Mondeo Steering Problem
Discussion
Hi all, I have a problem with the steering on a 2005 130bhp TDCI Ford Mondeo.
Up until yesterday I would experience a loud clunking noise coming from somewhere in the steering system almost every time full lock was used / released.
I have had the car 3 months and this has got no better or worse til yesterday. Now I have the additional problem that when the steering is in a straight on position as soon as you try to move it left or right it feels tight and then you will hear a slight clunk and it almost feels like there has been a release and it returns to normal.
Has anyone out there any ideas what this could be? I have had tie rods, CV joints and drop links (whatever they are) mentioned. A friend of mine (mechanic) has checked all this and suggests the steering rack as the problem. If this is the case would it not be a constant noise right through the turning process? How would it happen at full lock (Both ways) and just off dead straight (both ways.
Very confused but don't know much about cars. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Up until yesterday I would experience a loud clunking noise coming from somewhere in the steering system almost every time full lock was used / released.
I have had the car 3 months and this has got no better or worse til yesterday. Now I have the additional problem that when the steering is in a straight on position as soon as you try to move it left or right it feels tight and then you will hear a slight clunk and it almost feels like there has been a release and it returns to normal.
Has anyone out there any ideas what this could be? I have had tie rods, CV joints and drop links (whatever they are) mentioned. A friend of mine (mechanic) has checked all this and suggests the steering rack as the problem. If this is the case would it not be a constant noise right through the turning process? How would it happen at full lock (Both ways) and just off dead straight (both ways.
Very confused but don't know much about cars. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
maldini said:
Hi all, I have a problem with the steering on a 2005 130bhp TDCI Ford Mondeo.
Up until yesterday I would experience a loud clunking noise coming from somewhere in the steering system almost every time full lock was used / released.
I have had the car 3 months and this has got no better or worse til yesterday. Now I have the additional problem that when the steering is in a straight on position as soon as you try to move it left or right it feels tight and then you will hear a slight clunk and it almost feels like there has been a release and it returns to normal.
Has anyone out there any ideas what this could be? I have had tie rods, CV joints and drop links (whatever they are) mentioned. A friend of mine (mechanic) has checked all this and suggests the steering rack as the problem. If this is the case would it not be a constant noise right through the turning process? How would it happen at full lock (Both ways) and just off dead straight (both ways.
Very confused but don't know much about cars. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Mondeo's of that era have electro-hydraulic power steering (Electric motor drives a pump to a conventional hydraulic rack with a steering speed sensor attached).Up until yesterday I would experience a loud clunking noise coming from somewhere in the steering system almost every time full lock was used / released.
I have had the car 3 months and this has got no better or worse til yesterday. Now I have the additional problem that when the steering is in a straight on position as soon as you try to move it left or right it feels tight and then you will hear a slight clunk and it almost feels like there has been a release and it returns to normal.
Has anyone out there any ideas what this could be? I have had tie rods, CV joints and drop links (whatever they are) mentioned. A friend of mine (mechanic) has checked all this and suggests the steering rack as the problem. If this is the case would it not be a constant noise right through the turning process? How would it happen at full lock (Both ways) and just off dead straight (both ways.
Very confused but don't know much about cars. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
At full lock only would suggest CV Joints. I assume the knock is only when moving?
Any mechanic with the car off the ground should be able determine this, it doesn't always show up with the car on the ground because of the load.
Is the noise coming from a specific side of the car?
In the steering rack is a pressure regulating valve which determines the amount assistance provided. If this was sticking it might cause the centre position behaviour, if you move the steering half way let go wait a little and then try to start turning again does it do the stiffness again?
Thanks for this.
Regards the full lock the knock or clunk will only happen once at a certain point. Generally this is for instance when pulling out of my street when the car has been left parked for a while. The clunk would happen only once on first need to use full lock. Typically it would then be fine until I had parked up again and switched off the engine. If left for a while you would hear and feel the clunk the next time you needed full lock. If I had to guess at location it seems more drivers side.
