"Clicking" through Chim steering
Discussion
[Posting this here because unsure whether Griffs etc share the same steering set up... (Feel free to move if not 
]
Car is a 1998 4.6l Chim with PAS
I can feel a "click" or "pop" coming through the steering when I turn the steering wheel hard (doesn't have to be fast, just a turn to lock is usually sufficient). Definitely happens very regularly when turning left, and less so (much less obvious) when turning right.
Difficult to describe - as you turn the wheel it gets to a point, the force required to turn the wheel increases until (very shortly after) I feel a "pop" and the assistance feels normal again with consistent assistance/feel after that...
The whole "pop" feels almost like the feeling of clicking a biro - increasing the pressure until suddenly "click" and it all goes easy again - but on a smaller scale...
My initial thoughts were that something was awry with the suspension (the older style Gaz Golds), but the garage checked that out having spoken to someone at Gaz and all looks to be OK.
Next thoughts were that the PAS rack was faulty... This was refurbished with Kiley Clinton in June, so phoned them up and they had it back - tested fine apparently, they rebuilt it again and sent it back, but the problem is still there, albeit less intrusive now...
So I am kind of at a loss.
Wondered if it might be a worn spline somewhere in the steering (steer.wheel adjustment, or at rack end?) but garage did not see any problem with rack spline when replacing it when rack came back from Kiley Clinton...
There are a couple of CV-type joints in the steering linkage in the engine bay - might these feel like this if worn..?
This clicking was getting worse prior to sending back to Kiley Clinton, and is better now - but still present, and will get worse again if symptoms follow the same pattern as last time...
Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dom
]Car is a 1998 4.6l Chim with PAS
I can feel a "click" or "pop" coming through the steering when I turn the steering wheel hard (doesn't have to be fast, just a turn to lock is usually sufficient). Definitely happens very regularly when turning left, and less so (much less obvious) when turning right.
Difficult to describe - as you turn the wheel it gets to a point, the force required to turn the wheel increases until (very shortly after) I feel a "pop" and the assistance feels normal again with consistent assistance/feel after that...
The whole "pop" feels almost like the feeling of clicking a biro - increasing the pressure until suddenly "click" and it all goes easy again - but on a smaller scale...
My initial thoughts were that something was awry with the suspension (the older style Gaz Golds), but the garage checked that out having spoken to someone at Gaz and all looks to be OK.
Next thoughts were that the PAS rack was faulty... This was refurbished with Kiley Clinton in June, so phoned them up and they had it back - tested fine apparently, they rebuilt it again and sent it back, but the problem is still there, albeit less intrusive now...
So I am kind of at a loss.
Wondered if it might be a worn spline somewhere in the steering (steer.wheel adjustment, or at rack end?) but garage did not see any problem with rack spline when replacing it when rack came back from Kiley Clinton...
There are a couple of CV-type joints in the steering linkage in the engine bay - might these feel like this if worn..?
This clicking was getting worse prior to sending back to Kiley Clinton, and is better now - but still present, and will get worse again if symptoms follow the same pattern as last time...
Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dom
Hello Dom.
The CV joints on the steering linkage are a common cause of a clunk in the steering as they get full of crud and start to seize/fail.
Give them a really good clean and dump a load of WD40 into them and see if it goes away.
If it does you might get away with giving them a really good greasing.
If it doesn't, get someone to turn the steering while you have a hand on the UJs and see if you can feel the clunk.
Failing that, on my non-pas car there is an intermediate shaft (about a foot long) between the 2 UJs. That shaft has been known to wear its splines too.
I've been chasing a clunk when turning hard left for years and still can't find it, despite changing the drop links, track rod ends, upper and lower balljoints, steering UJ's, and intermediate shaft.
I'm starting to wonder if it isnt something in the steering rack or column.
The CV joints on the steering linkage are a common cause of a clunk in the steering as they get full of crud and start to seize/fail.
Give them a really good clean and dump a load of WD40 into them and see if it goes away.
If it does you might get away with giving them a really good greasing.
If it doesn't, get someone to turn the steering while you have a hand on the UJs and see if you can feel the clunk.
Failing that, on my non-pas car there is an intermediate shaft (about a foot long) between the 2 UJs. That shaft has been known to wear its splines too.
I've been chasing a clunk when turning hard left for years and still can't find it, despite changing the drop links, track rod ends, upper and lower balljoints, steering UJ's, and intermediate shaft.
I'm starting to wonder if it isnt something in the steering rack or column.
Barreti said:
I'm starting to wonder if it isnt something in the steering rack or column.
Is there a spline somewhere in the column to facilitate back/forwards adjustment of the steering wheel..? If there is, I was wondering it that might be worn and jumping a tooth or something..?Dom
There isn't back/forward adjustment on the column is there?
But there is up/down. which must be done by a UJ or splined linkage - which is is my thinking.
It can't be 'jumping' a tooth or anything though or it would stuff up the wheel alignment, but it doesn't take much movement to induce a clunk.
But there is up/down. which must be done by a UJ or splined linkage - which is is my thinking.
It can't be 'jumping' a tooth or anything though or it would stuff up the wheel alignment, but it doesn't take much movement to induce a clunk.
Hello Dom,
the symptoms you described sounds to me like a broken spring in the suspension, but you said, you checked it already. Like Barreti said, get someone to turn the steering while you have a hand on the UJs and see if you can feel the clunk. But I would focus my search to the wheel suspension or the strut bearing.
BTW: Nice car and nice engine mods
ETA: The broken spring noise is more typical for the McPherson suspension. Anyway, I would check all parts where the wheel hub is rotatind about.
Got mixed up with your username, too many with V8 around, but a TVR is always nice.
the symptoms you described sounds to me like a broken spring in the suspension, but you said, you checked it already. Like Barreti said, get someone to turn the steering while you have a hand on the UJs and see if you can feel the clunk. But I would focus my search to the wheel suspension or the strut bearing.
BTW: Nice car and nice engine mods
ETA: The broken spring noise is more typical for the McPherson suspension. Anyway, I would check all parts where the wheel hub is rotatind about.
Got mixed up with your username, too many with V8 around, but a TVR is always nice.
Edited by Benjman on Wednesday 12th January 17:47
Chris71 said:
Leftfield suggestion, but how much wheel clearance do you have? If the tyres foul the front wheel arch part way through their rotation you get a sensation a bit like that...
Hmmm, will doublecheck.Don't think this would be the case, as nothing has changes wheels-wise - but ya never know...
Thanks,
Dom
domV8 said:
Chris71 said:
Leftfield suggestion, but how much wheel clearance do you have? If the tyres foul the front wheel arch part way through their rotation you get a sensation a bit like that...
Hmmm, will doublecheck.Don't think this would be the case, as nothing has changes wheels-wise - but ya never know...
Thanks,
Dom
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