Do track rod ends knock?

[ssray]

Mk4 golf , new lower arms , track rods etc last Feb(2024)
Has been knocking recently, sounds like the front offside wheel.

It's most bumps especially on the offside over speed humps, it's also when you steer sometimes, sounds more like sticking rather then loose.

Wheel off today, tyre lever to see if anything obvious.
The rear lower arm Bush looks a little torn but not loose, it also moved quite easily at that end with the tyre lever

The nut for the track rod wasn't very tight, not hand tight but not much effort to move it.
I wound it off a far bit, shoved some grease into the track rod end and tightened the lot back up, quite tight not up to shear.

It seems a bit better, but it was only to the post office and back and you know how far that is

[TwinKam]

Chech the drop links, they're more likely.

[E-bmw]

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

On top of that, the pic doesn't appear to be a track rod end, so, not sure why you have added it.

[ssray]

E-bmw said:

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

On top of that, the pic doesn't appear to be a track rod end, so, not sure why you have added it.

It's the bush at the rear of the arm, not sure how I added it, it's split, thought it may be some of the problem

[ssray]

TwinKam said:

Chech the drop links, they're more likely.

Thanks

[E-bmw]

ssray said:

E-bmw said:

^^^^ Wot 'e said.

On top of that, the pic doesn't appear to be a track rod end, so, not sure why you have added it.

It's the bush at the rear of the arm, not sure how I added it, it's split, thought it may be some of the problem

While it may not be the best I have seen it won't affect a knocking track rod end.

[Smint]

A track rod end worn enough to knock should be immediately obvious if you jack the car up and attempt to 'rock' the wheel itself from one lock to the other, it won't need much effort, rocking motion in the other plane grabbing top and bottom of wheel using a bit more force will show if there's worn bottom ball joint and/or worn wheel bearing.
As said above a specific knock is more likely to be a drop link.