Knocking driving me insane! - FIXED!

[robert1]

so just what someone on another forum suggested 'While stationary move steering wheel twitchy to both sides, like 5cm to one side then 5cm to the other, fast.'

i did this and, yes it knocks! with each change of direction, seems ok when doing it slow, as it if i just turn left to right lock to lock it doesn't noticeably do it but doing the short first turns does make a knock

[MIJ_JAGGER]

Replaced mine with a refurbed Gen3 rack too. Had bad knocking and eventually lost power steering.
I’d defo recommend new bolts when replacing.

[robert1]

a quick video of the knocking inside and out

[shail]

Mine sounds the same.  I've also had play in ball joint diagnosed - bit annoyed as these were replaced very recently.

[robert1]

well atleast ive now found a way to make it do it constantly, that been most garages problem, they can hear it while driving but up on the ramp couldn't find a way to make it do it

[GitFlog]

well atleast ive now found a way to make it do it constantly, that been most garages problem, they can hear it while driving but up on the ramp couldn't find a way to make it do it

So did the garage not just turn the wheel like you did in the video?? Would of thought they would do that first?

I did they do it and it didnt make the knocking noise?

[robert1]

well atleast ive now found a way to make it do it constantly, that been most garages problem, they can hear it while driving but up on the ramp couldn't find a way to make it do it

So did the garage not just turn the wheel like you did in the video?? Would of thought they would do that first?

I did they do it and it didnt make the knocking noise?

well all 4 garages said they couldnt figure out a way to reproduce the knocking consistantly soo...

[GitFlog]

well atleast ive now found a way to make it do it constantly, that been most garages problem, they can hear it while driving but up on the ramp couldn't find a way to make it do it

So did the garage not just turn the wheel like you did in the video?? Would of thought they would do that first?

I did they do it and it didnt make the knocking noise?

well all 4 garages said they couldnt figure out a way to reproduce the knocking consistantly soo...

Thats crazy would of been the first thing i would of done. I a thinking it might not of been making the noise as bad when they checked it i would be extremly surprised if any garage good or bad didnt at least try to turn the wheel to find a knocking in the front of the car its like option number 1

[robert1]

well atleast ive now found a way to make it do it constantly, that been most garages problem, they can hear it while driving but up on the ramp couldn't find a way to make it do it

So did the garage not just turn the wheel like you did in the video?? Would of thought they would do that first?

I did they do it and it didnt make the knocking noise?

well all 4 garages said they couldnt figure out a way to reproduce the knocking consistantly soo...

Thats crazy would of been the first thing i would of done. I a thinking it might not of been making the noise as bad when they checked it i would be extremly surprised if any garage good or bad didnt at least try to turn the wheel to find a knocking in the front of the car its like option number 1

yeah, one garage overlooking it I can kinda understand, but not multiple, so can only imagine its getting worse, or because when you do it slow it hardly does it, but then wouldn't they try it fast? either way atleast I can slow them what its doing when I next go

[muff1991]

hi Rob,
my Touran does exactly what yours is doing in the video, but not really noticeable while driving! i wasn't targeting the steering knock but... I've replaced ball joints, bushes, a broken spring, and checked the tie rods while having the steering turned left and right - no play at all. had a 4 wheel laser alignment done too and knocking left and right still there, my GTI doesn't make this sound so pretty convinced its the rack mate (as much as i hate to admit)! but for now I'm not worried about the tourans rack. if it was my GTI i'd change it with the mind set if it doesn't fix it then at least i know i got a new rack lol 
also... haven't had a chance to try this yet, but my cousins GTI had a proper weird creaky/knocky noise (not knocking bad though), i looked under in and around for ages trying to locate this noise... turned out the steering rack bolts wasn't tight enough! so before doing anything just check there tight first, sometimes its the simplest of things! and hope you get the problem sorted mate. cheers. shaun.

[robert1]

its fixed!
so I got the rack replaced, and sat there turning the wheel side to side, no knocking, result I think, and expensive one but still result, then I drove off, and as I turned onto the main road "knock knock" my heart sunk! back to the garage and straight up on the ramps, year it was improved but still knocking, they looked and couldnt find anything at all, but noticed my control arms really rusty in the bush, all poly bushed, so they took them out, with some hammering! they where stuck tight, re lubed (or greased whatever you wanna call it) the bushes on it, put everything back together and its finally silent to drive! so just for anyone else out there, get these bushes checked too!

[shail]

its fixed!
so I got the rack replaced, and sat there turning the wheel side to side, no knocking, result I think, and expensive one but still result, then I drove off, and as I turned onto the main road "knock knock" my heart sunk! back to the garage and straight up on the ramps, year it was improved but still knocking, they looked and couldnt find anything at all, but noticed my control arms really rusty in the bush, all poly bushed, so they took them out, with some hammering! they where stuck tight, re lubed (or greased whatever you wanna call it) the bushes on it, put everything back together and its finally silent to drive! so just for anyone else out there, get these bushes checked too!

Glad you got it sorted!  When mine was fixed a week or so ago, I was so relieved - the knocking was getting me down!

[robert1]

Glad you got it sorted!  When mine was fixed a week or so ago, I was so relieved - the knocking was getting me down!

I know what you mean, took the fun out of driving it having it making the noises every time you drove it, and I didnt really notice there being much play in the steering but it feel sooo much better to drive with the new one!

[ROH ECHT]

A pic of the ones mentioned to be causing the near impossible to find noise makers? Would be good for future seekers. 

[robert1]

A pic of the ones mentioned to be causing the near impossible to find noise makers? Would be good for future seekers. 

good point! ill take some pictures of everything over the weekend and make a more detailed post, hopefully will help someone one day