What's that clunk?

[Purple_Power]

I love VY's but mine has got me so frustrated. In the first 13 months I had it, it needed repairs 14 times. It has a "clunk" in the steering wheel. It feels like the wheel moves when it's not supposed to, and I feel a clunk in it. The dealer has replaced steering rods, bushes, etc, etc, etc, but the clunk remains. I'm positive it's in the steering wheel itself, but they just keep fobbing me off. Anyone have any idea what it might be?????

[Tigerv8]

Have you looked at the strut bushes? But a broken one of those would probably produce a clunk in the suspension when going over bumps which may be transmitted to the steering wheel.
Maybe a worn/sticky universal joint in the steering column? A little grease may be all that is needed. Something you can do yourself. I have not had such a problem yet.

[BlackOne]

Chequers can't say I have had such a problem in my old VY mate. It's very annoying when they can't identify and fix a problem. Is it definitely in the steering ?? Maybe it's something else on the car and the noise/clunking feeling is being felt through the steering. I know that noise tends to travel through the car.

I had a noise in my VE which seemed like it was coming from the front left somewhere however it ended up being the back left suspension which had a known fault which was identified pretty quick and Holden replacement both the left and right.

I can only suggest that maybe try taking it to a different dealership or mechanic and see how you go, you may have better luck and success.

[Red_Ice]

I can only suggest that maybe try taking it to a different dealership or mechanic and see how you go, you may have better luck and success. __________________

if they give ya the run around there always today tonight etc etc

[Purple_Power]

It's as though the actual steering wheel shifts a couple of millimetres, and I can "feel" rather than hear the clunk. The dealer (who shall remain nameless) has replaced a heap of bushes, struts, rods etc. They told me that the rods were bent, because "The front end of the VY is too heavy, and it's a common problem". Can you believe that ?
I might take it to a steering specialist, and be careful, because they're doing the whole "Your warranty is void if you take it elsewhere" bit. This is the second car this has ever happened in. The first was my VH from the same dealer. The .... ummm ok, I'm no mechanic. Inside the steering wheel was a toothed wheel.... like a cog? Bear with me here..... and some of the teeth had broken off. Mui.... uh, the dealer said this steering wheel doesn't have teeth.

[Vixen]

I might take it to a steering specialist, and be careful, because they're doing the whole "Your warranty is void if you take it elsewhere" bit.


Surely you're able to get a 'steering specialist' to just look at it to diagnose the issue. As long as he/she doesn't do the repair work as such, then it should not affect your warranty.
Getting a few suggestions from someone in the know can only help in the long run as he/she may have a new idea on what may be wrong, something your Holden dealer may not have thought of...

[BlackOne]

Chequers if you want to take it to a steering specialist which I think is a good idea, I can recommend Heasmans over at St Peters mate. Really good at what they do.

If you call them, ask for Peter and tell them Club Commodore referred you.

Cheers....

[Purple_Power]

Excellent, thanks for that, BlackOne. I'm not far from St Peters. :)

[munky]

It sound like you are referring to the spline inside the steering wheel or the spline that it mates to on the steering shaft in the column. If the Tie Rods were bent then maybe before you owned the car someone may have taken the steering wheel off and re-aligned it so it was horizontal when you were driving in a straight line. Maybe they didn't put the steering wheel back on tight enough?

[Purple_Power]

Thanks for that munkey. There's a LOT wrong with this car, which is pretty upsetting, considering how much it cost me. I'm scared of what it's going to cost to keep running when it's out of warranty.
I know when I had to get a wheel alignment (because all the tyres were wearing unevenly) they said that .... oh man, what did they say? Something was clunking underneath the car. Didn't make much difference though, the car still drifts. Anyone got a Morpheous SS they want to swap for a delightful red hot VY ? :D :D :D

[Red_Ice]

nope sorry mate

[Purple_Power]

Well, Muirs have "kindly" said it's ok to take it to a steering place to get it diagnosed. Of course they were very quick to say "You can't let them fix it though". Aaargh. Oh well, hopefully I'll find out what it is !

[rockett]

typical is it still under warranty there chequers

[Purple_Power]

The original warranty has run out (of course they couldn't find or fix the problem until it had run out) but it's still under the used car warranty. No doubt they'll say that clunks aren't covered.

[BlackOne]

Glenys, unfortunately most used car warranty's aren't worth the paper they are written on.

[Purple_Power]

Oh I dunno about that. The prices Muirs charge, I'm sure they've hidden gold, or cocaine in the paper somewhere.