Sudden Knocking From Steering Wheel

[arfur45]

Hi guys I wonder if any of you can shed any light on the above?

Was out in the ls430 today and as usual was a problem free experience.

However upon arriving home while parking the car I noticed a new sound from the steering column.

No clunking was evident when the car was moving even over speed humps. But when the car is stationery and I turn the wheel anticlockwise there is a clunking sound at the start of the movement . If I continue turning there is no further sound. Turning the wheel all the way back to lock clockwise there is no sound but when I turn anticlockwise the clunk happens again.

Any ideas chaps?

Mark

[Titch LS]

Mark, it could be quite a number of things so you'll need to get the car jacked up and pry around. Checking for ball joint wear; with the wheel off the ground you will have to lever up the front wheel with a pry bar and look/ feel for any movement. There should be none at all. Checking for track rod wear; hold the wheel at 9 and 3 and try to turn inward and outward. Again you shouldn't feel any play. Top wishbone balljoint; this can be checked by clamping a pair of those adjustable wide-jawed plumbers pliers around it (with the wheel off the ground) and squeezing. You should not be able to feel/see any movement. Could be a coil spring not seating right ect... You'll have to experiment. Unfortunately, it's the wrong time of year to do comfortable DIY unless you have access to a nice heated double garage!