Knocking sound and feel in the steering wheel

[milancen]

So i have citroen c4 2017 1.6blueHdi, when i am driving slowly maybe 20-30kmh, or when i am coming to the full stop I get that knocking sound or when i am starting to move from full stop and feel coming from inside the steering wheel. I also noticed 2 months back steering wheel shaking when i am turning at very low speeds but now that stopped, but i still feel it when i turn full left o right or when reversing inti parking spot but its not severe, i am not sure if thats connected with the knocking sound. But that knocking sound is very annoying whenever i am starting my car and coming out of my garage there its whenever i am at low speed there it is, soemtimes its not there and sometimes its there and it gets progressively worse,like its intermittent but I cant find the source of that knocking metal on metal sound translating through the steering wheel. When i am at higher speeds i don't notice it. Did someone experience the same problem and did you manage to fix it??? I am servicing my car regularly and I am being very careful with it, but it makes me wanna burn it... I found this on facebook group with the video and sound of that knocking sound I have exactly the same problem.


https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CN9hueMpR/

[PaulC5]

When our 2015 C4 had a metallic knocking sound from the front at low speeds going over bumps it was wear in a shock absorber letting the chrome shaft move sideways. It was not obvious from on car testing but once off the car the amount of free play was bad. It sounded like a ball bearing in a tin can. I replaced both front shock absorbers so both sides were the same. I also replaced the top mounts but there was nothing wrong with them but I had already bought the parts.

[milancen]

When our 2015 C4 had a metallic knocking sound from the front at low speeds going over bumps it was wear in a shock absorber letting the chrome shaft move sideways. It was not obvious from on car testing but once off the car the amount of free play was bad. It sounded like a ball bearing in a tin can. I replaced both front shock absorbers so both sides were the same. I also replaced the top mounts but there was nothing wrong with them but I had already bought the parts.

I dont know, i dont feel the knocking when just going over bumps but on the straight flat road driving slowly.

[Paul-R]

Does the speed of the knocking vary to match the speed of the car?

[Steve Walsh]

Sounds like front strut, Not a massive job to drop it out and check

[PaulC5]

Our C4 was not just going over bumps but also at low speeds forwards and backwards. You could try with it jacked up and holding the chrome shaft and seeing if you can move it a bit but I had to remove the strut to check it, then fit it back to go and buy the parts. First time took a few hours but by the next times got quite quick at it.

[milancen]

Does the speed of the knocking vary to match the speed of the car?

Does the speed of the knocking vary to match the speed of the car?

Noo the knokcing frequency is not connected to the speed I am travelling. When that knocking is really noticeable:
1. I am stationary and start moving forward or backward, that change of speed causes that sound, like something is hitting against something.
2. I am travelling at some speed doesnt matter high or low speed and i press on the brakes gently or aggressively, sound appears like some metal part hitting against other metal part, you can feel that knock in the steering wheel.
3. I am travelling at constant low speed lets say 20kmh, knocking sound present with frequency lets say 1knock per second.
4. While accelerating no sound I suspect its under tension and no room for it to knock
5. While traveling at higher speeds no knocking sound.
6. 1 month back I noticed my steering wheel shaking while turning slightly/hard left or right WHILE travelling at low speeds may or may not be connected to the knocking issue
Knocking sound can be felt in the steering feel and also heard, sound is like metal hitting metal.
It started to drive me crazy
But now i know why my audio equipment is very good I can turn the volume up and dont hear that sound

[milancen]

Sounds like front strut, Not a massive job to drop it out and check

I will check it, thankss

[milancen]

Our C4 was not just going over bumps but also at low speeds forwards and backwards. You could try with it jacked up and holding the chrome shaft and seeing if you can move it a bit but I had to remove the strut to check it, then fit it back to go and buy the parts. First time took a few hours but by the next times got quite quick at it.

Exactly the same issue, did you replace the strut and did that fix the issue completely?

[milancen]

Guys, today i was inspecting the car.
When stationary, and when you are turning the steering wheel left or right slightly, its not full left or right movement but slight movement of the steering wheel, I get that metal on metal sound, tried to inspect it further one guy sitting in the car and when he got up of the car knocking sound appeares. I couldn't get under the car because I am not home yet but when i turned full left to try to get to the inside of the wheel and when you are full left or right. And do the slight movement with steering wheel to the opposite side there it is, I tried to feel where the sound originates from i can rule out the following:
Engine mount is not
Front strut is not
BUT I CAN FEEL IT IN THE TIE ROD END, I SUSPECT ITS INNER TIE ROD END BALL JOINT
Not it makes more sense why my steering wheel started to shake when turning left or right

Any suggestions guys

[PaulC5]

To check just the tie rod outer joint hold your hand around it whilst somebody waggles the steering wheel and any play will be felt.

The knocking our car had went when I replaced the front left shock absorber/strut.

[milancen]

To check just the tie rod outer joint hold your hand around it whilst somebody waggles the steering wheel and any play will be felt.

The knocking our car had went when I replaced the front left shock absorber/strut.

I tried to feel it in the outer tie rod joint but i cant feel it there its deeper, I suspect inner joint

[milancen]

Quick update, its not tie rods, its the steering rack. When we opened the left bootleg cover there was a servo fluid in there it leaked, bootleg was filled with oil from steering rack. Thats why steering wheel was shaking because of oil leakage. And something inside of the steering rack is producing metal on metal sound.
So we will change the steering rack, we found one second hand for 100eur
And let you know if we fixed the problem, but it got to be due to the leakage

[Steve Walsh]

Well done on finding your problem

[milancen]

This one was Koyo steering rack, they are Japanese but they have that one common issue internal knocking noises. I will provide more pictures tomorrow. Also when i bought my car second hand, I suspect that the person i bought this car from, covered up that issue. Some mechanics say that usually people would insert a grease inside the steering rack and it would reduce the knocking noise to be almost unnoticeable,that sounds strange to me but who would know it, people are coming with all kind of nonsense, so that wouldn't surprise me.