Knocking at low speed, possibly steering related?

[colinsunderland]

ok, so thanks for all the help on my other post

I've got a knock when I'm travelling at low speeds, or if I'm coasting towards lights and touch the brakes it will do it. Over 20mph I can't hear or feel it.

I know knocks aren't exactly easy to diagnose over the internet but am stuck on this one.

It sounds like metal on metal. It's a 'clunk' rather than a 'ding' (if that makes sense) so a heavy type of knock rather than a light sounding one. It sounds like a drop link does when it's gone. I can feel it through the steering wheel, but there is no play in the steering and it feels tight and perfect. It only does it at low speeds, probably worst at around 10mph. It does it when turning or going straight. Theres also a slight creaking when I turn the steering slowly at low speeds sometimes. Going over bumps doesn't make it worse and it doesn't just happen when I hit a bump or hole in the road, in fact it probably does it a lot more when the road is smooth. I've tried to video it but as its low it's proving problematic to catch it so it can be heard. I've got someone with me this afternoon though so will get them to hold the camera and see if that works. It sounds like its coming through the passenger side, but that could just be the noise travelling though the car.

So far, I've had it on a ramp, the mechanic I usually use has also had it up a height twice, and I went to 2 other garages, both who have been trading for 25+ years. One had it on the ramp for about 40 minutes and couldn't find the problem. Everyone who's looked at it heard and felt it and said somethings not right, but none of them could trace it. Theres no play in the usual suspects, ball joints, drop links etc. Shaking the drivers road wheel left to right will cause the cluck to happen, but theres no real play in it. If you hold the inner track rods while moving the wheel you can feel the vibration through them, but I'm not convinced that is the problem, as they seemed solid, more the vibration travelling down them.

Everyone has just said leave it till it gets worse and bring it back in, but I don't like messing with steering, if its that would rather get it fixed then be driving down the road at 70 and the steering go

One mechanic said to try replacing the inner track rods, but thats just throwing money away if thats not the problem, so just wondered if anyone had had anything similar, or any pointers what to look at?

Someone suggested the steering rack gator, said he had a similar problem where he replaced them and put grease in and it fixed it, but mine look ok, and can't see any grease or anything round them. If I do replace the inner track rods I'll do them at the same time though as they are only about a tenner and everything will be off anyway

Thanks again for any suggestions

[Peter.N.]

Its more than likely the anti roll bar drop links, usually quite cheap and easy to change. You very often can't feel movement in them on the car but if you remove them you can feel that one or both ball joints have gone slack, they do make quite a clatter.

Peter

[colinsunderland]

Its more than likely the anti roll bar drop links, usually quite cheap and easy to change. You very often can't feel movement in them on the car but if you remove them you can feel that one or both ball joints have gone slack, they do make quite a clatter.

Peter

I did think that at first, but both have been changed in the past 6 months (which I know doesn't prove anything) but would they not knock going over bumps?

[Hell Razor5543]

It depends on how good the replacements were. If they are OEM quality they should last for years. However, some of the cheaper ones can last a few months at best (or a couple of thousand miles).

[Shredder11]

This happened to me last year after my 306 2.0 XSi car had been stood unmoved in the driveway for 3 months. Turned out to be a suspension spring that had snapped after the bearing at the top of the strut had gone, plus possibly drop link too (need to check if that was on the list). Once replaced the car is back to normal and has improved in other ways (less judder at speed, better handling etc).

[colinsunderland]

thanks for the replies, going to replace the drop links first and work from there

[slackgarry]

Sorry to jump on this topic, Can anyone recomend a good source of OEM quality replacements Please.

[Hell Razor5543]

Lemforder are (AFAIK) an OEM supplier for, among a lot of parts, drop links. I have used them before on my Xantias when they needed them.

[myglaren]

I specified Lemförder drop links for my C5 too.

[Kennyson9]

ok, so thanks for all the help on my other post

I've got a knock when I'm travelling at low speeds, or if I'm coasting towards lights and touch the brakes it will do it. Over 20mph I can't hear or feel it.

I know knocks aren't exactly easy to diagnose over the internet but am stuck on this one.

It sounds like metal on metal. It's a 'clunk' rather than a 'ding' (if that makes sense) so a heavy type of knock rather than a light sounding one. It sounds like a drop link does when it's gone. I can feel it through the steering wheel, but there is no play in the steering and it feels tight and perfect. It only does it at low speeds, probably worst at around 10mph. It does it when turning or going straight. Theres also a slight creaking when I turn the steering slowly at low speeds sometimes. Going over bumps doesn't make it worse and it doesn't just happen when I hit a bump or hole in the road, in fact it probably does it a lot more when the road is smooth. I've tried to video it but as its low it's proving problematic to catch it so it can be heard. I've got someone with me this afternoon though so will get them to hold the camera and see if that works. It sounds like its coming through the passenger side, but that could just be the noise travelling though the car.

