Anyone get a FIRM answer on the steering knock?

[matt_a]

I haven't been hanging out here much lately so I may have missed a few threads on this. I (like many of you) have the dreaded "clunk" in the steering. It happens mostly when turning to the right at slow speeds. In the threads I've read on here in the past, nobody could agree on exactly what causes it. I've gotten to the point where it finally bugs me enough to go deal with a dealership service department and the whole warranty thing. I'm hoping to avoid too many problems by knowing what the problem is ahead of time. Did anyone here ever find out FOR SURE what the cause is? Thanks!-Matt

[Knightro2]

I have a service appointment for the knock this upcoming Saturday morning and I printed out the main thread about the steering knock and highlighted all the possible causes. I'll let you know what the dealer tells me once they give me my car back.

[matt_a]

That would be great..thanks! And good luck!!!

[boqibama]

I have this steering knok, only on the right turn over the bump or uphill. At the dealership I could not reproduce it but I can felt it all the time According to the thread, most like we need a new Steering Column.

[sooner4x4]

The steering column was the problem with mine. It took four trips to the dealerships but they finally figured it out. I had a pleasant discussion with the manager prior to bringing it in the fourth time and they were committed to finding the problem.

There is something else I noticed after getting it back with the new column. Prior to the steering column replacement, the steering wheel would not return back to center entirely on it's own when coming out of a turn. After the new column, the wheel comes back to center much easier coming out of a turn. This was a subtle difference but noticable.

[matt_a]

The steering column was the problem with mine. It took four trips to the dealerships but they finally figured it out. I had a pleasant discussion with the manager prior to bringing it in the fourth time and they were committed to finding the problem.

There is something else I noticed after getting it back with the new column. Prior to the steering column replacement, the steering wheel would not return back to center entirely on it's own when coming out of a turn. After the new column, the wheel comes back to center much easier coming out of a turn. This was a subtle difference but noticable.

Were your "symptoms" the same as I described above (knock or clunk at slow speeds..mostly while turning to the right)? If so, that certainly sounds like what I might need to have replaced too. How long did it take them? How long did they have your car?

[CopyChief]

I had my steering column replaced about a year ago. I had noticed this same problem, the clunk on right turns, and the fact that the wheel did not seem to naturally center.

One year later, the clunk is as loud as ever. So I'm headed back to the dealer next week, hopefully.

They had my car for about three days, because they had to order the part from Nissan. At the time, mine was the first the service department had handled. Since it was under warranty I did have a loaner.

Good luck... and be sure to post back with what happens. I'll do the same.

[Knightro2]

My knock was only every now and then at first. As described above it is only right turns at low speed (like pulling into a parking spot). Now mine is knocking pretty much everytime I turn right at low speeds. I can reproduce it everytime by driving slow and turning the wheel 1 1/4 times...right away there are 2 knocks I can feel and somewhat hear.

[williamk10]

I asked my dealership about this problem. The Service rep said that this has been a common complaint amungst versa owners. He explained to me that the Versa uses a hydraulic pump, and this is the first time Nissan has used it. He says the pump is causing the noise but my car is going in for a check this Thursday. I'll keep everyone posted.

[sooner4x4]

Were your "symptoms" the same as I described above (knock or clunk at slow speeds..mostly while turning to the right)? If so, that certainly sounds like what I might need to have replaced too. How long did it take them? How long did they have your car?

Yes, exactly as you described. While turning right at low speeds, for example while pulling away from a stop or in a parking lot, it would clunk every time. They had the car for close to a week because they had to order the part. I was provided a loaner.

To hear what other Versa owners have reported as other fixes for their clunking noises, there is a recent long thread with lots of information on this problem. It has the word, "klunk" in the thread title. (I am not sure how to paste a thread link).

[matt_a]

Yes, exactly as you described. While turning right at low speeds, for example while pulling away from a stop or in a parking lot, it would clunk every time. They had the car for close to a week because they had to order the part. I was provided a loaner.

To hear what other Versa owners have reported as other fixes for their clunking noises, there is a recent long thread with lots of information on this problem. It has the word, "klunk" in the thread title. (I am not sure how to paste a thread link).

