Hi guys,

I need help!

My R53 makes a quite loud click noise when turning the steering wheel, especilly at low speed like when parking. This is not a noise from inside the car, it is around the steering rack or column in the engine bay. The volume level of the noise comes and goes.

Please help with what this is?!

P.S. I read there is a collar in the steering column that can make a click inside the car (and mine does a tiny bit) but I think this is something else?

 

You said the noise isn't coming from inside the car so that would seem to rule out the steering column.

Have you checked the boots on the axles?

If they are torn and have been open for awhile the cv joints will start to make noise. Most noticeable when turning sharply and slowly.

 

More information:

I do hear the sound from inside the car, but it is obviously coming from the other side of the bulkhead. The sound is louder outside the car. Sometimes it's faint, other times clearly audible.

An importiant point I think - the sound doesn't just happen once in each direction of wheel turning. If I keep turning the steering wheel in one direction it can happen 2-3 times, but not always. A slack ball joint for example might only make a sound on change of direction.

No damage to the CV boots.

Also no sound when the wheels are not under the weight of the car, which suggests part of the steering mech to me, as it will have to work harder when the car in on the ground.

On the other hand, CV joints are at a more extreme angle when the car is jacked up and wheels drop. I hear no noise from that area.

I pulled on the wheels top / bottom and side / side. No play. So suggests bushes are and wheel bearings are good. It also suggests my inital thought of inner steering arm joints is not the issue or I'd hear / feel slack when pulling the wheels.

Also no visual damage to the struts and springs.

Sound wise, it seems to be coming from the area where the steering column enters the rack.

 

The double joint in the steering column is known to go bad. I would think you would also notice some free play in your steering.

The noise sounds like classic bad CV joint. Any chance someone rebooted a bad CV joint? Or installed a cheapy aftermarket axle?

 

Does it make the noise if you're not moving? That would rule out the cv joint

 

You can see in the video the car isn't moving

 

There's a video?

Sorry I can't see one on my phone

 

Oh really? Does this work better?

 

That's weird a noise.

I wouldn't think the steering u-joint would make a noise like that but does it look ok?

Hopefully the rack isn't the problem, but I'm not sure what else could make a noise like that.

Does it steer badly when you're drivng it?

 

Steers fine.

A while back I had a gentle wobble from the steering only under braking at high speed. However it dissapeared so I put it down to pad build up. It might be connected or not - perhaps the wobble forced something the wrong way in the rack?

 

anybody know where I can see a technical drawing of the parts inside the steering rack? It may help me figure out what the noise is.

 

And I just noticed the passenger side top strut mount rubber is broken. I'm not sure why I didn't see it before!

I can notice the sqeek when turning but I'm not sure this is going to make the clicking sound?

Needs doing though. Joy!

I've also leanred the rack itself has a bush on one end so that is a point to check on.




R53 damaged top strut mount rubber.

 

I changed the strut mount today. Ride is now a little smoother and there is no groaning from the strut side... but the clicking noise from around the steering rack remains!!

Oh bumming hell!

My guess now is the bearing where the steering column enters the top of the rack. I wonder how easy it is to replace.

The good news is I don't seem to have any mushrooming on either strut tower.

 

Okay guys, help me out here! There must be someone who has disassembled the R50/R53 steering rack?

I think the loud clicking noise I hear is coming from the top section of the rack circled below.

Can I remove this vertical part by un-bolting and withdrawing from the main horizontal rack section? (and what exactly will I find inside it?)

I realise it is full of juice so I really don't want to have a go and then find it doesn't come off.

Help!