Knocking sound at full steering lock

**macmillions** · 06-01-2009,08:16 PM

As the title suggests, my 1.8 GL Golf (with no power steering) has starting making a knocking sound when steering at full lock.
This can be felt through the steering wheel slightly too. As far as I'm aware this only appears to be when reversing, or at least is more pronounced.

Could anyone suggest what the cause of this may be? And any possible solutions?

**Bigman_10** · 07-01-2009,10:24 PM

C.V. joints may well be kippered jack if it comes from just one side jack that side up with the wheels on full lock and spin the wheel, hard to notice without driving but you may feel knocking or hear it faintly.

**macmillions** · 07-01-2009,10:38 PM

Ok thanks for that. Will check this weekend (or at least when its warmer!) Is the car safe to drive whilst this is going on?
If it is the CV joints, how much would it cost to repair/replace? and I assume they would be done in pairs?

**jason_a_1989** · 10-01-2009,05:13 PM

I wouldn't dsrive it for too long, one of my cars was like that until it one day seized up. Not always replaced in pairs, You can pick them up cheap and easy to replace!

**macmillions** · 10-01-2009,05:58 PM

Good good.
Not intending to drive it too much, but I'm having to wait until my mate (who is a mechanic) get back off his hols.
Was speaking to my workmates and they said its most probably the CV joints too, although said some car makes (namely the french ones) you have to drain the gearbox oil and do LOADS of stuff in order to change it (i cant remember all the details to be honest as I was fretting too much). Is it just a case of undo-ing a big nut, dropping the driveshaft, replacing the joint and refitting the driveshaft on the Golf though?

**jason_a_1989** · 11-01-2009,10:54 AM

Yeah thats it, you can do it by knocking the joint off while its still on the car

**macmillions** · 11-01-2009,11:10 AM

Thats a relief then.
I was expecting a large bill if it was gonna be a big job. Hopefully it will be as simple as you suggest and be as cheap as chips!

Now I've said it...

**macmillions** · 16-01-2009,08:36 PM

Well,

I took the car to my mate (who's a mechanic) and he thoroughly insepected all the possible culprits and found nothing!

Didnt cost me a penny. He just says to leave it until its MOT (which ill let him do anyway).

so thats a result!

**zollaf** · 16-01-2009,08:53 PM

as has been said already, a worn cv joint wont always be noticeable other than on a test drive, but a knocking is a sign that its on its way out. it also wont fail an mot like that, as the tester wont be able to feel any play in it. it may have a split cv boot that will fail however. now it may go on for many more miles as it is, and is unlikely to seize as there will still be grease in there, as long as the boot is intact. it may be worth pulling the boot back on both sides and packing them full of grease, to prolong their life a little.

**macmillions** · 16-01-2009,09:19 PM

Thanks for that. Will definately keep an eye on it (or an ear out!) As he said, if it gets any worse then he'l take a look. but he looked at the top mounts, ball joints, driveshaft and cv joints. Also said nothing about the boot being split. Anyway, if it fails its mot, I will b having words with him (as its only next month.)

Ill be able to fill the boot up with grease at work, so will do that asap.
I dont know if this could be related, but I currently have 15/195/R50's on the car (bought with the car) so was wondering if it could be these rubbing at full lock?
And also, when travelling at between 60-65mph the steering wheel vibrates. I assume this is the allignment, but just wondering if its all linked?