What could this noise be? advide needed please.

[DSP]

Hello peeps, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this problem... for the past few months I've had this noise when turning at low speeds or going over bumpy/uneven surfaces.
I can only describe it as a metal clunking sound and I'm pretty sure you can feel it through the steering wheel when it happens.

I've had the drop links / bushes checked and they are fine, the mechanic who looked at it said it could be the strut tops but want £45 to look at them due to labor costs.

Any one else got ideas what it could be? seems to be getting a bit worse now its getting colder.

I know the rear suspension squeaks a bit in the cold but this noise is coming from the front possibly central.

Thanks in advance

 

[JonnyH10]

If its a creak when steering, its probably the top mounts and bearings that are worn. Could also be track rod ends or something, since its related to the steering.

 

[barters3]

I have a similar noise to this and my mechanic will be having a look this eve. Ill let you know what he finds.

 

[mcd90]

Had this same problem for a year now maybe, had it at Seat a number of times and still havent found the cause. Iv had new bearings and mounts, new drop links, 2 sets of new suspension. Also have powerflex wishbone bushes in so aint the bushes. I would love to know what the noise is.
I know what you mean how you feel it through the steering wheel, its an awful feeling.

 

[Sinbad]

Sounds like either tie rod or steering rack. I had a similar noise in my LC. Replaced shocks, bushes, drop links, the works... then they worked on the tie rod and noticed it had excessive play in the rack. New rack = blissful silence.
I think you can test for this by wiggling the steering wheel and seeing if it knocks.

 

[mcd90]

Tie rods look quite simple to change myself..? Steering rack however... hmmm

 

[mk4 cupra]

Track rod ends are very easy to change there's a simple way to cheak your track rod ends
Jack up the car axle stand it get a pair of biggish water pump pliers and put them around the track rod and nut and squeeze them u should not have any more than 1mm of up or down movement if u do have movement track rod end needs replacing and would cause a knocking sound.

A steering rack haveing excess play is a very very unuasl problem and not very common at all and ur very unlucky to have to replace it due to that.

To cheak top strut mounts best way is to just get someone to turn the steering and pop bonnet and see if the noise is high up and see if the shocker top nut jumps when it knocks these bearings in the top mounts are quite common tobehonest.

To cheak the cv joints cheak firstly all the boots are sercure and not split or have any excess grase around them grab the cv joint bars and give them a good pull tuck and twist cheaking they don't have any excess play cheak them straight and then also with it lock to lock

It could loss also be wheel bearing to cheak this jack up grab the wheel top and bottom and rock wheel listening for noise and also cheaking there is not play this will also cheak the lower serspension ball joint which could also be worn

I hope this helps

 

[Sinbad]

A steering rack haveing excess play is a very very unuasl problem and not very common at all and ur very unlucky to have to replace it due to that.

I'm very lucky, it was covered by the warranty

It has happened to a couple of cars I know of.

 

[DSP]

I have a similar noise to this and my mechanic will be having a look this eve. Ill let you know what he finds.

Thanbks, Will be interesting to see what he comes back with

Had this same problem for a year now maybe, had it at Seat a number of times and still havent found the cause. Iv had new bearings and mounts, new drop links, 2 sets of new suspension. Also have powerflex wishbone bushes in so aint the bushes. I would love to know what the noise is.
I know what you mean how you feel it through the steering wheel, its an awful feeling.

Yeah feels like something is gona go snap :/

Sounds like either tie rod or steering rack. I had a similar noise in my LC. Replaced shocks, bushes, drop links, the works... then they worked on the tie rod and noticed it had excessive play in the rack. New rack = blissful silence.
I think you can test for this by wiggling the steering wheel and seeing if it knocks.

How much are you looking at for a new steering rack? its does sound like it could be this as it only happens when turning.

Track rod ends are very easy to change there's a simple way to cheak your track rod ends
Jack up the car axle stand it get a pair of biggish water pump pliers and put them around the track rod and nut and squeeze them u should not have any more than 1mm of up or down movement if u do have movement track rod end needs replacing and would cause a knocking sound.

A steering rack haveing excess play is a very very unuasl problem and not very common at all and ur very unlucky to have to replace it due to that.

To cheak top strut mounts best way is to just get someone to turn the steering and pop bonnet and see if the noise is high up and see if the shocker top nut jumps when it knocks these bearings in the top mounts are quite common tobehonest.

To cheak the cv joints cheak firstly all the boots are sercure and not split or have any excess grase around them grab the cv joint bars and give them a good pull tuck and twist cheaking they don't have any excess play cheak them straight and then also with it lock to lock

It could loss also be wheel bearing to cheak this jack up grab the wheel top and bottom and rock wheel listening for noise and also cheaking there is not play this will also cheak the lower serspension ball joint which could also be worn

I hope this helps

Thanks for the advice but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing have the stuff you suggested lol think ill leave that to the mechanics


Thanks all for your replies, its been really helpful. i will get it booked in again and see if they can look at the steering rack and hopefully i can get it sorted before xmas!

 

[mk4 cupra]

U are lucky it was under warranty the normal cause for racks to be replaced is leaking I do know they can were out but it's just an uncommon fault not unknow of lol.

 

[mk4 cupra]

Do say anything to them about what u think it might be let them do the finding out lol

 

[marshey]

I have same problem on my sport 130. Mine is when first couple of miles or at slow speeds. I have had everything checked and said it was ok.

 

[barters3]

Sorry no update. Mechanic couldnt find anything wrong.
The alignment needs doing so I'll get that done at the weekend and monitor it.

 

[DSP]

Sorry no update. Mechanic couldnt find anything wrong.
The alignment needs doing so I'll get that done at the weekend and monitor it.

No problem, Thanks for the update tho!

Also i have made a video of the noise, well recorded from my phone so not the best quality but you can get an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k30IkbFm7so

Does this noise sound like what other people are hearing?

Thanks

 

[marshey]

think mine sounds worse. it sounds really bad this morning.

 

[mcd90]

Does the noise happen quite a lot in this video? If so its a totally different noise than mine. Yours is a diesel so could be other factors going on compared to mine.

 

[uzi_cupra]

if you have recently had to replace your cv boot then this could be your issue.

 

[DSP]

Does the noise happen quite a lot in this video? If so its a totally different noise than mine. Yours is a diesel so could be other factors going on compared to mine.

Yeah about every 3-4 seconds and yeah possibly

if you have recently had to replace your cv boot then this could be your issue.

Nope not had it replaced.