|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
12-16-2008, 05:33 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 136991
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: St. Paul, MN
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon Silver |
Clunk When Turning Wheel - Memory Steer?
Hello all and thanks in advance for any help.
My problem: A while ago I noticed that my car seemed to be pulling pretty hard to one side, espcially when I was braking. So I figured I maybe had a bad caliper. Not the case. Next I hooked it up to an alignment rack. Alignment was spot on. Still pulled. After a while I figured out that the direction the car would pull would change. For some reason I never noticed before. Then I realized that the direction would change after a certain occurance happened. If I'm turning the wheel at low speeds I hear a clunk (usually very low like when you're trying to pull out of a steet parking spot and need to jostle the car a little back and forth to clear the bumper of the car ahead of you). Every time it clunks the car changes the direction it pulls. While reading what follows keep in mind that this problem occurred both before and after what was done. In fact, I did some of this work specifically to attempt to fix the problem. However, it was not until after the mods went in that I made the realization that the direction of the pull would change and that the change is related to the clunk. About 6 months ago I did some work to the suspension of the car: Sti Wagon Pink Springs, 20mm RSB, Kartboy Endlinks, and the Whiteline Steering Rack Bushings. After all was done I aligned the car again. Again it was perfect. But when pulling off the alignment rack, which requires a sharp turn at slow speeds, I heard the clunk. After the clunk I pulled the car back on the rack to examine the work that was done. I had the two mechanics in the shop who did most of the work check it out as well. Steering rack bushings were fine. Struts re-installed fine. First, is this what is considered "memory steer"? Second, where should I start in diagnosing this problem? Any ideas? Thanks again.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
12-16-2008, 05:45 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 151079
Join Date: Jun 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: College Park, MD
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS RBP too many friction losses |
How do the sway bar/endlink nuts and bolts look? I had a clunking similar to this in my car, but it wouldn't cause me to pull while braking (a nut was loose on the rear sway bar to endlink connection).
|
12-16-2008, 05:48 PM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 136991
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: St. Paul, MN
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon Silver |
Well, I'll check them again soon, but when I installed them they were all fine. And the clunk is definitely coming from the front. This may sound weird, but I can really feel it in my foot through the gas pedal.
|
12-16-2008, 06:06 PM | #4 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 21808
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: National Capital Region
Vehicle:02 GroceryGettAr Nonemore Black |
get the front up on stands and start wiggling things
double check that the rack isn't loose (able to move side-to-side) and then look for play in the tie rods (inner and outer both have ball joints) and the ball joints in the control arms |
12-16-2008, 06:20 PM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 141040
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Designing things
Vehicle:07 2.5i wagon UGM |
Sounds to me like the rack is slightly loose. Low speeds are when it's doing the most work, and so that's when it will slip.
EDIT: IIRC, the rack bolts should be ~40 ft/lbs Also, if the rack is loose you may not be able to tell just by grabbing it and shaking. Sounds like if it is loose, it's just slightly loose. |
12-17-2008, 11:35 AM | #6 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 136991
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: St. Paul, MN
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon Silver |
Quote:
|
|
12-17-2008, 11:37 AM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 141040
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
BAIC
Location: Designing things
Vehicle:07 2.5i wagon UGM |
Shouldn't matter too much. The rack is easy to access regardless. I would retorque those bolts right away, just to be sure. Then wiggle everything else, try to find some play in the ball joints and such.
|
12-17-2008, 11:46 AM | #8 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 151928
Join Date: Jun 2007
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Columbia, SC
Vehicle:09 Triumph S3 |
Quote:
|
|
12-17-2008, 11:49 AM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 21808
Join Date: Jul 2002
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: National Capital Region
Vehicle:02 GroceryGettAr Nonemore Black |
the best way to see if it's moving would be to have the front wheels on ramps so there's resistance to steering input - then watch underneath as someone turns the wheel side to side
but if you're just interested in fixing the problem not isolating it just have at 'em and tighten them up like sniper says, re-torque the endlink bolts while you're under there |
12-17-2008, 11:52 AM | #10 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 48199
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Vehicle:06 WRX WRB |
While its in the air grab the wheels and try to turn them back and forth. Have someone turn the steering wheel while you hold them. This shouldnt really be a tough problem to diag, you just need to find the slop in the steering...
