Steering Knock - Knock from steering or suspension

[philbee]

Hi. Does anybody know if the Lupo GTI has a common fault which causes a knock from the steering? I have taken it back to the garage and they replaced the steering rack under warrenty but it hasn't cured the problem. I am losing confidence in them and suspect that they are just changing things because they don't know what the problem is.

If anybody has had a similar problem please let me know what the problem was so I can tell the garage.

Phil.B. - Silver six speed Gti

[Lupo TDI]

hi!

is it lowered a bit? Some `non-GTI` loops I know (including mine), do knack sometimes in the steering, but the noise actually comes from the front `anti-roll` bar, and AFAIK it isn't dangerous. But if yours "knacks" all the time, well, it's surely something else. Maybe you should look under if you see some parts that get close to each other, you know, like the steering rods that are painted in black, if the paint's missing on one point, probably it's because it scrapes against something else.

If it's the `anti-roll` bar, www.`kaw-fahrwerke`.de has a special one that seems to fix trhe problem.

[philbee]

Thanks for the reply. It's absolutely standard.

At the moment it's back with the garage, they have spent all day on it and still can't find the problem.

I will let you know what it was when they have found it.

Thanks for your help.

Phil.

[Lupo TDI]

let's hope it's getting fixed! :thumbs:

[Guest lupoboy]

Hi. Does anybody know if the Lupo GTI has a common fault which causes a knock from the steering? I have taken it back to the garage and they replaced the steering rack under warrenty but it hasn't cured the problem. I am losing confidence in them and suspect that they are just changing things because they don't know what the problem is.

If anybody has had a similar problem please let me know what the problem was so I can tell the garage.

Phil.B. - Silver six speed Gti

Hi philbee,

I drive 1.4 lupo and I think I had the same knock from the steering. In here Japan, it is a known fault for 2002 or before model lupo and talked by many in some lupo forums.

They changes ball bearing in those cases. In my case, they did so and the feeling has gone.

Hope this will help you.

[j37]

Which 'ball bearings' are involved?

[philbee]

:mad: If anybody can suggest anything I would really welcome it. The VW garage have changed the steering rack, ball joints, suspension struts, top mounts and wheel bearings. They are now going to change the steering rack again.

VW sucks and I will never buy one again.

[j37]

My dealer suggested it was due to the springs shifting slightly in their seats, especially around full lock. In view of everything that has been tried, I suspect this is probably true. I suppose that goes down as a design fault, with no real fix as yet.

[Loopy Lupo]

:thumbs: i agree with j37 on that one, i had a similar problem with my ka - the springs shifted about and that was the cause - also seem to remember my nova gte doing the same thing (that was about 12 years ago though!).....this may or may not be the problem with the Loop, i have noticed it on mine from time to time, but to be honest with you - vdub are so cack in the service dept that i can't be bothered going to see them about it! :mad:

[philbee]

17th of Feb and VW still can't find the fault and I have been driving around in a Toyota since December.

I will never buy a VW again.

[MattyB]

Has the car been with them since December?

Did you buy the car from new? If not, ask for another car. If they can't find the problem after a certain amount of revisits, AFAIK your within your rights to get a new car - faulty goods and all that...

But if you bought it second hand, I'm not sure...although I rememeber one member getting a brand new GTi when they couldn't fix his second hand one?

Anyone know what the law is in regard to this?

[Putney]

personally i would never let a dealer do that to me. ask for a replacement car. dont ask dont get.!

good luck.

[Man3]

QUOTE(philbee)

I will never buy a VW again.

You and me both! VW are ****ers!

[hughesy]

Hi, im not sure if its the same problem, but sometimes when i turn right the steering wheel locks, until i have to break it free and force it back to centre - with a loud snapping sound.

The dealer, amazingly, couldnt find any fault.

Ive also had a new starter motor fitted after only 20000 miles after terrible grinding noises after start up.

Plus, every time i release my break pedal theres an annoying squeek. Any ideas?

I'll have VW check the brakes Monday, when it goes in to have a new rear window - my current windows stopped `de-misting`.

Another VW - no thanks

[Blue Loop]

Well I must say my car has had some problems, but let's face it, it isnt all vw's fault. There can be something in our driving that may be causing some damage (even if we are not aware of it)

Although you guys seem to have loads of problems with your service, we don't here in Spain, what is more, some owners of other cars take their cars to be serviced in VW garages!!

For example, we had some sort of little accident the other day with the snow can be seen here and we are getting half of the car `re-painted` so that the colour matches the rest of the car.

We had some problems with the gearbox, it was loose since we bought the car, it was fixed about two months ago, and the car will be getting a whole new one under warranty because although it got fixed, it was loose again. So I think you could be better off coming to service your cars to Spain style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Another VW - That's what I'm gonna buy :thumbs:

[Toi gulp]

It's not a track rod end is it? cos mine knocks as well but doesnt do it at speed?

[deathhead]

After i had the pedal box replaced on my arosa, i now get a slight knocking in the steering on full lock that i can feel through the pedals. Ive had it checked and was told it wont do any harm but what does it sound like. The car is on coilovers but done this before these were fitted.

Edited March 10, 2008 by deathhead

[Matty_Gti]

My Gti is lowered on coilovers, the past 600-700miles when turning right i get a knocking sound, alsmost like a 'springy' sound, its more noticible when going slower, could a track rod end be the problem? going to a local garidge soon to get it looked at

[CasperGTI]

Hi. Does anybody know if the Lupo GTI has a common fault which causes a knock from the steering? I have taken it back to the garage and they replaced the steering rack under warrenty but it hasn't cured the problem. I am losing confidence in them and suspect that they are just changing things because they don't know what the problem is.

If anybody has had a similar problem please let me know what the problem was so I can tell the garage.

