Car trouble: Clunking noise when I turn my wheel.

[jsbush]

When I turn my wheel slowly back and forth I get a clunk clunk noise, but it's not regular, it won't always do it in the same spot, and sometimes when I'm taking off from a dead stop without turning the wheel it will go do the clunking sound serval times irregularly.

I'm away from home this week and I'm really worried about this as I have no money to fix anything if something breaks :S.

Any Idea's what it might be? And how long I could drive around with this problem?


Thanks

 

[Zenmervolt]

Sounds kind of like a CV joint lost its grease and is worn out. If that's the case, you'll be needing a new halfshaft (axle).

ZV

 

[Electric Amish]

Does it happen when you turn? (CV Joint)

Or just when you move the steering wheel back and forth? (Steering gear/rack & pinion/etc.)

 

[jsbush]

I can't hear anything when I turn, it doesn't seem to do it when I'm turning, but when I'm parking or slowly moving I can hear it.

Just by hearing it you wouldn't think it was the steering because the sound is so irregular (like the more you turn the less it will do it, or vise verca). At first I thought it was a loss peice of metal somewhere moving around, but I was turning my steering and it's defeinitly something to do with that.

 

[5LiterMustang]

I have a similar problem in my Mazda...replaced both CV joints and it still does it...had it checked by my mechanic and myself neither of us could find any problem and I also had two other shops look at it and they don't have a clue either...but generally its CV joints, and less frequently the steering rack as mentioned earlier.

 

[Electric Amish]

It could be tie-rods too....

 

[huesmann]

Or his wheels could be about to fall off.

 

[GroundZero]

have to agree with electric on this one, what did i say?,
sounds like steering gearbox/worm gear or tierods.
if it was cv joints then you would be hearing it in turns while the car is moving.

 

[Electric Amish]

have to agree with electric on this one, what did i say?,

LOL!!! It happens to everyone eventually.

 

[jsbush]

How likely is it that i'll stay stuck on the side of the road?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
It could be tie-rods too....

That was my 1st thought.

Can you jack up the car and get the wheels off the ground? Put your hands on the tire and wiggle it. Do you feel/see movement and hear noise?

 

[Pepsi90919]

balljoints maybe, if you can do it without moving the car

 

[lightpants]

In addition to what everyone else said- I would check your lug nuts to make sure they are tight. If not they can make clunking noises.
Jim

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
balljoints maybe, if you can do it without moving the car

yeah could be this I had these go on both of my last 2 cars. I fixed it on the car I sold then as soon as I got the new car they went on it boo=(

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: lightpants
In addition to what everyone else said- I would check your lug nuts to make sure they are tight. If not they can make clunking noises.
Jim

Nope not the lug nuts.


And yeah I can make the noise without moving.
I don't have two jacks so I can't jack the car up.

 

[Sluggo]

Probably a nut loose behind the wheel













Yeah, sorry, one of my Dad's old jokes.