Clicking from front end...?

Hi all

I have had this problem for some time now. At first I thought it was CV joints.
Now I am convinced it is in the steering system. I have a '85 Carrera, lowered in the front about 1/4" nothing big. I have installed the rack spacers about three months ago. The Weltmeister install sheet for the rack spacers says this is normal for the first couple of miles. The rack did click then, and it (I thought) went away completely.

Here is what happens;
While rolling slowly (never faster than 10 mph or standing still) if I move the steering wheel left or right just slightly, I hear the click. It doesn't happen all the time, just most of the time. It is quite loud (i.e. I am sure drivers around me can hear it).
I have checked the rack and it is tight. I have checked the front bearings (appear to be tight), the bearings passed two tech-inspections. I have taken off the Fuchs Center-caps thinking they were clunking around, as they were loose.

Anyone else? Could the tie-rods be the culprits? When I get some money for an alignment, I will replace the OEM tie-rods with turbo-tie-rods. I looked at the front sway bar mounting and bushings and appear to be fine with normal wear.

Suggestions?

Other than the spacers and 7" and 9" Fuchs the car is stock.

TIA
Nick
nhromyak@yahoo.com

I have an '85 Carrera...There is an inner and outer locking nut on each tie rod.... I had similar symptoms when I'd turn the wheel back and forth, engine off, not moving in the garage.
Found out that one of the locking nuts was loose. Have someone turn the steering wheel back & forth for you in a rapid motion (key on, to keep it from locking up). You should be on the side of the car with your hand on the locking nut... see if you can feel any movement... if you do, that's probably the reason for the clunking sound. If the wheel is turned all the way, you'll be able to put your fingers on the locking nuts just by reaching into the side, not necessary to get under the car, or jack it up.
Good luck
regards,
jlex.

Jilex,

I tried that, no luck... :-(

It appears to be coming from the right side only. Almost like a ball joint, or tie-rod. I can duplicate the noise when standing still turning the wheel a little bit back and forth. Almost like a bearing. The right side bearing is tighter than the left.

Hmph. Don't know what to do...

More suggestions?

Nick

Front bearing preload is easy to adjust and they should be just the slightest bit loose. Almost no play at all. But your click is not a bearing.

Great! You can duplicate this in the comfort of your garage. With an assistant in the driver's seat and the front raised securely on jackstands. Touch the tie rods and stuff while it clicks. Suspension and steering linkage should be rock solid at every joint.

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'83 SC

Superman's right... if you can duplicate the sound, you can find it (with the help of a patient assistant) Putting it up on stands may reduce the weight on the vehicle & eliminate the noise, so you may have to work in cramped quarters to find the problem. Something should be moving while the click occurs (thought for sure it was the locking nut). Use your hand to feel for vibrations. Also, check all bolts for tightness... something may have worked its way loose.
regards,
jlex.

I tried that last night. I moved the wheels when I get the click (takes some force) but I am not able to move the wheels and feel the parts at the same time.

Unfortunately, for me I do not have an assistant. The g/f gets upset when I spend more time (and $) on the car than her. Hence, I am hesitant to ask her.

More info: It seems to click only when the wheels are at or near straight.

I also found out my camber on my drivers side front tire went negative 1.8 degrees. It was setup for negative one degree. Weird. I then checked all tower bolts for tight, they were good. Then, I reset the camber and reset the front end alignment.

I am starting to think something broke.

The passenger front camber was fine.

Now I am running .6 degrees negative on both sides.
I still have a click.
Is anyone else running the rack spacers? I keep thinking the tie-rods are hitting something. I see the tie-rods are near the brake lines, but not close enough to hit.

Thanks for the suggestions, maybe I can hire a kid to turn the wheel while the g/f is not looking.

TIA
NIck

Nick,

If the click is most noticeable 'on center' ... does it always happen during a left-right-left change of the steering wheel position?

Since you mentioned rack spacers, have you considered the two U-joints between steering column and steering rack? Either wear of the joints themselves, or a loose pinch-bolt could be the culprit!

Do you have the Turbo tie-rods? If not, then that inner 'joint' of the tie-rods is a possibility, too!

Lastly, if you have never had the steering rack out, or lubricated with new batch of Moly-grease, the original factory lubricant may be dried out, or gone ... play between the rack and pinion without sufficient lubricant may be causing the noise!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Warren,

I have not checked the U-Joint. I did loosen it and then tighten it back up when installing the rack spacers.

I had the car aligned a year ago and even the alignment shop mentioned they were surprised to find the tie-rods were in great shape. I bought the turbo tie-rods anyway just have not installed them yet.

The click does NOT happen when turning the wheel beyond center.

I will look at the u-joint tonight.

Thank you
Nick

Nick:
My wife's tolerance for helping out with the car is about like your girlfriends.... very low. Located my clicking by having my 8 year old turn the steering wheel rapidly back & forth... but first I had to promise her the car. Geez! Anyway, grab some kid and have him/her turn the steering wheel for you while you look. If it's clicking, you can find the problem!
regards,
jlex.

I checked the U-joint. No luck. I did notice that the drivers side is doing the clicking. I presume a bad ball joint, tie-rod or bearings. Ho hum...