Mystery Noise

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

I have developed a mystery noise which I can't seem to locate. It appears to come from front right (drivers) wheel area only. I can replicate it when I climb a kerb with that wheel (or drive off the kerb) and the noise seems to be similar to a spring compressing noise or a gentle knock?

At the first look all bushes look OK (not 100% about the swaybar bushes). Not sure if it's anything to do with the fact that if I drive over a speed hump (if I let go off the steering wheel it will turn a little both ways by itself? Don't think it's done it before). Any ways of checking steering rack bushes?

[Fozzy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fozzy]

Pjorek,

I had a similar noise (I think), it was coming from the bush that hides behind the wheel alignment adjustment bolt, once it was replaced all was well.

Cheers,

Dave

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Thanks Dave,

How did you diagnose it? How do I check bushes in general? Probe them?

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Thanks Dave,

How do I check bushes in general? Probe them?

That could see you jailed. Especially if you don't know the owner of the bush. That said, asking if it's ok first should avoid any nasty claims. (That's what my lawyer said)

On a more serious note, most of the time the unidentifiable noises I get are caused by stones stuck in the tread, these are rhythmic though and directly correlate to speed if that helps.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Bush probing eh?

this isn't rhythmic unfortunately. On the road I can only hear it when I climb a kerb/driveway or when I drive off one.

[DISHoh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DISHoh]

Ball joint? Old car had loose but not visibly stuffed upper ball joints, only occasionally made a knocking sound on bumps.
Easiest way to pinpoint it was to lift the car up, take the wheel off and jiggle the disc/ hub up and down.

[Slarps Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Slarps]

Just gone through the same problem. I first thought the shocker was gone so I got that checked and was told it was the bushes. The problem persisted so I took it back and they came to me telling me that the side steps were broken and I could feel the rattle through the steering wheel from them. So I removed the steps and still no change. It felt like every time the wheel dropped away the steering would rattle. So I took it back again (fortunately under dealer used warranty) and they finally probed the bushes a bit further and found the rack needed replacing. Hoping to get it back tomorrow with it all fixed. Unfortunately they have taken 11 days to find and get parts to fix this at a toyota dealer.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Will jack up the car and have a look at the ball joints first. How do I tell which whether the lower or upper is playing up?

[Slarps Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Slarps]

Got a call from north point last night to tell me they replaced the steering rack but they said the noise is still there so they still are trying to diagnose it

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Could be a ball joint or possibly a rack end or even the rack itself.
Had been chasing a similar noise in my 95 Series. Sounded for all money to be RHF wheel area & was play in the rack.

Regards, Jason.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

Mine doesn't have any vibration through the steering wheel.

Jason ball joints, just jack it up and check for up and down play? how do i test rack ends?

[Guest Close Guest]

Give everything under there a good move and it will be obvious Where any play is.

[wholesalesuspension Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close wholesalesuspension]

Jack it up and wiggle wheel left & right. Should be able to feel play.
If someone can help you, you can go underneath & hold all the joints as they wiggle to feel which one has the play.

Regards, Jason.