Grinding/clunk at low speed, turning right, spec C hatch
 

I picked up my 09 Spec C hatch 3 weeks ago, a fresh import with 19500 miles.
It`s handling is nothing short of spectacular, but from the moment I got it, the steering had a low grating noise when turning right, with an occasional repetitive clunk/clicking, from the near side front. This weekend, Mrs and I went on a c.400 mile road trip up around the midlands from the south coast, and had the geometry done by Peter Cambridge ex Prodrive/Bilstein this morning. By the afternoon, the noise had become much louder during carpark speed manoeuvres. This occurs without full lock, the grating noise is fairly constant with steering imput, and it seems worse when hot, but is there when cold
Any ideas would be much appreciated; my research has thrown up wheel bearing/hub, cv joint, top mount or diff ?
Thanks muchly.

Does it only do this during low speed manoeuvres ie parking and turning ?

Has your car got the dccd box ?

Siv :thumb:

Thanks for replying; yes it has dccd, on auto, and it is most apparent at low parking speeds, but the grinding can be heard at 40 +, until road noise etc drowns it. The clicking is very apparent at parking speed, less so at higher speeds.
I`m getting under there today to have a good look.

I'm pretty sure the noise is normal during low speed turns like parking etc.

As regards the noise when your up to speed then I would get it to a specialist as soon as, that's not right imo.

Driveshaft, diff, box, bearing ?

Sorry I can't help you anymore buddy :wonder:

Siv :thumb:

My hatch doesn't make any grinding noises at low turning speeds so I'd get it looked at ASAP

Power steering pump/belt maybe worth a check?

Martin

I was in a hawk yesterday with dccd and that clunked turning slowly...... Am I going mad or is that pretty normal ?

Lol

Siv :wonder:

Siv if dccd is not in auto it'll clunk you can by pass it by lifting the hand brake slightly tricking it in thinking hand brake is engaged... Mine doesn't clunk in auto but had a similar issue with steering so changed out the pas pump and belt now all sorted

Martin

phew..... cheers martin, im not going mad yet then :freak3:

Siv :thumb:

Power steering fluid is a bit low; went to take wheel off and now I`ve lost the locking nut ffs !

My blobeye did this, started when turning right, then progressed to turning left and right. As far as I know it was the front diff as it only happened when my foot was on the accelerator, if I lifted off or dipped the clutch the noise went away.

Took the opportunity to upgrade to a 6 speed box and problem solved.

Other suggestions people made to me:
Driveshafts, balljoints, steering rack.

Update the thread once it is solved as I struggled to find advice when searching.

I`ve been out for a drive and did some slow circles in a car park; it`s definately knocking loudly at low speed, turning right. As I get faster, it becomes a rumble, so grinding is the wrong description.
Thanks for all your replies.

Not to insult you, you haven't got a stone or something stuck in your tyre?

I'd be checking everything from wheel arch rubbing on the inside to drop links and roll bars being tight :)

I was going to get the wheel off to look at everything but I have somehow lost the locking nut key like a knob, so ordered one up.....just take a photo of it and id and they send you a new one !

Looks like the arb bushes or droplinks at the moment

:thumb: You would be surprised at the racket a loose/warn arb bush or link can make :) Drove me mental for a couple of weeks before I got under mine lol :)

Get someone to drive your car in slow tight circles while you listen closely outside so you can identify where the noise is coming from. I had the same low speed noises and listening out of the car easily pin pointed a wheel bearing had gone. This had been going on for some time and it meant replacing the hub too.

Did you discover what it was mate? Have a similar thing up with mine

Check out the Perrin website. I read on there about a particular front bushing they found that fails / shears on the hatches, more often than not. Can not remember which one .. but deffo worth a look

Thanks....it`s still not fixed, and getting worse. It isn`t the arb/drop links, and Apostle you may be right as it may be the wishbone rear bush. It is going to Rally Prep near Newquay in October to be looked over.