|
12-17-2008, 11:55 AM | #11 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 48199
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Vehicle:06 WRX WRB |
Quote:
|
|
12-29-2008, 09:11 AM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 136991
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: St. Paul, MN
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon Silver |
Update:
After getting the car up in the air and shaking/tightening everything down I have to say I'm still not entirely sure. What I found: - The passenger side steering rack bushing does appear to be a little squished out from the mount. However, after a very thorough investigation that included one of those stethoscope looking things and turning the wheel while the suspension was under load, we concluded that the rack was not moving in the mount at all. There were also no rub/scuff marks on either side of the bushing or on the bushing itself and the bushing was gaped out the same on both sides. I, however, am still a little concerned about it. - Everything else was tight - However, we found that the passenger side upper bearing plate for the strut is bad. The thing clicks/creeks quite a lot while turning in either direction. However, we couldn't make it make the clunk noise I've been hearing. First, would a bad upper bearing plate cause what I described in my initial post? Second, now that I have to replace it, anyone have any suggestions for good aftermarket bearing plates? Third, should I be doing struts at the same time? (Car has almost 75k miles on it and is on the factory struts with STi wagon pink springs.) Thanks again for all the help. |
05-05-2009, 05:09 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 168343
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oklahoma
Vehicle:2005 saab 92x linear black |
i have been having the same problems. did you find a fix?
|
05-05-2009, 05:34 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 186257
Join Date: Aug 2008
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Orange County
Vehicle:2015 WRX Premium CBS |
i'm so glad that you posted this. i believe that i am having the same problems and i also feel the clunk on my pedals while i am driving. stinking annoying more than anything...
|
05-05-2009, 05:42 PM | #15 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 21392
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Vehicle:2018 E63S AMG MB Black/MB |
Quote:
|
|
05-05-2009, 05:45 PM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 21392
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Vehicle:2018 E63S AMG MB Black/MB |
wow , surprised being your car is fairly new, take it back to the dealer for strut and upper strut mount replacement .
|
05-05-2009, 05:51 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 186257
Join Date: Aug 2008
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: Orange County
Vehicle:2015 WRX Premium CBS |
i'm afraid that i can't do that cuz i've done some work with my suspension. i would've mentioned it earlier but i didnt wanna steal the thread. but since i'm on the topic, i have F/R swaybars with endlinks and used to have sti pink springs. when my car started making noise, i figured that my struts were going bad cuz of the sti springs. so i ended up getting bc racing coilovers but the noises are still there. they might've lessened a bit, but i still hear them. i still don't know what those noises are.
|
05-05-2009, 08:51 PM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 136991
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: St. Paul, MN
Vehicle:2004 WRX Wagon Silver |
Funny you guys should post in this thread now. I just did the strut/top hat install on Saturday.
That install did indeed fix my problem (after I finally got the install correct. See this thread: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1757229) I guess I can't pin it on the top hats since I did struts at the same time. But I would put my money on the top hats. |
05-05-2009, 08:55 PM | #19 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 21392
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NEW YORK CITY
Vehicle:2018 E63S AMG MB Black/MB |
Quote:
make sure you have it preloaded on the ground when doing adjustments to the end links. otherwise your going to have problems. |
|
07-25-2013, 04:43 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 330375
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: Beijing, PRC
Vehicle:2017 ARL10 GS200t White |
I have the similar problem after whiteline bushing installation and I wonder if it is the U-joint was loosed/off spec when my mechanic did it.
Quote from Bronson at outback forum: "UPDATE I think I found the source. It's the steering u-joint assembly that connects the steering rack and steering wheel assembly. The U-joint Subaru uses is fairly complicated with a weird bushing unit inbetween the two u-joints. While working on my Outback this weekend, I had the wheel off and could see the joint. I reached through and sure enough with some upward/downward tugging, I could get the joint to clunk quiet easily. The clunk is enough to actually feel and hear it through the tie rods and rack assembly. The play is only 1/8" or so (maybe less), but it's enough to cause noise. I also worked on my G35 this weekend and did the same test. The u-joint system was rock solid without an ounce of play. You can see the steering u-joint though the top and you can snake your hands down to grab it. I don't know what the fix would be. I need to look into this further." And the thread is #13 of this link http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/...problem-2.html I was almost going to replace the rack assembly as the rattling sensation is from the steering system for sure. The car has nothing but whiteline bushing. Steven |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Clunking when turning wheel in parking lot | kogs | Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) | 27 | 02-09-2007 08:55 PM |
Clunk when turning steering wheel | Hyper | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 4 | 08-31-2006 09:15 AM |
If you clunk when turning, check your steering rack bushings | djerickd | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 6 | 07-08-2006 04:46 PM |
Clunking noise when turning wheel | RunForest | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 0 | 11-08-2005 10:45 AM |
clunking noise when turning wheel | DJ_STI | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 4 | 09-10-2004 11:03 PM |