So I think the knocking noise on my car might be the driveshaft since it only knocks when steering.

What process would you use to check if its worn/damaged?

Jack it up and have someone turn the wheel while you spin the wheel. Haynes also says if you can't do that jack it up and turn the driveshaft while feeling for movement at the joints. Do both sides though so you know what an ok one feels like. Though I tried this and it seemed fine. It wasn't.

Great answer, thank you.

Mine was like a ticking more than a knocking. Was like that for a while, then it suddenly sounded worse one day and stayed like that. My mechanic said at that point the gater/boot was the only thing holding it together and it fell apart as soon as he pulled it free of the hub.

Ticking is normally the CV joint. If it's one of the outer ones then it tends to sound louder when that wheel is on the outside of the bend and under load.

Ahh... I have no ticking noise at all, just a loud clunk knocking noise when on and off the throttle when steering... Nothing over speed bumps etc.

dog bone mount shot?, at the bottom of the engine at the back?

Edited 21 May, 201313 yr by bluecar1

It's silent in a straight line.

Checked engine mounts while on the ramp, had the engine running with my foot on the brake and jerked the clutch up, silent.

any judder under hard braking or acceleration? that is also known to be indicator of cv/driveshaft, again mine pulled to the left when it was shot, the left being the knackered side.

Someone on here had a similar problem as you not long back, think a few people recon'd top mount to that issue.

Worn/split bushes?

Probably one you have already checked, but are the wheels bolts all done up tight?

I suppose the other obvious question is

had any work done recently on the front of the car? cam belt?

Had no work done for a while.

Car is nice and smooth even under hard braking.

I did think top mounts but they seem smooth by hand moving the wheels lock to lock, in my experience when a top mounts knackerd they grind abit and are stiff to turn lock to lock.

do you know a friendly local MOT / garage who would do you a quick look / diagnosis on a ramp for a donation to tea / beer boat?

might be quickest and most accurate way

I'd be very surprised if you find a cause of the noise your hearing.

I have my own ramp and have checked everything, granted only very quickly...

I'm going to put it back on the ramp on Sunday and check everything over properly with the help of my dad rather than asking the girlfriend to rock the steering for me haha

I'm going to go over everything as if I'd just changed the clutch so check all the driveshafts, subframe bolts, rack bolts... Just check over everything with a power bar! I'll of corse report back with the answer.