Cracking while turning at idle

BlakeS94

Car is making what I'd call a cracking/popping sound when turning at low speed or just dry steering, especially if I'm reversing into a parking space.

It goes *crack* *crack* *crack* as I turn the wheel from centre to full lock and back.

I'm making an educated guess at outer CV joint, just looking for confirmation by those of you who are blessed with more knowledge than I, before I go spending.

T.I.A

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058315409/cracking-while-turning-at-idle

If you're stationary or very slow it's unlikely to be a CV joint. More likely to be shock top bearing sticking. Get some beautiful assistant to turn the steering while you watch/feel front springs. If the swivel is sticking - the spring will shudder.

BlakeS94

Strut top mounts and bearings were replaced start of this year

BlakeS94

It's quite a loud noise

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121156756#Comment_121156756

Steering rack? Or even the U joints in the shaft itself?

Hellrazer

What car is it?

I dont know what your driving these days:)

Doesnt sound like a CV joint - easiest way to check is find an empty big space lock the wheels and do a full circle. CV joint sounds like a loud clicking sound that gets louder on acceleration. Obviously do it clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Could be the steering shaft - check and see if the bolt going to the rack is loose about half way down the shaft theres a joint.

You said top shock mounts were done - Id be checking for a broken spring - that would be my first guess.

Alexander Shulgin

Fully lock steering either way , turn off engine, restart and start to move off slowly , if you hear popping or clunk then it's CV joints !

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121157359#Comment_121157359

Haha it's a 2010 Mondeo 2.0Tdci, have it for about 2 and a half years now, plan to drive it as long as possible, the idea of changing cars doesn't appeal to me anymore.

I actually checked the shaft a few months back, thought it was making noise, although quiet, I cleaned it as much as I could inside the car and sprayed Lithium grease on the U-J's. Could be that manifesting.

Broken spring might be going down the right path, I changed the top mounts myself, wasn't fun I had to take everything apart to avoid going at the strut pinch bolt which is known to break. Springs looked decent then but could be a tiny break at the very bottom or top, car ride height hasn't changed.

To rule out the CV joint, it has no trouble putting down power so maybe it's not an axle issue, and the sound doesn't happen at speed.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121157406#Comment_121157406

Will try that, never heard of turning off and restarting the engine while doing it though.

Love the username ;)

Alexander Shulgin

It was a tip from a mechanic, fully lock first before turning off and restarting, do it for both locks !

Alexander Shulgin

Should have added , drive in a circle , keep lock on wheel as you drive !

antodeco

I sometimes get the same but I just assumed it was the tyres going over small stones/unever surface!

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158364#Comment_121158364

Definitely not that

BlakeS94

Just to update this for anyone else experiencing a similar issue it was infact the 1 year old strut top mount bearings. Replaced entire assembly and sound was gone completely, maybe I installed them wrong the 1st time around, strut nut too tight possibly.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122475775#Comment_122475775

What brand were they?

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122476167#Comment_122476167

KYB, I've the same on again this time around so hoping it was me and not the part because I'm not taking those fkin struts apart again 😅