dead straight to hard lock its only for the first part of the turn of the wheel.

I'm hoping its not too serious and deathly, or if it is, I'm hoping its not an expensive fix. Any help/advice appreciated, thanks!

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikked
Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
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Originally Posted by Day-mow
pretty much what has happened here is i trolled you. and it was fun.
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:17 PM   #2
KR1STO
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sounds very similar to mine..
have you replaced your ball joints?
if not, try that..
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:18 PM   #3
Riksta
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No I haven't replaced ball joints. Might have to have a chat to my mechanic. Thanks!

I was also thinking it might be steering rack related which I believe to be big dollars?
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Currently: 2014 Mazda6 GT (Daily) and 1999 Mazda MX5 (Fun Car)
Previously: 2001 Ford Escape XLT; 2010 MC Mondeo; 1984 FD LTD; 2001 AU2 Falcon Forte; 2005 LS Focus Zetec; 1988 RE Colt; 1982 RB Colt; 1974 KE20 Corolla
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikked
Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Day-mow
pretty much what has happened here is i trolled you. and it was fun.
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:23 PM   #4
KR1STO
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tends to be the first thing to check...
you may have bushes in the front that are getting a bit old too..
jump under the front with a bit of WD40 and give all the bushes a quick spray..
if the problem is just a squeaky bush then that will tell you..
then you won't have to change the ball joints..

also spray at the top of the strut tower where the rubber is..

what i've found is, when the rainy season starts the car becomes a little more squeaky up front.. i put it down to the rain washing all the oil or lube off some of the front components causing them to squeak and rub..
just my crazy theory..

hope this helps mate..
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Desire isn't driven by the heart, the mind or the wallet.
Desire comes from another place.
It's created by the smell of burnt fuel under full throttle and the look a car gives you when you're washing it alone at night...

see my car here:
Built my own TL50!!!

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:24 PM   #5
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also if it is a steering rack.. a changeover unit is often only a few hundred dollars...
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Desire isn't driven by the heart, the mind or the wallet.
Desire comes from another place.
It's created by the smell of burnt fuel under full throttle and the look a car gives you when you're washing it alone at night...

see my car here:
Built my own TL50!!!

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:30 PM   #6
Riksta
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Thanks mate, might get under the car on the weekend with a can of magic and see if that does the trick, can't hurt to try it and see how it goes!
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Currently: 2014 Mazda6 GT (Daily) and 1999 Mazda MX5 (Fun Car)
Previously: 2001 Ford Escape XLT; 2010 MC Mondeo; 1984 FD LTD; 2001 AU2 Falcon Forte; 2005 LS Focus Zetec; 1988 RE Colt; 1982 RB Colt; 1974 KE20 Corolla
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikked
Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Day-mow
pretty much what has happened here is i trolled you. and it was fun.
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:32 PM   #7
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that's what i said.. then i found a few bushes and lower ball joints were gone..
happy days!!!
haha
good luck!
__________________
Desire isn't driven by the heart, the mind or the wallet.
Desire comes from another place.
It's created by the smell of burnt fuel under full throttle and the look a car gives you when you're washing it alone at night...

see my car here:
Built my own TL50!!!

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Old 03-05-2010, 10:42 PM   #8
jcto
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not sure if I can say this but there is a shop on ebay which has cheap ball joints, hubs and rotors....got my upper and lower ball joints left and right for $55 + postage...rotors were $90 for 2 fo the front and wheel bearing hubs $50 each plus postage....name is suzukisuper and they have quite a bit of stuff and their service is gr8 too.....a rarity these days. If your in Syd it gets better as they have a fitting service too
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Old 05-05-2010, 03:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riksta
Basically, when steering, there is a bit of a clunking/grinding (hard to explain!) noise coming from the front of the car. It only really seems to happen just off centre in either direction, in that if I go from dead straight to hard lock its only for the first part of the turn of the wheel.
I had the exact same type of noise, it ended up being the steering rack, my mate is a mechanic who has seen this on quite a few AU's. All he did was loosen the 2 steering rack retaining nuts and let the rack slide forward in the threads just enough so he could get some copper grease on the back of the rack mounting face and the start of the mounting bolt where it appears out of the alloy crossmember. Wound the retaining nuts back up nice and tight with a long bar and never heard it since.
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Old 05-05-2010, 05:36 PM   #10
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The Monty had a similar problem, his rack was loose...
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