Knocking at low speed, possibly steering related?

[Bazmatron]

I have a peugeot rifter, 50k on the clock. Knocking started happening after this Christmas, only purchased car in August 2025. I have replaced the roll bar strut links. If anything the noise is a bit more noticeable now. Recently had it MOT'd, they said steering and suspension was fine. Thought it might be a C.V. drive bearing but thought that would only knock under acceleration or overrun. Any new suggestions would be most welcome. " LIVE LONG AND PROSPER"

[Kennyson9]

I've had everything checked, cv joint was removed and inspected and found to be fine.. I'm thinking now its the shock absorber, I've seen a few video's where the rod has play back and forth where it goes into the lower part.

[Bazmatron]

Where can I find these video's ? Do you have a link ?
"Live Long and Prosper"

[Kennyson9]

I saw 2 on YouTube, been a few months so dont have tge link, just have to search in there

[Bazmatron]

Cheers, will check it out .I was hoping for something a bit less costly and involved, but thems the breaks !

[Bazmatron]

I am going to replace the roll bar bushes first. Is this a straight forward procedure or do I have to drop the subframe a bit to gain access to clamp bolts ? All advice appreciated.

[Kennyson9]

I think it easy access from underneath without touching the subframe, 2 bolts and the new bush opens to slot onto the anti roll bar. My mechanic is mega experienced and is pretty sure the whole driveshaft needs swapping so that's my next try in a few weeks time, ill keep you posted

[Bazmatron]

Cheers for that, good to know. Waiting for a dry day

[Bazmatron]

Attempted to replace bushes today. Dropped part of the belly plate to access the bolts. Disconnected both drop links. 1 bolt came our fully, 2nd bolt appeared to disconnect but would not drop out. The whole Bush and clamp assembly was neatly tucked inboard and the clamp would not open up to replace the Bush. Did not want to butcher it apart. Started to rain so I re-assembled. The bushes in reality don't look deteriorated. I'm confident the knock lies in the strut assembly.
Would have helped to be on a ramp instead at ground level. Don't think the neighbours would appreciate me building one in the street.
DAY IN A LIFE

[Kennyson9]

Im really keen to know the solution to this, I was close to having the driveshaft changed until I read a post where someone had changed both but still knocking. I've only changed the drop link so far. Would appreciate it if you could let me and all the others know if you find the cure

[Bazmatron]

When I was doing the re-assembly I noticed a clicking noise every time I jacked up the off-side strut assembly to aid re-connection of the drop link. I think that's where my problem lies.
I will have to address this at a later date.

Good luck.

[Bazmatron]

Changed drivers side damper and top mount and bearing kit. It was really just a punt. STILL KNOCKING.
My garage GUY tightened up a load of loose ish nuts and bolts on steering rack and areas around it. STILL KNOCKING.
He put it on MOT ramp and showed me a slight knock or click in inner track rod, connected to steering rack. Thinks It could possibly be that. I did feel a clicking when he operated the wheel side to side.
It's strange, sometimes it feels its rotational when slowing down.
Does anyone have a parts diagram for the Rifter steering rack assembly c/w track rods ? PDF would be great.

[Bazmatron]

RESOLVED !!! It turned out to be a seized wheel side track rod end, drivers side. Weird I know, because it was intermittent. Anyway, garage replaced it and problem done. Got there in the end.

[Paul-R]

Excellent. Thank you for letting us know.

[Skhan007]

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

Can anyone help with the exact same issue of clunking of low speeds on my 2016 Peugeot 3008 1.6 BlueHDi as explained in this post. It just cleared its MOT with zero advisories, but a random garage says it needs a new steering rack, while my usual mechanic can't find anything wrong and doesn't want to guess. It all started a week ago when I got a massive vibration through the cabin while crawling uphill, and at one point, I heard a loud snap, like a piece of metal giving way under load. The next day it seemed fine no vibrations felt whatsoever for next one week, but a week later it's started making a really obvious metallic clunk through the floorboard whenever I pull away from a dead stop or crawl in traffic under 20 mph—even when I'm driving completely straight. The steering feels totally fine, there are no leaks, and all the rubber boots are intact. I’m wondered if that uphill strain actually snapped the front-right engine mount (which was already leaking a bit) so i replaced it but its exactly the same.
Looking forward to see the solution for this mysterious clunking for my 3008 2016