Hello !
So there's something new that's wrong with my 1.8 stilo.:bang:
I had a clutch change several days ago, and today I noticed a clunk coming from the steering when parked. Rocking the steering wheel clock - anti clockwise theres a clunk, as if a huge backlash on threads. That's the best i can describe it

[ame]https://youtu.be/_i7Meitd8cg[/ame] Here's a video, may need to turn volume up.

Its not coming from the wheels or suspension. I took the wheels off, rocked and wobbled everything - solid. I can feel a knock on the "arms" that come out of the steering pump (don't know the term in english (tie rods?)) and hook onto the spindles (?) on both sides of the car when the steering wheel is turned left and right.

What could it be? CV joint from the steering column? Power steering "pump" itself ? And in how much of a risk of losing steering am i ?

Mine did exactly that two weeks ago, after I'd driven over a pot-hole in the road.

It turned out to be one of the inboard ball joints, where the tie-rod (track rod) joins the steering rack. The joint is actually part of the track rod, so a new rod fixed the problem. I fitted a new track rod (outer) end while I was at it.

See if you can feel the 'knock' on both arms or just on one side, so you don't replace things unnecessarily. The parts are readily available and not particularly expensive (about £20 for the rod/inner ball joint assembly, about £8 for the outer track rod end).

Steering and suspension joints are designed to be 'failsafe'. This means that they'll become unbearably noisy, loose and horrible to drive, long before they actually fall to bits. That said, steering, suspension and brakes are safety-critical components, so you should fix it without delay.

There is no power steering pump on a Stilo: the steering is electrically assisted.

Thanks for the reply !

The knock can be felt on both sides - drivers as well as passengers. Can feel it through the tire as well.

Yeah, the power steering is not technically a pump, but wasn't sure what to call it. Motor ?

I believe it's called the track rod. Which has a ball joint attaching it to the steering rack. Could well be that. Can't see a pump causing a clunk. You gonna have a go at fixing it yourself if it is track rods?

That's right: it's the track rod...
https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=7855&sku=107424
...and the outer part is called a 'track rod end'...
https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=2273&sku=40071

The other possibility is some wear in the steering rack itself, although these are usually quite long-lived.

Good way to check is pop the wheel off undo end nut on rod end.(don't hit the thread with a hammer).then pull the rod in and out. Shouldn't move or clack at all.if it does change it. Loads of vids on YouTube

Could it possibly be both inner track rods ? Or is it just one, that then transmits the vibrations throughout? Since the amount of knock that i could feel seemed the same on both sides

Guess I'll be taking wheels off again

Best way to check is to wiggle and jiggle all related components

It can be hard to tell whether it's one, the other or both because - as you say - the movement can often be felt from both sides, and it's easy to be fooled about exactly where it's coming from.

for me, the only sure-fire way to test is to remove the track rods and push-pull on each joint to see if you can detect movement.

You do know you both havent even mention the most common culprit to go before both of these two components the stabliser bar (anti roll bar/tie bar) which is the most common part to go with wear and tear and most over look this as I need to replace mine now and it causes a clunk sounds when you drive over uneven roads these are about 5 pounds off ebay. These go simply because the metal ball on the rod wears the plastic cup away and rattles hope this helps regards andy

Aj80 said:

You do know you both havent even mention the most common culprit to go before both of these two components the stabliser bar (anti roll bar/tie bar) which is the most common part to go with wear and tear and most over look this as I need to replace mine now and it causes a clunk sounds when you drive over uneven roads these are about 5 pounds off ebay. These go simply because the metal ball on the rod wears the plastic cup away and rattles hope this helps regards andy

Click to expand...

I agree that the stabiliser bar drop links are (easily) the weakest part of the front suspension, but the OP did say...
"Its not coming from the wheels or suspension. I took the wheels off, rocked and wobbled everything - solid. I can feel a knock on the "arms" that come out of the steering..."

If it's only steering movement (and not suspension deflection) that causes the clonk, then I would still suspect the track rod ball joints first.

i had this sort of noise and it turned out to be a loose drop link, i have no idea how it came loose or anything like that but tightened it up and no more nosie and the car feels alot more stable, i know you said you wiggled everything but i did the same, wasnt until i took it to a mechanic that he found it out and took him about 25 mins to find it.

Got it checked at a garage - its the steering rack.

I had my suspicions of it being at fault, since I could feel knocking equally on both inner tie rods, while wobbling the steering wheel with the car in the air.

Ugh fiat

Their ridiculous quote of 650e aside, how much of a pain is it to replace? Maybe somebody has tackled it

Depends on how confident and capable you are. Recommend wheel alignment afterwards. Did you sat the rack is shot or is it the track rods?

Try find a second hand rack?

I had a rack end replaced with all my offside components when mine got trashed, was around 40 odd pound for the rack end. (Not track rod, the other long thick arm that bolts to the rack on each side) can you not just refurb your own rack cheap or second hand from a breakers yard?