I'm glad to hear that yours is fixed. I hope I can say the same after one attempt. The reason I started this thread is because of all the different "reasons" I've seen people post as the cause of the clunk. So sar, I've read that it was:

-steering joint assembly-strut bearings-nut missing from left side of sway bar-strut assembly mount-steering column

And everyone seemed POSITIVE that they had figured it out for sure.

[Knightro2]

Okeedokee, I just got my V back from the dealer. Nothing is fixed yet because they have to order a part but they said they are replacing the Joint Assembly - Steering according to my invoice sheet. It is FP - Number 48080-EM00A.

I'll update again in a couple of weeks once they replace it and I can tell you if it fixed it or not.

[sooner4x4]

On my paperwork from the dealership, the part replaced was listed as:

"48820-EM30A Shaft Assy"

Written description said: "Trace noise to steering system. Call Tech line told to replace the steering column. R/R steering column, check repair, OK".

[alex_btl]

Mine does it too, I don't know it's a steering knock but, I feel the steering being too heavy at times especially when I drive on lower RPM more precisely between 1500 to 2000 RPM at 35 to 40 mph, it feels more like a manual steering rather than a power steering

This happens while switching lanes in slow traffic

Is this the behaviour of electric steering

Edmunds.com says" The electric power steering is little slow, and braking distances are longer than they should be for this class"

http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/....html


Modified by alex_btl at 9:58 PM 8/26/2008

[arco]

My knock was only every now and then at first. As described above it is only right turns at low speed (like pulling into a parking spot). Now mine is knocking pretty much everytime I turn right at low speeds. I can reproduce it everytime by driving slow and turning the wheel 1 1/4 times...right away there are 2 knocks I can feel and somewhat hear.

I just noticed mine started having that problem a few weeks ago. Same thing... only happens on slow right turns. I have a service appointment coming up next month and I'll definitely be mentioning it.

[occckid123]

I had the same knock noise. After getting 2 strut mounts at 2 different timees, a sway bar and the run around; They finally put a steering column in and things are fine now.

[occckid123]

I also have a problem with knocking/ clicking when making full tilt u-turns and loud plumps coming from the front right of the suspension when making low to medium speeds with the wheel slightly turned to the right while hitting small bumps especially inward bumps where the suspension travel down into the bump then up.

[sooner4x4]

I also have a problem with knocking/ clicking when making full tilt u-turns and loud plumps coming from the front right of the suspension when making low to medium speeds with the wheel slightly turned to the right while hitting small bumps especially inward bumps where the suspension travel down into the bump then up.

Not sure, but this doesn't sound like the same problem as the steering column, especially with the noise coming from the right hand side of the suspension. That is not where the steering column is. I would suspect something else, actually in the suspension, or in addition to the steering column.

[faction]

I noticed the knock at slow speeds a few times over the last 2 years.Now mine is more frequent, BUT it's mostly when I turn LEFT!

Of course it would be me with the backward car.

[coburnla]

I'm new here and not a car expert but is this "knock" and steering issues the same issues discussed in the power steering section of the users manual?

[Knightro2]

Alrighty, I took my V in yesterday to get the steering joint assembly replaced. They did it in about 2 hours and I can't reproduce the knock anymore it seems to have solved my issue!

[matt_a]

Alrighty, I took my V in yesterday to get the steering joint assembly replaced. They did it in about 2 hours and I can't reproduce the knock anymore it seems to have solved my issue!

That's great news! I'm going to get ours in for this very soon. It drives me crazy and it gives me a "cheap" opinion of the car when I feel it. The funny part is, it's my wife's car and she doesn't even notice it! How in the world can she drive a car every day with that obvious clunk and never even notice it?!

[Knightro2]

Yea, I got my V back in November and it was intermittant back then. I waiting until I could reproduce it everytime before I brought it in. For the past 3 months it got worse. Other then that, no big issues with my V except for a bad rattle on my passenger side dash. Something I'm going to look at this weekend.

[dr.zed]

I have this as well!!!! Car goes in tomorrow.