[Corsa C 2000-2006] Steering knock when straightening wheel

[Aaron]

Hi all. Want to find out what the knock /click is in my steering. Seems to do it when I'm steering and the wheel go past it's centred position, e.g. when turning right to left it will make the knock or click which sounds like it's from dash /Speedo area. Can feel it a bit also. The car does make a noise on the driver side wheel I think every time I pull away but potentially a corroded spring from last MOT.

I Dont want to replace everything to find out the problem. It's recently been tracked and wheel balanced and hasn't improved it at all, might have made it slightly worse.

Is it possible to work out what is at fault, and what could it be?

Doesn't do it full lock, so maybe not CV boot?

I aim to visually inspect behind the front wheels tomorrow.

Wondering if anyone can advise on what I should look out for or if there are some tests I can do to try find out what's at fault, it's either a shock or spring that's worn on the MOT however this isn't noticeable over bumps or anything.

Thanks.

[ditch p]

Could be suspension top mount bearing, bottom ball joint, inner tie rod, track rod end you will feel play and hear a noise like you have described, mot or recent tracking would have pulled up bottom ball joint & inner tie rod i guess so I am going for the top mount bearing, I replaced both mine about 18 months ago on my vectra with gen gm parts and they are due again now due to,it being on lower stiffer springs and shocks and running 19" wheels, they don't do uprated ones like with other parts (like drop links & inner tie rods ) or I would be having them...

the joys of modified cars eh....

[Aaron]

Mines stock btw in case anyone wondering lol. Thanks.

Will have to Google.image these and see if I can find these parts and inspect.

Not sure about the (play) and if I feel it.

[Aaron]

Think I missed out some information.

When I leave it on an angle. Then turn while stationery. It makes a slight click. When I let go it moves back to its former positionnn with A knock. Is this the 'play'?

[Aaron]

Dropbox - Error - Simplify your life

Hopefully this will help explain what I mean, as never previously tested while stationary.

[Taurus]

That just looks like the normal backlash you get in a steering column if you turn it whilst the car is stationary.

The knock could be anywhere in the steering gear or suspension so it's impossible to say much without being able to test it first hand. You say it sounds like the noise is from the dash area - that could point to wear in the column itself. Check if there's any play at the wheel or anywhere in the shaft. You may need to have someone turn the steering wheel whilst you keep a hand on the shaft to feel for play. They had a bad batch of shaft joints on some models 2000-2002.

If the shaft looks OK then engage the steering lock, jack up the front wheels and support on axle stands, then twist the road wheels and see if you can identify any play.

[walksall]

I've got the sound turned right up and still struggle to hear it, but all that I CAN hear is a click - is it possible that this could be from the self-cancelling direction indicator switch? just a thought.

Regards.

[Aaron]

I do often get a louder/stronger CLICK from the indicator stork when auto coming off when straightening up and sometimes it comes off too easy by itself (maybe thats another fault?)

I do get this wheel knock when driving slowly I can feel it, not always but often enough, and it does feel like its from the streeing itself (the feedback) but the noise sounds like within speedo.

Gotta look at a noise I always get when going from 0-5MPH also. :/