When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Well I put the front of the car jacked up. Turn the wheel to the right all the way, and i heard the popping sound coming from the front. Then i started turning the wheel back to center and heard the sound again on the way back.
Now the wheels are center, i tried this again turning to the right and I didn't hear it this time. Werid.
I partially took off the boot and tried my best to take pics. I dont think the steeing rack is bent which means easy replacement of tie rod assmy. Hopefully
Wow, it looks way more bent in that pic. You need to be under there and have someone turn wheel lock to lock so you can watch what's going on. At the very least, set up your phone to video and do it yourself.
The sound was happening before the suspension upgrade. Koni FSD suspension i might add.
I am going to jack the front up tomorrow and turn the wheel and see if the sound happens. It happens left or right uturn syle turn.
I was going to mention, don't expect any sound without a load on the wheels, but you already are on top of it.
OMG!!! That looks distressing bad to me! Difficult to believe the sounds along with the steering and handling of the car, didn't communicate any sooner, the issues or urgency, to you as the driver.
Maybe you should fix it and consider selling it...Just doesn't seem like the right set of wheels for your driving enjoyment? No communication between car and driver...
That really is a massive bend... Unless you were passed out drunk, you would know if you hit it... It would have bent the wheel and ruined the tire too.
I can only think of a couple of scenarios where you can get that kind of damage and not know it.
1) Someone borrowed the car, wrecked it, had the wheel repaired and didn't tell you.
2) Tow truck driver hooked the tie rod and winched the car.
3) Hit something sticking up out of the street with the tie rod... I would assume that other parts under the car would get hit too though...
4) Multiple personality disorder.
That is a very significant bend which would take a lot of wheel impact to occur, or the car has been towed/flatbedded incorrectly, or other reasons that jscott82 has pointed out. Scarey stuff!
This sort of damage can also affect the rack itself, but given it has been making noise for quite a while, you might have escaped any seal issues.
I would get a good shop to inspect your entire front suspension, including all the ball joints, A-arm joints, struts, towers, etc. to make sure nothing else is also damaged. If it all checks out, replace that arm and get the car aligned.
Check the rear as well, its common if this occurred during towing for the $#)($)(* drivers to use the toe control arms as a latch point, bending then as well.
And thanks for the advice, i will take it to the shop for inspection. The tire wear nothing out of the ususal from what i remember but ill go out and take a look.
I had same noise on a car a few years ago - we ended up replacing the top hat, the bearing was worn out and had some slop and would bind and then give. However, it can be a number of things, like the spring binding, but it sounds like the noise is coming lower than the top of the shock and is part of the rotation of the hub. Noise can be carried by the metal parts and be very misleading though so be very observant.
12-16-2014, 07:27 PM