Ther central knock that has just started happening is however more consistent. If you are driving or stationary (with engine on) and move the steering wheel only slightly from left of dead centre to right of dead centre it feels like its sticking, then you get a clunk, then it moves freely. This is now a constant and happens every time you have the engine on and turn the wheel whether you are driving or not. Its kind of like when you drive it wants to drag the wheels into a slightly off position and it sticks there. Once you turn against it and passed the sticking point all behaves normally. Interestingly enough if you for example turned as you suggested through half way and then through what would have been the stick point it doesn't make the noise or stick....or at least its not noticeble..
We had the car up on the ramp yesterday at the garage both with load on and off wheels and although there was still some knock it wasn't as bad as when its under load. Also there is no knock or clunk at all if you turn the steering with the engine off.
Does this suggest an electro hydraulic or valve problem?
I must say I have had 3 opinions and they are all people I know well who are mechaincs and they all tell me its most likely the steering rack....probably just need to fork out the cash....
Regards the full lock the knock or clunk will only happen once at a certain point. Generally this is for instance when pulling out of my street when the car has been left parked for a while. The clunk would happen only once on first need to use full lock. Typically it would then be fine until I had parked up again and switched off the engine. If left for a while you would hear and feel the clunk the next time you needed full lock. If I had to guess at location it seems more drivers side.
Ther central knock that has just started happening is however more consistent. If you are driving or stationary (with engine on) and move the steering wheel only slightly from left of dead centre to right of dead centre it feels like its sticking, then you get a clunk, then it moves freely. This is now a constant and happens every time you have the engine on and turn the wheel whether you are driving or not. Its kind of like when you drive it wants to drag the wheels into a slightly off position and it sticks there. Once you turn against it and passed the sticking point all behaves normally. Interestingly enough if you for example turned as you suggested through half way and then through what would have been the stick point it doesn't make the noise or stick....or at least its not noticeble..
We had the car up on the ramp yesterday at the garage both with load on and off wheels and although there was still some knock it wasn't as bad as when its under load. Also there is no knock or clunk at all if you turn the steering with the engine off.
Does this suggest an electro hydraulic or valve problem?
I must say I have had 3 opinions and they are all people I know well who are mechaincs and they all tell me its most likely the steering rack....probably just need to fork out the cash....
hi i was just wondering if you mhave fixed your steering problem and if so how i have a 55 reg 130bhp tdci with the same faults and my local garage have fitted a rack and pump but its still the same????? can any one help they have set the steering colloum to a measured gap of 70mm and still no better ive read a lot of the same problems all over the internet but noone seams to have posted a fix to it please help
my wife has a mondeo TDCi diesel estate 55 or 56 plate and has the central steering 'notch'. Its had it for some time and hasnt got worse, but hasnt healed up of its own accord (how annoying!).
i read somewhere on a ford forum, that its the upper mac strut bearings, that get hammered over time ion the straight ahead position (most commonly used steering position), and its made worse on the diesel due to the engine weight over the petrol. Rack is fine, no funny noises and steers perfectly bar the central notch, so the above theory seems possible and logical. I havent priced up strut top bearings yet though
i read somewhere on a ford forum, that its the upper mac strut bearings, that get hammered over time ion the straight ahead position (most commonly used steering position), and its made worse on the diesel due to the engine weight over the petrol. Rack is fine, no funny noises and steers perfectly bar the central notch, so the above theory seems possible and logical. I havent priced up strut top bearings yet though
The UJ's suffer from stiffness on most Fords so what I normally do is soak them in penetrating oil then hit them with a long bar and a hammer, turning them 90 degrees each time. It sounds a bit brutal but it works. Or you could replace the joint which is a pain and the tracking will need to be done after no matter how careful you are to line them up. If it frees them up just pack the whole joint in grease. You'll see the joint clunking as you turn the steering with the wheels off the floor to be absolutely sure.
Hope it helps!
Hope it helps!
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