A rattle and a judder

[burton]

I think I have made seem worse but when driving over bumps or rough ground the steering wheel feels judder but doesn't move. If that makes sense.

When turning lock to lock you can feel a bit of play and a small knock. Cars drives ok just when you get to a bump etc.

[davelowe]

Possibly you have a cracked spring.

[burton]

2 springs not in the cups correctly, but I do have slight play in the ball joint and the steering rack according to the MOT advisory.

[burton]

Noise has come back, and I have noticed the car sits slightly to one side..

[burton]

This is still happening, any ideas?!

Would a failed shock cause this?

[tomalamix]

need to change the suspension and steering rods and check the steering rack, this last one is more difficult because you have to take it out to test it out side. For now its better to change that rods you have screwed.

[burton]

Do you just replace the whole suspension arm or just the ball joint?

Anyone have the part number?

MOT just says

Offside front suspension arm ball joint play.

[tomalamix]

its possible to swap just the ball joint if you have a press, or the complete arm. The after market prices are not so expensive, the whole arm is a strong possiblity if you dont have the press available.

cheers

[burton]

Looks like the whole arm is the better option.

Seen a few on the net.

Thanks for your help, just got to work out why the car seems to sit funny

[tomalamix]

on this cars the engine support strut is also a possibility. there is a bushing that can snap and the car will shake a bit when braking, turning and other movements. the solution, according to renault is to swap the engine support strut ( loool ). Fortunately for us there are after market bushings to swap. there is a thread about that here.

cheers

[burton]

Ok thanks will give that a look.

Renault price for a arm is only 20 quid more than I have found so think I will go with that. Are there any tools I might need to do this, other than standard tools?

[tomalamix]

the arm is TRW and TRW will give you a better price, no need to go to Renault.

The tools required for that job isn't nothing fancy. from memory is 16mm, 17 and 18mm spanners and a ratchet and sockets of the same size, an extender for the ratchet can be useful to reach some bolts. a hammer will help make loose the ball joints. dont hammer the ball joint WHITOUT the nut, hammer it with the nut put. you will need also to low down the engine lower support strut to take out one of the bolts, its attached horizontally, from front to back if i remember right. carefull with ABS loom. need alignment after this work. mount everything in reverse order, nothing fancy to add.

good luck

[burton]

Thanks for that, least I know what I am getting myself in for.

While doing this I might aswell do the fuel filter also.

Then its onto the brakes!

[tomalamix]

brakes are TRW also and filter its Purflux

Good luck

[davelowe]

dont hammer the ball joint WHITOUT the nut, hammer it with the nut put.

This is good advice - if you mushroom out the end, you'll never get it out. Also get a very big hammer and bash what things go through to loosen them before attempting to drive them out. It often knocks the rust loose and can shave hours off what seems a simple job.