Advice on a weird noise when turning...

[lgch25]

Hi

I've gathered there are a lot of very clever mechanically minded people on this site so wanted some advice.

When turning corners in my car in second or third gear (i.e. roundabouts) I can hear a knocking sound, sounds like it is coming from the front of the car. Its not particuarly loud and does seem to speed up / slow down depending on the speed I am going, and also seems worse when I am turning in one direction than turning in the other, although it can be heard when doing either.

My car was MOT'd last week and passed so I'm not worried that it is necessarily anything serious, and the car was making the moise before the MOT. I'm thinking of taking it to the garage for them to have a look but I'm just wondering what people think it might be?

[flyingdoc]

If you are getting a knocking on turning then IMHO one of the CV joints is on its way out.
Also could be a wheel bearing but I would expect that to come up on MOT (excessive play)
CV joints might not show as long as the boots were in good order, as the car is not road tested.

[DF_Jordan]

I had something similar on my old Rover. I was told by a friend that it was the wheel bearing, as his oll car had the same. That itself is not grounds for failing an MOT but it's worth getting it looked at. What car do you have? If it's got age then I'd get it looked at post haste.

[flyingdoc]

That itself is not grounds for failing an MOT

I am sorry but a defective wheel bearing Is most definately grounds to fail an MOT.
( this is where some MOT examiner comes on and tells me I am talking carp but this is certainly my understanding)

[DF_Jordan]

You're probably right. I just made the assumption that it would pass based on the fact that my car did. It was probably a mis-diagnosis from my friend. They didn't mention it at all when I went in to pick it up...

[gwc1000]

Knocking on lock is normally a worn CV joint, on front wheel drive cars. If it is louder when turning right it is the n/s and if louder when turning left it is the o/s. Check the rubber gaiter on the joint there is probably a split which has let the grease out and water in.

[Conniff]

Originally Posted by flyingdoc

I am sorry but a defective wheel bearing Is most definately grounds to fail an MOT.
( this is where some MOT examiner comes on and tells me I am talking carp but this is certainly my understanding)

You are spot on doc. Even the slightest wear is detectable during MoT.

Now, about this rash I've got.............

[DorsetStrider]

Originally Posted by lgch25

Hi

I've gathered there are a lot of very clever mechanically minded people on this site so wanted some advice.

When turning corners in my car in second or third gear (i.e. roundabouts) I can hear a knocking sound, sounds like it is coming from the front of the car. Its not particuarly loud and does seem to speed up / slow down depending on the speed I am going, and also seems worse when I am turning in one direction than turning in the other, although it can be heard when doing either.

My car was MOT'd last week and passed so I'm not worried that it is necessarily anything serious, and the car was making the moise before the MOT. I'm thinking of taking it to the garage for them to have a look but I'm just wondering what people think it might be?

At a guess I'd say a worn CV joint.
What make model vehicle are we talking about? just out of interest.

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[pompeyfaith]

Could also be a worn steering rack hence why it was not picked up at mot track rod ends also cause this problem

Regards

Pompeyfaith

[citizenkain]

best see a garage,ya dont wanna be on the motorway when it locks up!!

[lgch25]

That all makes sense, at my MOT the car initially failed ona worn CV joint o/s, but they replaced the seal and the car passed so should the car still be making that noise?

Its a Citroen Saxo, 1.1 petrol engine, 3 door hatchback. 6 years old but only done 43,000miles, about 6,000 of which in this year, so really its in pretty good condition. I'm away on holiday next week but will take it in to the garage the week after and get them to take a look.

[gwc1000]

Originally Posted by lgch25

That all makes sense, at my MOT the car initially failed ona worn CV joint o/s, but they replaced the seal and the car passed so should the car still be making that noise?

If the rubber gaiter had been split over a long period of time allowing the grease to escape, there could have been wear to the joint inside. Just replacing the outer rubber will not repair the actual CV metal to metal contact surfaces, but would have been a cheaper way of giving you an MoT pass. So yes, the joint would still be noisy.

[lgch25]

Originally Posted by gwc1000

If the rubber gaiter had been split over a long period of time allowing the grease to escape, there could have been wear to the joint inside. Just replacing the outer rubber will not repair the actual CV metal to metal contact surfaces, but would have been a cheaper way of giving you an MoT pass. So yes, the joint would still be noisy.

Ok that also makes sense, but if this is the case should I still get it looked at and possibly repaired? Or is it just a case of it isn't dangerous and I just have to put up with the odd noise? I assume eventually it would need replacing so is it better to do that sooner rather than later?

[flyingdoc]

the problem with a worn CV is that there is no telling when the joint will actually fail, and although it is not relied upon to keep the wheel on the car, if you are going at speed when it fails there is no predicting what will happen.

In most cases you will simply lose drive, as the differential supplies all the power of the engine to the wheel with least resistance, so the drive shaft will spin and you will go nowhere.

But I would suspect there is a potential for it to cause problems if fragments of it jam and if you are driving at speed may indeed cause an accident.

I drove on a worn CV for a number of weeks and it eventually failed, but it did so as I was starting off (when it was under greatest load) so there was no problem.

[ReasonableRon]

I used to have a weird noise in my car when cornering at speed. Turned out is was the wife.

[citizenkain]

best have a mechanic take a look at it,ya dont want something to snap there and maybe crash and hurt someone cos you will feel a right fool when you explain to the police how you heard a weird noise coming from the steering long before you crashed,better safe than sorry....

[flyingdoc]

cos you will feel a right fool when you explain to the police how you heard a weird noise coming from the steering long before you crashed,better safe than sorry

if you admit this to police after a crash you are asking to be prosecuted for driving with a defective vehicle or some other offence - Never admit to knowing about anything.

[gwc1000]

Originally Posted by lgch25

Ok that also makes sense, but if this is the case should I still get it looked at and possibly repaired? Or is it just a case of it isn't dangerous and I just have to put up with the odd noise? I assume eventually it would need replacing so is it better to do that sooner rather than later?

Leaving it probably isn't a good idea. I once had a CV joint that been noisy for some time blow apart (and I do mean blow apart) as I was going round a roundabout. It wasn't nice!