Small clunk in steering...

[Bill Douglas]

Hi Guys.

My 79SC has developed a very small clunk in the steering. I can replicate the sound by having the car up on axel stands and by turning the road wheels hard from left to to right I can hear the clunk. Thanks 79Targa for the tips but the bolts were already firmly fastened - pity it sounded like a nice easy fix.

Does anyone have any ideas? I susect it is the tie rod ends or the steering box as the sound seems to be coming from that area other than from the steering wheel shaft. What are the symptoms of both of these.

Could it be the tie rods where they connect to the steering box? The reason I ask is I can't see any slackness in the tie rods.

Thanks, Bill.

[surflvr911sc]

Is this new problem? Have you changed anything?

[Bill Douglas]

Surflvr, I got out in the water this morning. It was an extremely clean 3' left hander. I hadn't been out int the water for months so I wasn't very paddle fit, so I appreciated the fact it was only 3'. And I had a pretty good time

Nothing is new or different about the car. When I'm driving and take a moderately hard left (or right for that mater) then take a turn the other way I feel a very slight clunk in the steering. Very subtle but enough to notice. I first noticed it about a month ago and thought if I ignored it, it would go away - I guess this doesn't work with Porsches. I just had a thought, I wonder if it could be a worn wheel bearing? Anyway, as I was saying, I noticed it a month ago and now it is more often and slightly more pronounced.

I put it up on axel stands and got a friend to test out each of the front wheels by pushing hard on the front of the wheel then hard on the back of the wheel to emulate driving through twisties and the same clunk was heard from both sides. I listened trying to pin point the sound and feeling connections such as the ones on the tie rods to try to spot somthing, but I'm a bit mystified. I'm just hoping it's not the steering box

[rstoll]

Have you tried lubing the U-joints in the steering column?

[Superman]

Steering box is one of the last components I would suspect. Clunking is not what they do. I'd suggest more intensive examination with an assistant, like you've described. It's loose somewhere. If you need the leverage of having the tire and wheel on there to wiggle, then my vote is steering column u-joints or bushings. If it's a 'lighter' knock, then I'd check wheel bearing preload.

[dickster]

bill,

does it do it by turning the steering wheel lock to lock?

you can eliminate the wheel bearings first by testing them.

then as you said, have an assistant turn the wheel lock to lock to cause it to "clunk" - and then feel the components (including the steering rack/box) one at a time.

you should be able to feel the clunk. you probably won't hear where its coming from.