Hey, just wanted to confirm my diagnosis before I proceed with repairs.

2006 Octavia with 170k miles.

I'm trying to find the source of a clunk that happens only when stopped or at low speeds and moving the steering wheel in either direction - attaching a video to demonstrate.

I've been able to produce a clunking sound by grabbing either front wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and shaking it back and forth; as best I can tell it's coming from the steering rack area.

I pulled the tie rod ends off to see if it's the inner tie rod ball joint or the rack. I pushed and pulled on the inner tie rod and I see zero movement of the ball joint in its socket, instead it seems like the point where it enters the rack is moving up and down and making a knocking noise as it does that. See second attached video.

At this point I'm thinking the rack is worn out and requires replacement. The car has seen a lot of short urban commutes so I'm thinking that's quite likely.

I've seen some threads about adjusting steering rack preload such as this one. I've tried doing exactly this, but even with the preload set too high (steering wheel sticks a bit) the clunk is exactly as before.

 

Does my diagnosis seem sound, is there something else to check?

 

Edited 2 February, 20251 yr by user4520

Could be the universal joints in steering column. Volvo 940 were bad for them wearing and making a click/clunk sound. Not sure about skoda but volvo were replaceable. 

Alasdair

Inner track rod joint worn, that is replaceable, the play in the steering rack used to be repairable by removing shims from the damper plunger retaining plate.

 

Now I am questioning both of those statements because they relate to the hydraulic power steering rack of the MK1 and not the electric one of the MK2.

 

Maybe someone else can confirm or deny the above.

Just a thought l had similar knocking at low speed turned out to be anti roll bar links and mounting rubbers 

Just a thought l had similar knocking at low speed turned out to be anti roll bar links and mounting rubbers , mounting rubbers were the main reason 

 

So I checked some more components. Looks to me like the steering shaft has play and this is possibly causing the noise (see video).

On top of that the anti roll bar bushing are shot (pics), though I'm not sure if that's causing the noise (I tried prying at the roll bar with a pry bar at those bushings and there was no movement - maybe this is not enough though).

 

I'll keep looking into this and update when I know more.

 

Bushes look a bit past it but if theres no movement should be ok. About as good as mine and they got through an MOT The clunk is when you turn wheel when stopped so doubt it would be them. Best option is to get someone else to listen around car to pinpoint area its coming from. Check its not a top mount as well. Have had a few that click and clunk especially at low speeds/parking

Alasdair