Clonk when turning steering

[TenaciousC]

Hello,

For some time I've been getting a loud clonk when turning the steering from left to right lock.

If only happens in that direction, and emanates from the front lower left suspension, and resonates through the anti-roll bar.

Car is handling reasonably well, and other than the noise, all seems well.

Could it be as simple as the antiroll bar drop link?

Cheers for any ideas.

C

[t5 stealth]

is it while stationary or when moving,
sounds like it might be a lower swivel joint,
if you jack up each side and have a pull around on the wheel and various componants you may feel or see something move,
look closely at lower swivel etc ...or even use a screwdriver or lever bar to load up the parts to see if it moves,

[MWT5]

Also check bottom wishbone bushes.

[Porcine_Aviator]

Wot they said

and

Worn track rod end, top suspension mount worn, wheel bearing or as you say a drop link.
Jack her up and block her off, start the engine and the get someone to turn the wheel from left to right,while you go and look at and listen the steering.

Make sure that you trust the person turning the steering wheel, and your life insurance is paid up.

[merc85]

Ive had this twice, both off side front on two different 850's check the tightness of the wishbone bolts in the subframe mine were both loose!

[Vikingxl]

I had this once and found i had a granny with one of those tartan shopping trolley things trapped in the wheel arch

[Porcine_Aviator]

I had this once and found i had a granny with one of those tartan shopping trolley things trapped in the wheel arch

You're not taking this seriously are you Viking

[mightywolf]

just had this problem with mine. Even the garage couldn't work it out. Turned out to be the stop lock on the wishbone. Still haven't worked out how to stop it catching though! Copper grease has made it a lot better but its still there.

[Flatout Phil]

Wishbone bush IMHO. Order whole assembly from Rufe about £90 - or waste a bit less on some Powerflex bushes, fanny around fitting them, and watch them last for a few months Easy to test, get someone to gently run the car back and forward really slowly by about 2ft, and apply the footbrake - the offending side usually swivels the steering just slightly but perceptibly out of true. Sometimes you can feel this kick-back coming back through the steering wheel as you pull to a final halt.
Swapping a wishbone requires a few ordinary spanners, a bit of common sense, a trolley jack and an axle stand. Takes me about 45 mins a side - call it an hour with a tea break.

Drop links tend to have a knock that you hear over any uneveness in the road. It is worth checking the intergity of the top-mount rubber by lifting the bonnet sitting on the wing and trying to twist the metal disc at the top of the strut under the bonnet - if you can rotate it, the rubber is shot and needs replacing. But this usually creates a graunchy noise and a knock noise form the upper suspension. Drop links are such that if they don't need replacing now, they will soon - so probably worth doing anyway. I use stock Volvo from Rufe, IPD are about the same price but don't last because of a poorly designed rose joint. I wouldn't bother with a pattern part. Take a passing look at the ARB bushes.
If you drive round in a tight circle and hear a clunk, clunk, clunk, the outer CV joint is shot.

[TenaciousC]

Wishbone bush IMHO. Order whole assembly from Rufe about £90 - or waste a bit less on some Powerflex bushes, fanny around fitting them, and watch them last for a few months Easy to test, get someone to gently run the car back and forward really slowly by about 2ft, and apply the footbrake - the offending side usually swivels the steering just slightly but perceptibly out of true. Sometimes you can feel this kick-back coming back through the steering wheel as you pull to a final halt.
Swapping a wishbone requires a few ordinary spanners, a bit of common sense, a trolley jack and an axle stand. Takes me about 45 mins a side - call it an hour with a tea break.

Funny you should mention Powerflex.... I wrote the book on it ;-)

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19727

Do we feel that Powerflex bushes don't last very well?? I thought they were supposed to be harder than the originals? - These are two years old now.

Drop links tend to have a knock that you hear over any uneveness in the road. It is worth checking the intergity of the top-mount rubber by lifting the bonnet sitting on the wing and trying to twist the metal disc at the top of the strut under the bonnet - if you can rotate it, the rubber is shot and needs replacing. But this usually creates a graunchy noise and a knock noise form the upper suspension. Drop links are such that if they don't need replacing now, they will soon - so probably worth doing anyway. I use stock Volvo from Rufe, IPD are about the same price but don't last because of a poorly designed rose joint. I wouldn't bother with a pattern part. Take a passing look at the ARB bushes.
If you drive round in a tight circle and hear a clunk, clunk, clunk, the outer CV joint is shot.

ARB bushes mean new ARB bar - unbolt subframe etc? or is there another way?

Cheers

C

[Flatout Phil]

Funny you should mention Powerflex.... I wrote the book on it ;-)

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19727

Do we feel that Powerflex bushes don't last very well?? I thought they were supposed to be harder than the originals? - These are two years old now.




ARB bushes mean new ARB bar - unbolt subframe etc? or is there another way?

Cheers

C

I think that PFS do an ARB bush kit but quite honestly I doubt it works that well, I would fit IPD ARB because they are such an improvement - and yes, you can do it yourself (you have to lower the steering box, and release the rear of subframe - although not as dramatic as it sounds), but TBH I got my local Volvo Indy to fit them for about 1.5 hours labour (both sets).
As for the Powerflex - well, I know Powerflex had some quality issues, and it could be that I had a duff set, but the clonky problem arose about a year after fitment - and I do have a replacement set (two infact) but will only fit them when the Volvo bushes fail - and they haven't yet. I do think that if I had them, it would just give the handling the edge - but as and when, as and when And it is a most excellent posting you did on the fitment.

[TenaciousC]

I'm no expert but I think it was the bottom ball joint.

[JUDGENINJA]

Wow impressive!!!

If ever there was a lesson in not ignoring issues there it is..

[Shadow]

wow i think you got off lightly usually when that happens it destroys the wing.

[M-R-P]

Holy ££££! bloody good job you weren't doing 70!

[Kingsford G]

Ive had this twice, both off side front on two different 850's check the tightness of the wishbone bolts in the subframe mine were both loose!

No wonder with a heavy foot like yrs lol they bound to loosen up

[TenaciousC]

Holy ££££! bloody good job you weren't doing 70!

Yes that would been interesting! That happened at about 20mph. The repair actually only required a lower arm and cv boot. I also changed the nearside lower arm as this was of the same vintage as the failed one.

As JUDGENINJA said, there is a lesson to be learnt here about putting off suspension repairs. Ironically the car was booked in next Monday for this work to be done!

So point well taken!

C

PS it no longer clonks!

[Volvostorm]

Wow! that is a bit scary!