hi all

got the suspension installed yesterday and the alignment was done today
however, on the roadtest the person who aligned it said that there is a "click" from the wheel(he reckons its the steering wheel collum itself).however on my roadtest and coming home from work, i found that a "knock" sound appears from the RHF wheel.strut tops were replaced when the shocks were done

it only happens when the car is decelerating with the wheels slightly turned

i may have located this problem down to the driveshafts as per further research
does anyone know any good places for reconditioned driveshafts???

and the average cost for install?

Are you sure the springs were fitted correctly john? If you dont line the strut top up with the strut im told it will rattle over bumps etc

4sp style reco Driveshafts for the magna seem to be around the $80-100 mark. Brand new will be significantly more from most places. From memory, Mal used to ask around $140 mark for a brand new driveshaft.
Labour is usually around $80-100 per hour and they're probably going to charge around 2-3 hours of labour. Driveshaft replacement is DIY with a few tools and a bit of know-how. The hardest part is getting enough leverage to crack the driveshaft hub bolt because that can be a real b**ch to break.

What gives you the impression that it's the driveshaft that's causing the issue?

4sp style reco Driveshafts for the magna seem to be around the $80-100 mark. Brand new will be significantly more from most places. From memory, Mal used to ask around $140 mark for a brand new driveshaft.
Labour is usually around $80-100 per hour and they're probably going to charge around 2-3 hours of labour. Driveshaft replacement is DIY with a few tools and a bit of know-how. The hardest part is getting enough leverage to crack the driveshaft hub bolt because that can be a real b**ch to break.

What gives you the impression that it's the driveshaft that's causing the issue?

by doing some research on the forum and the internets
there were also a few other possible causes such as one caliper grabbing hard to create a knock

rush im not sure, was installed by a mechanic at work(tynan).strut tops are new as i put the order through myself
i will get a third party to look though. i have a service coming up at a new mechanic so will get them to check

out of curiosity i shall see how much new driveshafts are from mits and if they are avaliable at work

More news

Discovered its technically a clunk when turning the steering.and that it diminishes when the power steering kicks in

One thread i read said the diff in the gearbox???

Seems either gearbox,driveshafts or steering rack/collum

I have a shock that can be felt in the wheel when the car travels over a dip, or occassionally on a turn. When the nose dives into the dip, on compression of the shocks, then there's a tap or minor shock that is clearly felt in the wheel. There's a deep smooth dip that I always drive over on the way to work and it always happens.
This is a KL. I just assumed something is knocking near the steering column and I haven't worried about it. Actually, I guess it shouldn't be happening so maybe I should follow up on it.

I'm curious to understand how the driveshaft could be a source of that kind of shock?

More news

Discovered its technically a clunk when turning the steering.and that it diminishes when the power steering kicks in

One thread i read said the diff in the gearbox???

Seems either gearbox,driveshafts or steering rack/collum

This is what happens if you research a car problem on the internet, you get a dozen different answers! Follow up on them blindly and I can see you replace the gearbox, driveshafts and steering rack with the clunk still there afterwards! lol

Get off the computer, get under the car and check everything in the front end - are the new springs seated correctly, is there any play in the drive shafts? Jack both front wheels off the ground, and turn the steering wheel lock to lock. Look for the springs moving about on their top and bottom seats, check tie rod and wheel bearing play, etc.

No substitute for hands on learning and fault finding!

PS Had front disc pads replaced recently and someone left the shims out? Pads can move about otherwise and cause a clunk.

Are you sure the springs were fitted correctly john? If you dont line the strut top up with the strut im told it will rattle over bumps etc

Check this first.

If the 'knock'/ 'click'/ whatever wasn't there before the work was done, start by checking the work again.....even if you have to take it somewhere else. People do & can make mistakes - even the 'professionals'! No point in spending big $$$ to fix a problem that might not even be there. :)

Check this first.

If the 'knock'/ 'click'/ whatever wasn't there before the work was done, start by checking the work again.....even if you have to take it somewhere else. People do & can make mistakes - even the 'professionals'! No point in spending big $$$ to fix a problem that might not even be there. :)

My strut tops clunk when turning

ok took the car to the mechanic to diagnose the problem
this is whats causing the clunk:

front left bushes
front near side wheel bearing

the mechanic also found that the steering shudders when braking(another thing that happened after the wheel alignment) and has nailed it down to either the front brake discs or the steering box/collum

ok took the car to the mechanic to diagnose the problem
the mechanic also found that the steering shudders when braking(another thing that happened after the wheel alignment) and has nailed it down to either the front brake discs or the steering box/collum

I have this issue, would like to find the cause however my rotors have been recently machined and my pads AFAIK are in great knick.

ok took the car to the mechanic to diagnose the problem
this is whats causing the clunk:

front left bushes
front near side wheel bearing


These would be either of the lower control arm bushes, theres a front and a rear, I hope when he says near wheel bearing hes not talking about the ball joint, Id like to know if it is infact the bushing whether its the front or rear on the control arm.

These would be either of the lower control arm bushes, theres a front and a rear, I hope when he says near wheel bearing hes not talking about the ball joint, Id like to know if it is infact the bushing whether its the front or rear on the control arm.

when i refer to near side i refer to the left hand side so basically the front left wheel(the mechanics at work use this term when they need parts).i know which control arm bushes i need which is the rear ones on the control arm.i was under the car and he showed me.


I have this issue, would like to find the cause however my rotors have been recently machined and my pads AFAIK are in great knick.

it could also be the whole steering collum as when he took it for a test drive he said that it should not be vibrating that much through the collum.he then looked at the joint where the steering collum joins to the rack(i think its called the steering box). the mechanic is going to machine the discs( or i get slotted ones lol) before he has to change the whole collum

its hard to explain it in words so i will get some pictures to help

when i refer to near side i refer to the left hand side so basically the front left wheel(the mechanics at work use this term when they need parts).i know which control arm bushes i need which is the rear ones on the control arm.i was under the car and he showed me.



it could also be the whole steering collum as when he took it for a test drive he said that it should not be vibrating that much through the collum.he then looked at the joint where the steering collum joins to the rack(i think its called the steering box). the mechanic is going to machine the discs( or i get slotted ones lol) before he has to change the whole collum

its hard to explain it in words so i will get some pictures to help

I would love it if after getting the rotors machined you can let me know whether the mechanic still thinks it the box or not.

Also would love some pictures, pictures are always good.

hi all

got the suspension installed yesterday and the alignment was done today
however, on the roadtest the person who aligned it said that there is a "click" from the wheel(he reckons its the steering wheel collum itself).however on my roadtest and coming home from work, i found that a "knock" sound appears from the RHF wheel.strut tops were replaced when the shocks were done

it only happens when the car is decelerating with the wheels slightly turned

I believe this could be as suggested; the strut top isn't aligned with the strut. I've never heard the noise from a misaligned strut top but considering suspension was recently upgraded it would be the first thing I'd check. As a opposed to spending money trying fix other problems.

I would love it if after getting the rotors machined you can let me know whether the mechanic still thinks it the box or not.

Also would love some pictures, pictures are always good.
No problem,however maybe after easter i will be going back

And this is a pic of the join i talk about
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o544/johnvirus_01/20130317_150103_zps3636aa7e.jpg
To replace is to replace the whole collum

Well at least its not the rack itself because I have just had a reco-ed one fitted.

Did he said what he saw that made him think it was the column?

Well at least its not the rack itself because I have just had a reco-ed one fitted.

Did he said what he saw that made him think it was the column?

He put a clamp or so on the above join and asked dad to move the wheel an inch left and right.i think he felt a clunking or so in that inch it moved.

Also with the collum it is actually a 2 piece part i found out from the mitau catalogue

I will snap a pic to explain