John McCormack Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 When I turn into my garage on full right lock, or close to it, I sometimes get a clunk from the left front. I have jacked the front up and taken the load off the suspension with a 2nd jack and can't find any play in the top ball joint/bearings etc. Is there a common cause of such clunks in the TR6? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Have a good look for chassis cracks on the lower inner suspension boxes first also make sure the inner lower wishbone brackets are tight in the boxes too. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSM Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Just a tip for checking play in suspension joints in double wishbone front suspension, lift the car with the jack under the lower wishbone to remove weight from suspension components, this is normal procedure when conducting an MOT test. Harvey S.Maitland Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Some MOT stations (well, the equivalent of that in Holland) have shifting plates in the floor, which give a sideward reversing movement. This will clearly show any clearance in rubbers, joints and chassis. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Salisbury Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Have you got the clip on style balance weights on your front inner rim? ... If so they can contact the outer end of the top wishbone where the ball joint joins when on full lock and this gives a good healthy clunk. cheers Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted December 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2018 Thank you all. I have just jacked the front left wheel up under the bottom wishbone to retest it. The only play I can find is (what I think) a bit of play in the rack on the left side. The rack has new poly bushes, it isn't the rack moving on the chassis, but play in the rack itself. It isn't much play and it was checked in April, maybe 2000klms ago, for an MOT. I think this is where the noise is coming from but I'm not sure. I would have thought the rack play would be taken up as you start turning, not take up with a clunk when you get near full lock. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 There is a bush in the left hand end of the rack (R/hand drive) that does wear and will give a clonk. Item number 3 here https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/tr5-6/steering-suspension/steering/steering-racks-mountings-inner-columns-tr5-6.html Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 Could also be item #6 in the picture above, it keeps a bit of tension on the sliding steering rod, its under the left side rack mounting rubber. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 1 hour ago, John L said: Could also be item #6 in the picture above, it keeps a bit of tension on the sliding steering rod, its under the left side rack mounting rubber. John Thats often missing and doesnt actually do as much as the bush the other end. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rogcastle Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 Hi John Your steering rack might need centering. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted December 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 2 hours ago, Rogcastle said: Hi John Your steering rack might need centering. Roger The manual just says when installing to centre the rack, not how. I just looked at the rack mounts and the flange butts up against the clamp. Is there something I'm missing here. I see new racks are available from Moss-Europe for about 130pds. As there is also a bit of play in the pinion bush this looks like the best option if it needs repair. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 You have pre tensioned the rack prior to clamping up the U bolts? There are ways of doing this detailed in the various forums if you haven't got the special tool. I've generally found it better to rebuild the original Triumph/Stanpart components than replace -I've been very disappointed by modern reproduction parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John McCormack Posted December 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 46 minutes ago, Mike C said: You have pre tensioned the rack prior to clamping up the U bolts? There are ways of doing this detailed in the various forums if you haven't got the special tool. I've generally found it better to rebuild the original Triumph/Stanpart components than replace -I've been very disappointed by modern reproduction parts. Thanks Mike. The rack hasn't been out in my ownership. When I bought the car I had the previous owner have the bushes replaced which he did by a service centre known to the Triumph owners here. I can only assume they did pretension the rack. The car has been driven by a very good Triumph specialist who didn't mention anything untoward about the steering. I take your point on new parts. They have often let me down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 4 hours ago, John McCormack said: Thanks Mike. The rack hasn't been out in my ownership. When I bought the car I had the previous owner have the bushes replaced which he did by a service centre known to the Triumph owners here. I can only assume they did pretension the rack. The car has been driven by a very good Triumph specialist who didn't mention anything untoward about the steering. I take your point on new parts. They have often let me down. I check the rack pretensioning by getting someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth then watching for rack movement. If it's not pretensioned it moves a fair bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 I rebuilt my rack recently as opposed to replacing and the bush in the left side of the rack tube was quite worn, as per Stuart's comment. I also found the tie rod ball joints weren't shimmed properly with too much play. It did clonk under various movements prior to that, including the splines on the pinion shaft which was also replaced. is the round bush/ spacer stop present in the lower trunnions to prevent too much lock? Mine were missing. Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 13 minutes ago, boxofbits said: is the round bush/ spacer stop present in the lower trunnions to prevent too much lock? Mine were missing. Kevin item 78 https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/tr5-6/steering-suspension/front-suspension/front-suspension-tr5-6.html Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 I would definitely rebuild what you have as the repro racks arent that good. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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