What's causing my steering to make 'click' noises?

[Ozz]

Greetings,
My steering has recently developed a little play and kind of pops or ticks when I turn it from side to side about 1/2 inch. I can't seem to isolate the sound but I put the car on jack stands last weekend and had my wife move the wheel and it seems that the sound is either coming from the right tie rod or the bearing where the steering shaft goes through the fire wall. I can feel the play in the wheel when I hit a series of small bumps on the road... the wheel jiggles side to side and I hear (and feel) the noise.

I never had the issue before...

Long story short, I was in a front end accident a month ago. Damage was to sheetmetal only. As part of the repair, they did an alignment though. The specs turned out to be: camber -.2, -.4; caster 5.3, 5.7, toe 0.

Can anybody tell me what's going on? Might this be accident related? Am I just feeling this because I have zero toe in? Any suggestions???

THANKS!

[Dragcity]

Ozz, I had a click while turning my wheel. It turned out to be the steering shaft, in the engine bay. There was a metal coollar on a line thet was rubbing on the shaft. When I turned the wheel, the shaft grabbed the collar and it clicked. I Zip tied the line back in its appropriate place and no more click.

I know it sounds odd, but you could really feel it in the wheel. Give it a look at...

I think that line goes to the tranny or something. Black plastic with a silver collar.

[Ozz]

Dragcity,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will check that.

What I'm feeling and hearing reminds me of the play in the steering box on my old Mustang. There is a little play between turning right and left as the meshing of the gears is not perfect. I had to dial in extra caster to keep it from wondering within the slack zone.

[Black_Noise]

its possible it could be the outer tie rod ends....

ask me how i know (when i had my camaro)

[Ozz]

I stopped by the repair shop and they instantly said it was the intermediate shaft. During my accident the air bag went off. That is the only thing they can think of that could have caused the shaft to go bad so quickly.

Another thing is that even though the alignment specs are correct, the car tends to push to the left on the highway, etc. They already adjusted it once. I am thinking I will ask them to put it (back) on the frame machine and check it.

[Dragcity]

Ozz, Sorry it wasn't the easy fix I was hoping for.

Good luck.

[Aren Jay]

In my 86 Mustang, I had a steering wheel click, which I narrowed down to the sleeve on the steering wheel. It later was fixed when the wheel developed play, slipping about an 1/8 of a turn when turning right. I had to replace the steering shaft, IIRC.

Check for sleeve catches as noted above but also pay attention you might have to replace the whole works.

As for damage to the front end, due to your collision, it is entirely possible. Does your Marauder pull to one side when driving straight?

I just reread and see that it pulls to the left.

Did you use the new alignment specs?

See here: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42387

[Ozz]

Yea, the car pulls very slightly to the left even though I had them use Carfixer's specs - or pretty close to them. They backed off the caster just enough to get it into spec (5.3 and 5.7 instead of 6+ that Carfixer advocates). They even commented that based on the specs they used, it should be pulling right if anything.
I'm thinking I need to insist they check the frame - even though it was not directly damaged in the accident.

[magindat]

I think it's your CV joints.

[Breadfan]

I think it's your CV joints.

On a Marauder?

[magindat]

On a Marauder?

:shake: Yeah!

"It's a Front-wheel drive unit body car." - nationwide insurance adjuster 2005

:stupid:

[mcb26]

I had a ticking noise in my truck too, turned out to be a Honda Civic in the wheel well:D

[magindat]

I had a ticking noise in my truck too, turned out to be a Honda Civic in the wheel well:D

See?! Told ya it was CV joints !!!!!! :laugh:

[Paul]

I think it's your CV joints.


Don't listen to him! He told me the same thing when I was new. :loco:

:D

Mine turned out to be loose locking lug nuts - previous owner put wrong type on, used washers to make em fit, and didn't put them on very tight. Washer would shift when turning and make clicking noises.

I also had some play in the wheel when I bought car, had dealer change out part of the steering column in the engine compartment - not sure what the part was called though.

[Ozz]

Obviously not CV joints so I just ignored that comment...:shake:

The repair shop (Ford dealer) got approval from the insurance company to replace the intermediate steering shaft - the steering linkage that goes from the rack to the steering wheel. Hopefully that will fix it - and then a 3rd alignment will stop the slight leftward pull...
Perhaps I need to tell them that I spend most of my time in the fast lane and that lane is always crowned to the left. ;)

[magindat]

I think it's your CV joints.


Don't listen to him! He told me the same thing when I was new. :loco:

That was YOU?! :laugh:


Mine turned out to be loose locking lug nuts - previous owner put wrong type on, used washers to make em fit, and didn't put them on very tight. Washer would shift when turning and make clicking noises.

I remember that!


Obviously not CV joints so I just ignored that comment...:shake:

I got scolded last time for messin with the noobs, too!!!! :rolleyes:


The repair shop (Ford dealer) got approval from the insurance company to replace the intermediate steering shaft - the steering linkage that goes from the rack to the steering wheel. Hopefully that will fix it - and then a 3rd alignment will stop the slight leftward pull...
Perhaps I need to tell them that I spend most of my time in the fast lane and that lane is always crowned to the left. ;)

Glad you're on your way!!! :beer:

[Paul]

ROFLMAO :D

:beer: