So first I want to say if I posted this in the wrong area, I’m sorry, I’m new here.

Anyway, I’ve got a 99 Firebird v6.... yes I know, “should’ve got a v8” “A v8 will solve all of your problems” v8, v8, v8, blah blah blah LOL!!!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, the issue I’m having is there is a loud clunk/knock when I turn my wheel. This happens anytime I turn the wheel whether I’m standing still at an idle, parking the car, or driving down the road making a turn. Mind you, I had a bad inner tie rod a few months ago so it was changed along with everything else up there.

Inner tie rods (Moog)
outer tie rods (Moog)
rack and pinion (Trans Am rack)
Trans Am intermediate shaft
rack and pinion bushings
power steering hoses (Precision)
upper ball joints (Moog)
lower ball joints (Moog)
upper control arm bushings (Moog/Rubber)
lower control arm bushings (Moog/Rubber)
sway bar bushings (Moog/Thermoplastic)
sway bar endlinks (Energy Suspension/Polyurethane)

I had play going down the road after I put my 17x9 T/A Speed line. My guess is the fatter tires amplified the tie rod. I still had some play after so I got a strut tower brace and threw in some sun frame connectors with it. I was married to the car long before all of this plus the erratic steering drove me crazy so it really didn’t matter if I needed that or not, I made up my mind and I was going to get it lol But that’s a whole different story, the point of all of that was to show that Everything up front is brand new.

one more thing about the clunking, up at the firewall where the steering column comes out looks to be loose. This is probably my issue but I can’t seem to find anything on it. Figured I’d see if anyone else ever had the issue.

thanks

 

If your sway bar brackets are loose they can make a slight clunk when you turn.

 

I’ll take a look at that, whenever it’s not raining. Seems like it’s been raining everyday over here lol thanks, I’ll let you know what happens.

 

I would try jacking the front of the car up. See if it happens on one wheel or with both wheels in the air. If it happens with the car not moving, you might be able to observe something by looking while someone turns the wheel.

 

Can the steering box be loose?

 

I didn’t jack the car up but when it started getting worse I had someone come turn the wheel for me and replicate it. I felt everything with my hand and everything seemed tight as can be. Like I said the whole front end is new, It’s only been a few months since I replaced it all with new parts. You can only imagine my frustration when it started doing this crap lol. The one spot that I noticed that would move, is up by the firewall right where the steering column passes through into the engine bay (not where the intermediate shaft bolts to the column). There looks like some kind of clip. Anyway, It seemed as if the clunking was kind of in sync with the movement. It’s just tough to tell though because the clunking noise resonates throughout the whole system equally and it all feels the same at the tie rods, the rack spool valve, and the intermediate shaft. So I basically can’t go by hearing where it’s the loudest or by where you can feel it the most. I know most steering columns have some sort of bearing in there that holds them in place or what not. I’m wondering if that’s what’s causing that movement I’m seeing? After all, it is right where I’d imagine the bearing would be if there is one. I’ve never Actually been up behind the dash before, at least not for anything related to the steering column so I don’t know what these columns are like.

 

I looked again the other night and everything is bolted up nice and tight.

 

as far as the internals of the rack, it’s possible but it’s a brand new unit and it’s only been a few months since I put it in. Plus I’ve felt bad/loose rack spool valves, and this doesn’t feel like that. It turns really nice, there’s no back and forth movement or crunchy feeling like you would expect from a worn rack and pinion.

 

I’m going to take a video later when I get home after work and try to up load it. Maybe someone will be able to see something I can’t.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions and replies. I really appreciate it

 

This will tell you a lot by unloading the wheels and suspension. All we can do otherwise is just sit here and make wild-*** guesses.

 

so I tried doing it with the car on jack stands and it needs to be under load otherwise it doesn’t do it.

 

I’m going to really get into it this weekend. I was just looking at it again and I think the rack came lose from the k-frame. Can’t say for sure though.

 

Sounds like a ball joint of some sort. I'd next try jacking up one side only. Do both sides and see if it only happens on one side.

 

So I found the issue, yesterday. When I looked at it the previous time so it wasn’t as bad and not as noticeable. Looked at it yesterday and it was clearly the rack an pinion bolts coming loose enough to allow it to slide around making a metal on metal sound. My guess is when I put it back together, my impact guns battery must have been getting low. Needless to say, I tightened them up and it’s nice and quiet again.

 

I think I did it right, anyway this it the sound of the clunking from inside the car. It drove me crazy. That wasn’t even at its worse.

 

We’ll never mind, I don’t think it uploaded...?

 

cool. thanks for posting back