Steering knock/thud

[serdar255]

Hi guys, I've had my e30 for about 6 months now and am loving every second of it, but I have run up on one issue that I cannot seem to solve. At low/parking lots speeds or when the car is stationary when I turn my wheel I get a knock/thud. It is not loud and doesn't sound like a metal on metal sound it is a quiet knock/thud. I can feel it through the steering wheel and still cant figure it out. I've searched but couldnt find any information that was specific to my problem.

I have replaced my shocks and struts, put in H&R OE sport springs, changed my steering coupler, put in a momo steering wheel and hub (as well as the spacer to remove the play on the steering shaft),and changed my control arm bushings to solid delrin ones that I made on the lathe. As far as I remember that is everything I changed on the front end.

However, I did not have this problem when my original suspension was all blown and I was riding on springs. I replaced everything at once so I have no idea what could have caused the knock/thud.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[LowR3V'in]

Is it sorta a "hill" that you can feel when turning?

Like everything is going great and you hit this "peak" where it get's hard and it
sorta pops and it gets smooth again?

Know what I mean?

[serdar255]

Is it sorta a "hill" that you can feel when turning?

Like everything is going great and you hit this "peak" where it get's hard and it
sorta pops and it gets smooth again?

Know what I mean?

Yeah id say so.

Thanks for the super quick reply!

[///digitalme]

My guess would be strut mounts??? I had a similar sound it was coming from one side only though. It turmed out the shock nut was tighten too much.

[serdar255]

My guess would be strut mounts??? I had a similar sound it was coming from one side only though. It turmed out the shock nut was tighten too much.

I suspected this, how do i know that its tight enough, but not too tight?

[LowR3V'in]

The problem I described had something to do with the steering coupler.

It was around when I joined and somebody posted how to tighten up the steering
"feel". So being the ricer I was, I did it and all it was was tightening up
the nut on the steering shaft that's underneath the dash, by the floor to shorten (or lengthen?).

Anyway after I did that it started to do it.
Hope it helps. :(

[serdar255]

So I should loosen it, i can see this as being the problem too. But how do i know i am in an optimal position, the last thing i want to do is loose my steering. Would it be best to loosen it just until the noise is gone? Or should i loosen it and see if the noise goes away and tighten it until the noise comes back and do one turn to loosen it after that to dissipate the noise.

Sorry if that confused you.

[ajhostetter]

I have the same issue. I replaced the rag joint (coupler in the engine bay) and it still does it. My struts and all that jazz are brand new and properly adjusted. I've thought about playing with that nut on the shaft, but LowR3V'in's post has me worried about making it worse. I've researched the hell out of the issue but haven't gotten a definitive answer. Step one, replace that coupler in the engine bay. If that doesn't fix it, I'd start playing with your nut...

[LowR3V'in]

Idk, you'd have to trust yourself on that.

If the coupler is the same thickness then it should not bind if it's in the right spot.
Mess with it and experiment.

[ajhostetter]

BTW, nice car!

[serdar255]

I'd start playing with your nut...

;D

Idk, you'd have to trust yourself on that.

If the coupler is the same thickness then it should not bind if it's in the right spot.
Mess with it and experiment.

Thanks will do!

BTW, nice car!

Thanks!

[dougie30]

Mine does the same thing and I had no idea what it was till I tried lowing my coils. One side was soooo hard to turn and the other was fine so I checked my strut mount nut and one was tighter than the other.

I have yet to lossen it though lol

[jalopi]

Made this mistake once back when I was working in a shop - forgot to put this little washer on top of the spring perch, I believe it's where the strut mount bearing rides. (the car I did this on wasn't an e30 though). After putting everything back together, the steering would bind up when turning to the (right or left, can't remember) because the spring was trying to move inside the perches... might wanna check into this.

[603Racing]

Both the strut mount nut and the steering column can cause noises. With the steering column, just tighten it about a 1/2 turn then drive it to test. If it makes no difference then that's not your problem or you need to tighten it more. Generally all this will do is tighten up the feel of the wheel a bit. If it's was loose enough you may have been getting a bit of play and rattling through the steering wheel.

The issue you are describing serdar255, sounds exactly like a spring/mount binding. As stated, the nylon nut that holds the strut mount to the assembly may be too tight. I don't have the torque specs off hand, but someone may, or you can look it up. I would loosen the nut then tighten to spec on each side. Might not be a bad idea to replace this nylon nut while you're at it. Are the strut mounts in good condition?

[serdar255]

The noise wen away on its own somehow and its hasnt come back. This was after i cleaned my interior for six hours ;D maybe i was neglecting her.

Anyway the noise is gone ill report back if it comes back!