So far, I've had it on a ramp, the mechanic I usually use has also had it up a height twice, and I went to 2 other garages, both who have been trading for 25+ years. One had it on the ramp for about 40 minutes and couldn't find the problem. Everyone who's looked at it heard and felt it and said somethings not right, but none of them could trace it. Theres no play in the usual suspects, ball joints, drop links etc. Shaking the drivers road wheel left to right will cause the cluck to happen, but theres no real play in it. If you hold the inner track rods while moving the wheel you can feel the vibration through them, but I'm not convinced that is the problem, as they seemed solid, more the vibration travelling down them.

Everyone has just said leave it till it gets worse and bring it back in, but I don't like messing with steering, if its that would rather get it fixed then be driving down the road at 70 and the steering go

One mechanic said to try replacing the inner track rods, but thats just throwing money away if thats not the problem, so just wondered if anyone had had anything similar, or any pointers what to look at?

Someone suggested the steering rack gator, said he had a similar problem where he replaced them and put grease in and it fixed it, but mine look ok, and can't see any grease or anything round them. If I do replace the inner track rods I'll do them at the same time though as they are only about a tenner and everything will be off anyway

Thanks again for any suggestions

Hi, I have exactly the same issue on my 2021 3008 and on my previous 2017 3008... did you find the issue in the end ? Cheers

[PaulC5]

If you have checked all the usual suspects you should check the front shock absorbers. We had a C4 and the knock was wear in the shock absorber that let the chromed shaft move slightly sideways. If was not possible to get the knock testing on the car but once I had removed it the play in it was obvious and made the knock as it was moved about. It was the Citroen dealer parts man who pointed me in this direction since it was a known problem with a batch of shock absorbers. New ones were not too expensive from Citroen and I also replaced the top mounts but these were in good condition so not really needed.

[naifchou]

Were you able to sort this issue. I've got exactly the same issue.

[BigJobs]

I have the same noise on my 3008 2019,
Everything suspension related checked twice
Shockers, top mounts, springs, roll bar…
Same advise ‘come back when it’s worse’
This is it now ->
https://audio.com/bigjobs-1/audio/audio ... eed-knocks
OP - did you get any happy ending?
Even if you’re still hunting let us know.

[PaulC5]

That thud noise sounds more like something that is loose and knocking against the body. You could check under the bonnet for things loose such as the battery, air filter/ducting, underneath at the exhaust and plastic covers, in the boot, etc. When I replaced the C4 shock absorbers due to the knocking noise it was more metallic than a dull thud.

[Kennyson9]

ok, so thanks for all the help on my other post

I've got a knock when I'm travelling at low speeds, or if I'm coasting towards lights and touch the brakes it will do it. Over 20mph I can't hear or feel it.

I know knocks aren't exactly easy to diagnose over the internet but am stuck on this one.

It sounds like metal on metal. It's a 'clunk' rather than a 'ding' (if that makes sense) so a heavy type of knock rather than a light sounding one. It sounds like a drop link does when it's gone. I can feel it through the steering wheel, but there is no play in the steering and it feels tight and perfect. It only does it at low speeds, probably worst at around 10mph. It does it when turning or going straight. Theres also a slight creaking when I turn the steering slowly at low speeds sometimes. Going over bumps doesn't make it worse and it doesn't just happen when I hit a bump or hole in the road, in fact it probably does it a lot more when the road is smooth. I've tried to video it but as its low it's proving problematic to catch it so it can be heard. I've got someone with me this afternoon though so will get them to hold the camera and see if that works. It sounds like its coming through the passenger side, but that could just be the noise travelling though the car.

So far, I've had it on a ramp, the mechanic I usually use has also had it up a height twice, and I went to 2 other garages, both who have been trading for 25+ years. One had it on the ramp for about 40 minutes and couldn't find the problem. Everyone who's looked at it heard and felt it and said somethings not right, but none of them could trace it. Theres no play in the usual suspects, ball joints, drop links etc. Shaking the drivers road wheel left to right will cause the cluck to happen, but theres no real play in it. If you hold the inner track rods while moving the wheel you can feel the vibration through them, but I'm not convinced that is the problem, as they seemed solid, more the vibration travelling down them.

Everyone has just said leave it till it gets worse and bring it back in, but I don't like messing with steering, if its that would rather get it fixed then be driving down the road at 70 and the steering go

One mechanic said to try replacing the inner track rods, but thats just throwing money away if thats not the problem, so just wondered if anyone had had anything similar, or any pointers what to look at?

Someone suggested the steering rack gator, said he had a similar problem where he replaced them and put grease in and it fixed it, but mine look ok, and can't see any grease or anything round them. If I do replace the inner track rods I'll do them at the same time though as they are only about a tenner and everything will be off anyway

Thanks again for any suggestions

Your discribing my 3008, did you ever get to the bottom of this ?