(T) Steering Knocking!!!

I drve a 2002 Stilo 1.6 16v dynamic, and recently if i sit in the car stationary and have the engine running and move the steering from left to right or visa versa i get a knocking sensation!!! i have had a look i cant c the column catching on anything, has anyone else had this problem or is it me i think it might be something like a dry bulkhead column gromet or something like that?

any help will me much apreciated!!!!

What mileage do you have? I've just replaced a steering track rod end on mine at 36k which produced knocking on bumps, a slight pull to the side whilst changing gear ( as the tyre tracking moves obviously) and a slight feeling of vagueness on the straight. If you have these you may have the same.

Jack up the car and rock the tyre quite hard vertically and then horizontally and see if you have any play there.

im currently on 56k, i have tryed that at work on one of our ramps got no play in the wheels or hubs, it feels like its coming from the botom of the column where it joins the rack ill keep on looking i should find the problem soon!!!

I don't understand, you raised it on ramps and tried to move the wheels? Or did you mean jacked it up?

raised it on our ramps at work

So did this allow the wheels to move freely?

No idea about the knocking, although I do get a faint pull to the left under hard acceleration when changing gear - presumed it was torque steer.....

yes the wheels had complete movement
i dont know what to do next!! its out of warranty so ill prob just live with it its not that loud but its just annoying!!!

This sounds like one of the many problems I've had with mine...

With the engine running (and therefore the power steering active) I got a knocking sound when just moving the steering wheel left to right a little bit with the car stationary.

If you can get someone else to move the steering wheel whilst you touch each of the front road wheels you should feel quite a harsh knock.

I had the steering rack replaced and this seemed to solve that problem at least.

(I think it cost around £360 for the part and labour but fortunately it was covered under my third year warranty...)

My car started producing a knocking on the steering at about 90 degrees either side of straignt ahead - it was an audible click that you could also feel through the throttle pedal. Dealer checked it and noticed the UJ at the bottom of the column was loose, and had worn, so replaced entire column. However problem was still there and it was solved by greasing the ends of the metal tube that the brake pedal is attached. I can't explain why this fixed it, but it did!

Paul