I've just done the front wheel bearings, shocks and CV boots on the Mrs' Polo, but today I noticed a small clunk coming from the steering rack if you rock the steering wheel hard back and fore. I felt each track-rod end balljoint and they're not the source of the clunk. The Haynes book says there's an adjuster on the underside of the rack.... has anyone else got a clunk like this, and have they managed to cure it ?

Ta.

p.s. - never do your own front shocks and wheel bearings. I thought I was saving money but spent more on tools and parts than the local VW specialist would have charged me for the whole job ! Ah well... live and learn !

Nobody ever had a clunk then ?

Snapped coil spring?

Snapped coil spring?

No... (thank f**k !). I've just replaced the shocks, I think I'd have noticed a snapped spring ! :-D

The clunk is coming from the actual steering rack - presumeably from the rack / pinion interface.

I've just done the front wheel bearings, shocks and CV boots on the Mrs' Polo, but today I noticed a small clunk coming from the steering rack if you rock the steering wheel hard back and fore. I felt each track-rod end balljoint and they're not the source of the clunk. The Haynes book says there's an adjuster on the underside of the rack.... has anyone else got a clunk like this, and have they managed to cure it ?

Ta.

p.s. - never do your own front shocks and wheel bearings. I thought I was saving money but spent more on tools and parts than the local VW specialist would have charged me for the whole job ! Ah well... live and! learn

Maybe, but you have the tools for life now, so when you have a wheel bearing go in the future it will pay itself off. Tools for the job are a very wise investment!

100% its coming from the rack?

i would say its the suspension.the bearings under the top mounts are there to allow the struts to turn but not the top mount

if there not fitted correctly or are seized then the top mounts will now turn,which brings about the clunking noise

had this myself when the bearings had seized up

100% its coming from the rack?

i would say its the suspension.the bearings under the top mounts are there to allow the struts to turn but not the top mount

if there not fitted correctly or are seized then the top mounts will now turn,which brings about the clunking noise

had this myself when the bearings had seized up

I can feel it in the rack itself, just where the pinion is. The top bearings seemed fine when I had them off - they definitely weren't seized, and I definitely put them back the same way they came off. When you say the top mounts might be turning, would that be visible from the top plates on top of the inner wings ?

Id say you have a worn pinion gear. Top mount check is easy. Leave the car on the floor,undo those two nuts holding the top caps on. Get someone to look in the strut top and see if the whole mount is turning or just the shock shaft and bush. I put my money on pinion gear.

Sorry if this is grandmother egg sucking time, but have you checked the pinch bolt at the bottom of the steering column?

I had a similar sounding rack clunk on an 87 Mk2 which wasn't the pinch bolt - definitely the rack. Yes, there is an adjuster under there, but because you need to take the rack off completely to get at the adjuster I decided that a new rack was a better idea. Never having tried the adjuster, I can't tell you how effective it is.

Edited 20 April, 201115 yr by labougie

I have a 6n2 200 polo and mine does the same thing,and had done for a few years,I've only owned the car 2 months,but my dads wife had it

Its the rack mate I think,or maybe the little knucleat the end of the steering column.

Its never been pulled on a M.O.T so ill leave it till it does,,i notice mine does do it 'as' bad if the steering wheel is set to the lowest position on the rake.

my cavalier before it did it for years also