Something worn in steering

[Astron Boy]

Meant to type steering, not suspension... too early.

I've known of this for a while, but it's definitely becoming worse.
I believe it to be a bush, but unsure.

If the car is at a stand still and not running, if I move the steering wheel from side to side, I get a cracking/ clunking sound from what sounds like directly under the floor.
If I go over bumps in the road, no matter how small, I get a squeek sound.
If I turn hard left and the suspension must compress, I get a squeek/ pinch/ crack noise...

Shocks are fine, I replaced the fronts when I bought the car.

If I jack the car up and get under, I cannot get the sound to be made, so unable to find where it's coming from.

Any thoughts?

 

[MattL]

I'd goto a suspension shop and get them to check it out and quote it...

Go from there.

 

[to4garret]

i have a clunk from under the drivers feet that seems to knock when going over small bumps on the road.

i have replaced the swaybar bushes and tie rod ends, i now believe it will be the lower control arm bushes that are worn.

the front suspension is quite basic in these cars, not much can go wrong or need replacing.

bushes were $30 and 10 minutes to replace.
tie rod ends were $35 and about 30 minutes to replace so far.


i am planning on doing the lower control arm bushes this coming weekend.

 

[milkandoj]

Pedders 14 point steering and suspension saftey check! Was like 28 bucks last time i checked. They will quote to do it, then you can do it yourself or get someone else to do it as they are expensive!
But you should get part numbers and they cross reference easily to another brand (nolathane or superpro off memory).


They will most likely tell you everything is stuffed, which in any older car it will be, but you want to figure out what making the noise and whats priority to change.

 

[warbo]

check tie rod ps end

sounds similar to what i found today when fitting my camber/castor plates but not sure. if you hold your wheel at 3 oclock and 9 oclock, try rocking the wheel in and out. Mine made a solid clunking noise and once I removed the boot off the steering rack end, I could see over 1mm of end play. If this is your problem then, as i am just finding out, it is not a huge job to fix. Am having a new tie rod (from the power steering end) flown over from perth. about $45 and $15 for freight. Hope this is of some help:unsure::unsure::unsure:

 

[milkandoj]

If is tis tie rod ends i have a set with no slop at all you can have cheap

 

[warbo]

rvr suspension

I wouldnt take my sons' green machine to Pedders. Sorry to offend anyone who works there but the safety check mentioned above will always cost more than $28 if you carry out their recommendations as they will ALWAYS find something that MUST be replaced. I just had a wheel align after replacing my gearbox. $110 for a vehicle with no camber adjustment and very little castor movement. What a joke!!
I've just fitted K-macs' and will be going to BOB-Janes for an alignment for about $60. Now I know why my local Pedders doesnt display prices in the reception area like my local Bob-Jane.
Trust me, as a maintenance fitter, if you walk in there trying to identify your "squeak or squeal", you will pay through the nose!:fuuuuu::thumbsdown:

 

[milkandoj]

That's the point, you take it to them and they tell you whats farked, you dont have to do it all.
You get the quote and decide how much you want to do. They should tell you what causing the noise the rest will be just "should do stuff" like all cars that are old, hence my comment that they will find heaps wrong.
And also why i said they will rip you off

 

[Astron Boy]

Cheers for the responses all.
Yeah, I'm not too much a fan of Pedders, so don't think I'll be going there.

After some thought I may simply replace all bushes and worn parts as they'll be getting some harder use offroad anyway.