"Knocking" Issue when turning- what could this be?

Ask questions or share info that applies across makes or models, things of general off-road interest.
meerkatdrummer
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Name: Josef Holmes
Location: Abu Dhabi
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"Knocking" Issue when turning- what could this be?

Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:04 pm

Hi there!!

Sadly I wasn't able to go out on a trip last week due to work!
However, over the last week, I've noticed an issue that seems to happen most (but not all) of the time.

Basically, I hear a "knock" or "clunk" sound whenever I'm turning. It's only one per turn, not many in a row or anything.

It's not loud, but noticeable- and is often accompanied by a vibration I can feel through the pedals/floor.
It sounds like it's coming from the front, and from below.

It tends to happen (or I only notice it) when doing sharper turns, which naturally I only do at low to moderate speeds.
Doing a U-turn or going around a roundabout are perfect examples when it almost always happens.

It doesn't happen immediately- sometimes a couple of seconds into the turn.
Then, sometimes I notice the same thing happen when straightening up or turning the other way.
Also it doesn't happen when turning the steering wheel fully when at a standstill, I don't think (unless it's very faint and I don't notice it).

It almost seems as though something is loose and only happens once when going one way, with it going back once going the other- so for example if I do two left turns in a row, it only happens during the first turn, and then will happen again when turning right.

This is pretty much the situation, and I feel uncomfortable doing anything too taxing until I've had it checked or fixed.
I'm going to take it to the garage asap, but was wondering if anyone could help me at least know what I should mention, or expect.

Many thanks in advance!

Can't wait to see you all again once I'm comfortable there is no longer an issue!

Joe
Jenniah
Rank: Senior
Name: Jenny
Location: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:29 pm

Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:46 pm

Possibly your CV joints Joe - here's some info I found which explains further:

The CV joints perform two purposes: one to allow for a flexible connection to your front wheels, which necessarily must also be able to turn and go up and down over bumps while still connected to the transmission--and the other to help allow for different speeds of the left and right wheels under power since, for example, when you turn one way or the other, the wheel on the outside of the turn must travel farther than the one on the inside of the turn. If they both turned at the same speed one would be scrubbing the road as the other completed its larger circle of travel.

Now, that said, these caged bearings inside the CV joint are surrounded by grease which is held in by a rubber boot (called a CV Boot). Often the boot fails--gets torn or worn out from use--and the grease either gets contaminated with dirt or escapes. In either case, the lack of grease, or contamination of grease causes the bearings to wear out, and as they do they no longer perform the job they were designed to do, and they begin to "knock" when you are going around turns because the CV-Joint begins to bind instead of rotating smoothly.
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Jenniah
meerkatdrummer
Rank: Senior
Name: Josef Holmes
Location: Abu Dhabi
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Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:57 pm

Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:14 pm

Hey Jen thank you for the reply and info!

It could be that! However, I have previously experienced a 'gone' CV joint (I'm pretty sure it was this, anyway- I think that's what the garage told me they had replaced, though my memory may be faulty!), which of course could have been a different problem and therefore a different sound- but this is a very different sound. Before when one went dodgy it was only on very sharp turns, specifically when in 4 wheel drive, and made a number of 'knocks' in quick succession making it sound like relatively fast and continuous fire from a machine gun.

This is only one 'knock' at a time, and actually I have a few extra observations to make after having just gone on a drive:

It seems to me as though something may be slightly loose, and makes a sound not necessarily as a result of turning itself, but as a result of the car's weight balance shifting from one side to the other when turning.
It just happened when moving from fairly shallow right turn directly into a left, (after the speed camera when coming from Saadiyat into Abu Dhabi), and happened when I was pretty much going straight, but the car's balance in the process of shifting across.
I also noticed that I can't really detect where is coming from in terms of back or front, though it does certainly seem as though it's from beneath.

Does this description help to illuminate any possible cause?
Jenniah
Rank: Senior
Name: Jenny
Location: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Posts: 1424
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:29 pm

Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:07 am

Dunno Joe, but when I read your second description - it made me think engine mounts. For sure, one of the guys would be able to answer your question better than me :)
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Jenniah
Osprey
Rank: Senior
Name: Jeff Evans
Location: Shouaiba, Al Ain
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Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:12 pm

Sounds like a CV joint

Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:11 pm

I had exactly that - only one direction, louder or only noisy on full lock and machine gun like - CV joint most likely. Could be the rubber "gaiter" which covers the joint has split and all the grease been thrown out. They are not particularly expensive. Inshallah you can just change the actual joint and not the shaft (like my awful VW which cost big bucks). Good luck with the repair (the famous Mehran in Al Ain didn't want to change mine as he said "no problem, make noise for 6 months, then change").

Had engine mounts changed on two vehicles and they generally produce a vibration, shudder or rumbling feeling whenever in neutral - not specifically from one side and not a knocking sound,....
Jenniah
Rank: Senior
Name: Jenny
Location: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Posts: 1424
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:29 pm

Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:44 pm

Joe - I talked to Lee about your car problems - he had another idea altogether... see if you can have a chat with him about it :)
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Jenniah
Jenniah
Rank: Senior
Name: Jenny
Location: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Posts: 1424
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 4:29 pm

Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:46 pm

BTW - where've you been hiding Jeff? Long time no see! :)
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Jenniah
meerkatdrummer
Rank: Senior
Name: Josef Holmes
Location: Abu Dhabi
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Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:36 pm

Hey thanks for your thoughts!

I'm finally able to take it to the garage today, so I'll see what he thinks- I just like to be as informed as possible before taking it in, so at least I have some idea of what it would be!

Not sure if you read my last post Jeff- the machine gun sound was from a problem I had before, this one if different- more like a single 'clunk'.

Though maybe this is the same problem but just not late enough down the line for it to develop into a machine gun sound.. either way I don't like the sound of it so want to get it checked asap!

I shall see if Lee's free for a chat, thank you!

Much appreciated, and hopefully see you all again sooner than later!
meerkatdrummer
Rank: Senior
Name: Josef Holmes
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 103
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:57 pm

Wed Feb 04, 2015 9:34 pm

Unfortunately still not fixed after a visit to the garage today- my rear and front bushes were extremely worn, however, so those were replaced.
He doesn't think it's anything to be seriously concerned about, so hopefully my wheels are not about to fall off.
Going back on Sunday to try and find the cause of the clunk sound, which seems at points to be getting progressively worse!

If anyone else has any ideas what this could be, please give me a shout!
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ScaVenger
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Name: Saleh Al R
Location: Abu Dhabi
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Thu Feb 05, 2015 8:07 am

hi joe, its process of elimination - check your suspension (nothing loose - coils, shocks,...) , drive shaft joints not worn out , steering bushes and steering stabilizer,.. some of the things you can check
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