Power steering, brakes or suspension issue???

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Evening All,

I started the car up today after about 4-6 months off the road. It’s not moved in all that time. Engine etc all running fine but getting a loud clunk from steering when parked and when moving. Happens regardless of which way i steer it and is mostly when nearly at full lock (but not actuly at full lock). The noise is a loud clunk, pretty violent sounding and almost like a spring expanding quickly. At first I thought it was stuck calipers pinging off the discs when they freed up but it continued to happen every time I steered.

The only obvious and strange thing I could see was that the power steering header tank is well above the max line but I’m convinced it wasn’t when the car was laid up months ago.

Mazda 3
1.6D
2007
90k


Any ideas???

(n)(n)(n)
 
Last edited:
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Check the rear brakes if you can -are they discs or drums? If you can, jack each wheel up in turn, and see that it can spin freely enough.
At the front, when the car is jacked up, look and feel for a broken spring. I don't think there is a PAS issue at this point.
John :)
 
Thanks John.

It has discs all round. It did go through a period of the calliper sticking then releasing loudly when the car set off so I did suspect it was this at first. I will try and check springs etc over the weekend.
 
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I reckon you need to check your drop links. On my Mk3 Mondeo estate, I had forgotten to tighten the nuts up really hard. The result was a sound like someone hitting a steel wheel with a hammer. I could imagine a wheel dropping off. It was scary!. The sound was amplified by traveling through the anti roll bar.
 
Could be you have a seized strut top bearing.

Peter
That’s my feeling too. Sounds like the coil spring is being put under torsional pressure and then releasing its energy hence the sound you get of a "spring expanding quickly”.
 
Thanks all.

Haven’t got near it over the weekend due to the weather. Is it something I can free up or does it always need replacing once seized?

Mike
 
Evening All,

I started the car up today after about 4-6 months off the road. It’s not moved in all that time. Engine etc all running fine but getting a loud clunk from steering when parked and when moving. Happens regardless of which way i steer it and is mostly when nearly at full lock (but not actuly at full lock). The noise is a loud clunk, pretty violent sounding and almost like a spring expanding quickly. At first I thought it was stuck calipers pinging off the discs when they freed up but it continued to happen every time I steered.

The only obvious and strange thing I could see was that the power steering header tank is well above the max line but I’m convinced it wasn’t when the car was laid up months ago.

Mazda 3
1.6D
2007
90k


Any ideas???

(n)(n)(n)

If you have good knowledge about car, then you can check the brakes as burnerman told you. Otherwise contact with a good mechanic, who can check and fix the issue perfectly.
 
The front strut has to come off the car, and the spring removed from the strut before the top bearing can be seen.....as everything is under compression it is impossible to tell otherwise.
If the spring has snapped it will be obvious, somewhat less so when you examine the top bearing. These have several designs, from a traditional ball race (some Fords) to a large cone ball race (PSA) to rubber cones (some BMW).
John :)
 
You need a decent spring compressor before dismantling the strut, it's potentially deadly working on it without!.

A lad next door had one slip on his compressor jig and has the scar to prove it.

Just be very careful if you get that far in.
 
The car is at a friends and not really in a good spot for working on. Plus I’ve seen accidents with springs on YouTube once or twice so reckon it’s better off with a local mechanic. Cheers again for your help. Will post the diagnosis once it’s been in (y)
 
If you get someone to turn the steering wheel while you watch the strut you may find the spring is not moving with it, or jumping, that should determine the problem.

Peter
 
Car finally was collected and went in last week for the noise issue and MOT before being put back on the road. It turned out to be a seized top mount and a broken spring. I think the spring broke as a result of steering against the seized mount but didn't get chance to speak to the mechanic myself.

Thanks everyone for your help (y)

Thought it was worth posting the outcome for anyone finding the thread in future.
 
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