Hi All,

I have something wrong with my steering (I think) but can't for the life of me work out what! Basically every so often I get a knock (more a feel through the wheel rather than a sound). Also when the engine is off and I rock the wheel from side to side with a medium amount of force, it clunks (quite loude). With the engine on it doesn't seem to clunk when I rock the wheel? I had the front suspension checked by a friend who said he couldn't find play in anything and it all looked like new! I am wondering if its something on the steering columb itself, somewhere between the steering wheel and rack? I don't really know where/what to look for but it's starting to worry me!

Car is a 2003 (52) vRS with 32k on the clock.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Phil

Are you rocking the steering wheel or the roadwheel...? have you checked the steering rack and trackrod ends..? The only thing i can think of that makes a difference with engine on and off could be power steering.....? just ideas...:(

Sorry I'm rocking the steering wheel from side to side, I should have been more specific! Thanks for the input. Any other ideas folks?

mines going in for work on the steering colum bushes mine kinda klunks abit like yours

Hmmm, I will try and investigate those. It's really getting to me now!

Thanks for the help so far guys!

Yeh mines is doing that too, rocking the steering wheel from side to side makes a clunk, if i go over a bump whilst turning it does it also, mines is a 02 plate, VRS WRC with 22,000 miles on the clock i was starting to get a bit worried:confused:

Ross

I wonder if its a WRC thing? lol :P

Please let me know if you find a sollution and I will do the same if I find one! I'm going to get it up on a ramp to have a look soon.

LOL maybe:confused: as long as i dont have to go deep down into the bottom of my scottish pocket past the moths and all that, to fix it :(

Ross

Im thinking the column myself (no bushes in it) it will need a replacement column.

i'm a little fuzzy on the whole thing myself it was something my dealer reckonned they would be doing

Im thinking the column myself (no bushes in it) it will need a replacement column.

Ohh err - Any idea on cost? Is it a DIY option?

Also is there anything I could do to confirm it was the column?

Thanks for your input!

I have just had the same problem, Mine turned out to be 2 things, The steering column which had slight play and the track rods at the rack end. They have plastic bushes that wear and cause the rack to knock over bumps. The column was £320 + fitting and the track rods where £70 each plus fitting. The column knock I could have lived with.

If you grab your front wheel and pull it hard front to back, do you get movement with a knock near the rack. this would be the track rods.

Ah crap thats not cheap, the cars only got 22,000, my mum drove it to and from her work so it hasn't been rallied :thumbdwn: quite annoyed

Ross

I've just come inside from having a look and it seems like the noise may be coming from one end of the rack as you say so that would fit! Mine (hopefully) will be covered in the warranty I bought with the car. Speaking to Skoda they said the last time they replaced a rack was 2003 so I'm optimistic!

Im thinking the column myself (no bushes in it) it will need a replacement column.

yes you are right i just got my car back and they told me new bushes were being fitted but when i asked they told they had it wrong and they changed the whole column

completely rattle free not nice and solid

Update!

I've just returned from my local Skoda dealer who has diagnosed my knock! It seems that the ARB is moving slightly and knocking on the engine bed due to a faulty bush (the guy at Skoda actually called it an and stop?). Anyway they are replacing the ARB with the new style metal bushes/stops as it seems to be a fairly common problem. I'll let you know the outcome. Full marks to Skoda so far though!

Im thinking the column myself (no bushes in it) it will need a replacement column.

Mine was replaced under warranty. I noticed a vibration when driving slowly acroos gravel. I brought it to the dealer and they ordered a replacement.