Phil.B. - Silver six speed Gti

Explain exactly when you get the noise, and what it sounds like? where it sounds like its coming from? any associated noises?

My dealer suggested it was due to the springs shifting slightly in their seats, especially around full lock. In view of everything that has been tried, I suspect this is probably true. I suppose that goes down as a design fault, with no real fix as yet.

This could be a problem, The suspension has a thin washer or gasket on the seat of the spring to the strut, i think its made form zinc, if thats not seated propperly or is missing, you will get a knocking definatly.

Hi, im not sure if its the same problem, but sometimes when i turn right the steering wheel locks, until i have to break it free and force it back to centre - with a loud snapping sound.

The dealer, amazingly, couldnt find any fault.

Ive also had a new starter motor fitted after only 20000 miles after terrible grinding noises after start up.

Plus, every time i release my break pedal theres an annoying squeek. Any ideas?

I'll have VW check the brakes Monday, when it goes in to have a new rear window - my current windows stopped `de-misting`.

Another VW - no thanks

The first problem sounds detrimental, Is it standard? if not what ET are the wheels? sounds like you have something catching inside the powersteering rack, Or where the steering column goes through the bulkhead.

When the steering locks, Does it sound like the power steering pump is straining? for example like it would as if you hit the end of the steering travel.

My Gti is lowered on coilovers, the past 600-700miles when turning right i get a knocking sound, alsmost like a 'springy' sound, its more noticible when going slower, could a track rod end be the problem? going to a local garidge soon to get it looked at

Top mount, You can get on of those for about £6 with the bearing from German Sweedish.

The top mount normally goes when you havent torqued the strut up propperly. Sadly you have to use the correct tool to acheive the torque (60NM) or the threaded portion of the strut just spins, leaving your strut loose enough to damage the top mount bearing.

John

[Silver!]

It's not a track rod end is it? cos mine knocks as well but doesnt do it at speed?

After i had the pedal box replaced on my arosa, i now get a slight knocking in the steering on full lock that i can feel through the pedals. Ive had it checked and was told it wont do any harm but what does it sound like. The car is on coilovers but done this before these were fitted.

This is great! Lets dig up a 5 year + thread and give advice.

...I thought I was bad for bringing up a birthday thread and that was only about a week old!

[*cough] Sorry, carry on!

[Matty_Gti]

Top mount, You can get on of those for about £6 with the bearing from German Sweedish.

The top mount normally goes when you havent torqued the strut up propperly. Sadly you have to use the correct tool to acheive the torque (60NM) or the threaded portion of the strut just spins, leaving your strut loose enough to damage the top mount bearing.

John

Thanks for the advice casper, its coming from the strut which i removed with some help and refitted so must of not fitted it correctly, bit of a suspension novice. Think i might buy a new one and let a garage fit it then they will/should torque it up properly. This will mean that i have to have my camber set tho, should i just set it as positive as it will go? or is there a way of marking where it is currently set as i had it set up (at a cost).

And as for bringing up old threads, isnt that what the search function is for? if its bothering people then ignore them?

[cardaft]

Since you seem to be helping out everyone with different steering knocks, can you shed any light on mine?

Ok here goes.

My steering has a knock which can be felt through the wheel.

Sometimes (I say sometimes as it only does it ocassionally and tends to depend on how im parked!) if i turn the wheel about an inch left and right with the car parked and the engine off, so no power steering on, the wheel clunks - as if the steering wheel is loose!

Its not, well i hope its not.

But when im driving and cornering on a rough road, usually at speed, it does the same, loud cluncking noises and feels like the steering is loose.

Ive found that it happens more often if i have the correct pressure in my front tyres, so i tend to run them a little softer so it doesnt do it so much, it also depends if i have tyres with a softer sidewall or harder - harder makes it worse.

Now with my current tyres and pressure ive not noticed it for a while, but it does still do it ocassionally.

Ive had it to a garage before and they couldnt find what was wrong with it. Its been like this for ayear now and hasnt got worse or caused any more problems.

But its really something i want sorted out.

My car also has unusually light steering! Lighter than all the other lupos and arosas ive driven. Im not sure if this is somehting to do with the knock or what?

I hope ive explained that well enough!

Any ideas?

[CasperGTI]

Sounds interesting, Ive herd of this knock and experienced this myself on my cinquecento, But that wasnt power steering. what it turned out to be was a loose bushing on the steering rack. This was giving the rack a slight ammount of play, which was ever so slightly putting int mesh of the gears out in the rack, causing it to clunk and feel like it had slipped. Turns out it hadnt slipped, just meshed incorrectly. PAS and mechanical steering work on the same principle as eachother, jsut one has a pressure assist! So that could be your problem?

As to your light steering queery, thats probably down to the pump. There vane type pumps and the delivery pressure can vary on them. and should be between 85-95BAR. this can vary and VAG recomend that if its reading either above or below the pressure to replace it. Sadly i dont think there adjustable.

John

[cardaft]

Thanks for that it does sound possible. Its exactly as you described it, it feels like its slipped but only very slightly, i never get that feeling when driving but with the engine off and trying to turn the wheel an inch or so it does feel like its slipped. Its just clunking when im driving over rough stuff.

How would i locate the bush?

That also sounds possible why its very light too, well it can be the only reason. It doesnt really bother me, it seems to give more feel through the wheel than other ones with less assistance! But maybe thats to do with the clunk more than the steering assistance.

Chris

[CasperGTI]

How would i locate the bush?

It could be anywhere... anything that is connected to the linkage in anyway that a movement would cause it to go out of alignment, or the the rack itself, I think the PAS units are a sealed unit, only way would be to get it replaced under waranty and see if it goes. Or get a steering specialist to look at it?

John