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        General >> Problems >> Steering creek/graunch
        
(Message started by: jonnycab on Jun 14^th, 2007, 1:30am)

Title: Steering creek/graunch
Post by jonnycab on Jun 14^th, 2007, 1:30am

I seem to have a creek/graunch coming from the steering column when going over the odd slightly uneven surface & is more defined if cornering left on a slightly uneven surface....just what I need ::)

Before anyone replies with any suggestions, I have ruled out the following ;)....

....Steering rack - 3 months old & no play.
....Track rod ends - 3 months old & swivel smoothly.
....Wishbones & rear bushes - 3 months old, but removed both anyway & checked bushes & ball joints, all fine.
....Anti-roll bar was worn under bushes, causing slight wandering, but 'Chemical Metal', new bushes & clamps has cured this problem.
....Drop links are both a year old but all ball joints still swivel smoothly.
....No un-toward noises when bouncing the front end & car settles quickly, so shocks are okay.
....Inspected the springs & gave them a good tug with wheels off & no signs of breakage or movement on those either.

The only other thing I can think of that I haven't checked, is the bearing run or rubbers at the top of the O/S strut.....being that it creeks worse when cornering left, so more force on this strut ? :-/

Could it be that the strut is creeking/graunching & it's being felt through the steering ?....it defo feels & sounds as though it's coming from the column though :-/

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as I'm going to Dorset on Saturday for a weeks holiday & I intend to take the Scorp (un-plated of course) :)

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by Tompion on Jun 14^th, 2007, 1:56am

Can't help, but mine does much the same, although no worse when turning but seems to be worse when the suspension is barely working.
Doesn't sound any louder with the window open (in fact slightly harder to hear with the wind noise).
It doesn't do it all the time, can be quite annoying one journey & nothing at all on the next.

I also wondered about the bushes at the top of the strutts.

I've had escorts make the same noise for years, could be fine for months, then come back out of the blue. Usually found driving in the rain would clear it for a while.

Dave

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by jonnycab on Jun 14^th, 2007, 2:11am

on 06/14/07 at 01:56:39, Tompion wrote:

Doesn't sound any louder with the window open (in fact slightly harder to hear with the wind noise).

That's about right...you can't hear it outside...just inside & feel it in the steering column through the steering wheel...open the window & you wouldn't really notice it :)

Can also confirm that it only occurs "when the suspension is barely working" :)

Might try greasing up the steering coupling tomorrow to see if it makes a difference :)

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by Tompion on Jun 14^th, 2007, 2:36am

I also had new wishbones and bushes at the start of the year - & I do know the the proper procedure was followed for fitting the bushes. I think it started not long after that. I supose they could be faulty as some people have reported early failure of wishbones.
It was a major fight getting them off, which is partly why I thought about the strutt bearing - wondered if it had disturbed them enough to cause a problem.

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by jonnycab on Jun 14^th, 2007, 2:45am

My wishbones & bushes are fine...as I mentioned....I took the wishbones off & checked the bushes & ball joint (for smooth swivel) :)

Stood the front wheels on a brick each (just about squeezed under) & torqued them back up ;)

Wishbone bush creeks etc...you hear as an outside noise.....this is deffinately an inside heard noise ;)

My wishbones were reasonably easy to get off (even the first time), so no real stress on the strut getting the ball joints out :)

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by petehull on Jun 14^th, 2007, 6:42am

Could it be just dry components? I have a creak from the rear offside which I thought was shocks so replaced them, the creak is still there although it's intermittent, after wet weather it goes for quite a long time. ???

Pete

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 14^th, 2007, 10:40am

I think you're spot on with that Pete.

My Daughter came to me on Tuesday. Strange rattling noise from her car. Turned out to be just the anti-rattle springs on her rear o/s brake shoes. Cleaned them up, put them back with a bit of copperslip, and noise is all gone. A shower of rain would have killed the noise instantly though.

We get a lot of this down here in the West Country. Very long hot dry spells, and as soon as it rains the noises go again. It's just dust and heat issues. Strange, but true. My advice. Turn the radio up a notch! :D

Title: Re: Steering creek/graunch
Post by jonnycab on Jun 14^th, 2007, 1:13pm

It's good to know that it's probably nothing too much to worry about, & got to admit, I've only started hearing it recently, since the dry weather.

I've just spray-greased the steering couplings (& anything else that looked dry)...in car & engine.....& although the column fixing nuts weren't loose, they did go a little tighter, so here's hoping it makes a difference :)

If that fails, then it's off through a few big puddles next time it rains ;)

Cheers all for the advice :)