Groaning steering

[advantage_d]

Recently my steering has been groaning like an old man’s knee. Groaning when stationary, when driving around town but irritatingly today, not at all.

It only seemed to start when got my tracking re-checked, which was okay. The tyre place got a lever out to check any play in the suspension and afterwards it seemed to start.

I’m sure the shock absorber is only a couple of years old, the bottom ball joint has been replaced and the wheel bearing is only 5 months old. The only things that are worn are the inner CV joints. I was wondering whether a worn track rod end would exhibit these symptoms or whether it’s excessive play in the suspension.

P.S. It's done 114,000 miles and only failed the MOT on a worn front tyre in mid August.

Any ideas ?

[H48HPE]

I not sure why but my car does a similar thing, most noticably after a fast motorway drive, the front end creaks whilst it goes up and down. this is most noticable at low speed but thats only because theres no wind/road noise to discuise it. its obviously the suspension at the front or a sterring problem, but which part is it do you think?

its not been doing it much lately but thats cos it hasn't been on a fast run.

Andy

[E_T_V]

A couple of things that might possibly be responsible

Have you got your rubber carpet mat pushed too far forward fouling the steering linkage? That might cause it to groan

Have you got new tyres - because ours squeel like a mouse under an elephant.

Steering rack gaiters

Steering rack

rubber susupension bushes - perhaps the ones on top of the shock that move as you turn

of course to tell for sure you'll have to jack the front wheels off of the ground and get somone to spin the steering wheel while you find the groan.

Inner CV joints tend to rumble rather than groan so I doubt it is these and ours did 200k without being replaced.

[Mat_C]

The bearing at the top of the suspension struts?

[advantage_d]

I've noticed that my OSF shock absorber doesn't appear to have the rubber concertina style dirt cover, all that is visible is 8 inches or so of shiny piston.

When a new shock absorber is bought does it come with a new bump stop/rubber concertina style dirt cover or do I have to buy a new one because the garage that fitted the shock absorber 2 years ago forgot to put it on ?