Board logo

slight steering knock. What could it be
smart51 - 16/11/24 at 10:55 PM

My daily driver is a 3 year old Renault Zoe. Recently I've felt and heard a very slight knock through the steering. It only happens at about 10 MPH with the steering wheel turned something like 70° to the left and straightening up, like when pulling into or out of a side street. I can barely feel it and barely hear it, but I know it's there. It never happens at other speeds or steering angles, and I've never noticed it when turning right.

What might it be? I know some Zoes have problems with front anti roll bar drop links, but there will be hardly any suspension movement at this speed.

adithorp - 17/11/24 at 06:12 PM

Worn drop links invariably give a noise often described as pattering noise on rough ground; Not a knock. That's if it's the common ball-joint at each end. Knocks generally only if it's broken or one of the balls has pulled put. Getting hold of the ARB by the link and pulling/pushing vertically should show any wear.
If it's the type that goes through the ARB and wishbone with bushes either side check for deterioration of those.

A single knock is more likely to ba a worn track rod end or rack inner joint/knuckle. Try checking for play. First, on the ground with an assistant gently wiggling the steering (free play only) while feeling for play at the various joints. Second, jacked up and shaking the wheels side to side (shows TRE and rack wear), top to bottom and at about 45⁰.

Wear in the bottom ball-joint is more likely to be heavy knocking when hitting a pot hole or series of them and play would show up in the top/bottom and 45⁰ tests above.

jacko - 17/11/24 at 07:44 PM

Could it be a drive shaft joint ?
But I would be surprised if it is on a 3 year old car

JAG - 18/11/24 at 08:06 AM

Hello Colin,

Is the Zoe front-wheel drive?

I guess it is, so CV joint wear is favourite.

Symptoms like 'knocking with steering lock' and 'knocking when turning one-way'

It usually turns out to be wear in the CV joint that's on the inside of the bend where the knock occurs.

adithorp - 18/11/24 at 01:32 PM

I'd assumed from my initial reading that this was a single knock. If its a repeated knocking then as above suspect a CV joint, especially if the frequency increase as you pull away.

JAG - 18/11/24 at 02:04 PM

Adithorp - having re-read the OP it's not clear. You may be right.

I'd assumed repeated knocking but if it is a single knock then it wouldn't suggest CV joint.

gremlin1234 - 18/11/24 at 05:14 PM

an off field answer might be slightly loose wheelnuts.

smart51 - 18/11/24 at 05:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JAG
Adithorp - having re-read the OP it's not clear. You may be right.

I'd assumed repeated knocking but if it is a single knock then it wouldn't suggest CV joint.

Hi Justin,

Yes, Zoe is FWD. I only get a single knock, only once per journey, and only on one in a few journeys. When I get a dry day, I'll jack it up and try moving things. Whatever it is, it is only slight just now, but things only ever get worse.

jacko - 19/11/24 at 09:14 PM

It’s junk in the glove box sliding about

adithorp - 19/11/24 at 10:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
It’s junk in the glove box sliding about


I had a customer who's car went "zzzzzzzzzzz click click click click click click" every time he accelerated, then the same again when he braked. Turn out to be 1/2 a dozen mint imperials rolling along the door pocket.

nick205 - 20/11/24 at 03:48 PM

There's a YouTube video of a mechanic who's customer brought their car in complaining of a high pitched squeal when accelerating/braking. After checking over the car the mechanic couldn't find an issue - until a kids toy car (source of the squeal) was removed from a rear footwell.

For your Zoe issue I'd be looking at ARB drop links. Had one wear/fail early on a VW Passat a few years ago and exhibit similar symptoms. Cheap part and pretty simple to replace. Have a good poke around (ideally with the wheels off the ground if you can).