Steering CLUNK - help

[1.5 Megane]

1.5 Renault Megane, 54 plate, 100bhp version. 40,000 miles, all services done by Renault, including 6 months ago; including new pads and discs at that time. Had the car since January 2005, nearly new.

So far so good, until recently. I've no idea if the Megane has hydrolic steering, or electronic; cant make sense of the very helpful manual. And no idea if its rack-n-pinion. Simple basics would help, thanks. The problem is as follows: turning the wheel, gently or quckly you get a low deep clunking noise. You can just about feel it through the steering wheel. You only need to move it bewteen 10 o-clock and 2 o-clock. To make the noise occure, you need to turn the wheel - for this, the ignotion and engine must be on. The sound reminds me of when you thump a big metal sheet with a rubber hammer; or much like when i was taking out the suspension on my VW, and it waggled free in the top mount once undone; hard to put my finger on; its not harsh metal sound - its dull; could be metal, or could be air blocked!?!

Its very hard to hear and locate the noise with the bonnet up - easy to hear inside the cabin; but definately coming from the font of the car. We've pulled hard on the wheels, etc, checking for loose top mounts - no luck.

The car is not driven hard; was mostly motorway use, until recently; now town. Never dry-steered. Seems somethings worn out... is this a common problem? Any ideas? Where is the steering fluid top-up location???

Many thanks ahead

[terry_mccann]

the Megane has electronic power steering, not hydraulic. but I think it is something entirley different.

just check this: have someone turn the wheel and go to each front wheel and put your hand on the spring. if you "feel" the clunk there then it is obvoius: your upper strut bearings and / or spring carriers have gone. I have the same with my car at the moment, they will be replaced on both sides on wednesday. this costs about 200 euros (140 Pounds? )

it is a common enough problem on meganes, these bearings are breaking very often....

if that is not the case it can only be the steering gear but I would not hope that for you as this should be much more expensive....

[bluegnat]

It could be a broken spring. (quite common, like a lot of things with theses cars) It happened to me a couple of weeks ago but it was more of a twanging sound although I initially described it as a clunking sound. If it is a spring it's not a big job.

[WebCode]

Strut top mounts breaking apart are a very common failure on the Megane II and can cause the noise that you are hearing..

There is a Renault Tech note that covers this.. The mounts are not that expensive, but require specialist spring compressor equipment to replace.. Takes approx 1 hour to do both..

[1.5 Megane]

Thanks guys. Can you point me to the Tech notes? (i've looked)

Anyone in the UK done this job? Are people using Renault strut mounts, or aftermarket stuff, like GSF?

Webcode, when you say specialist spring compressors, you mean that regular threaded ones don't fit?
(i've replaced shocks on a VW before)
.
.
AND, should the job seem too large or tricky, does any one know if there is a list of Renault Specialist Garages, opposed to proper renault dealers (stealers)?
Im Coventry based.

[1.5 Megane]

Can anyone point me to the Technical notes? or say how its done?

When you say "strut top mounts", do you mean suspension top mounts; ie the rubber mount that typically sit on top of the shock, and fits into the wheel arch, suspension housing? Or we talking a totally different place?

I got someone to turn the wheel, make it clunk, while i groped around. The clunking can definately be felt when touching just one supension spring and not the other; the vibration comes down the one shock; nothing can be felt when holding the bottom arm or drive shaft.

[terry_mccann]

don't know about the technote in english, I only have the german version. if you want that for the pictures send me a PM

but as you describe it this is definitely the bearing ant the plate where the strut top is fixed with. I got my car back yesterday with just the same thing being repaired.
I payed 200 Euros (140 pounds) for both sides, which I would recommend in your case as well, even if it is only one side that clunks....trust me, the other will definitely start as well.

price of parts was :
bearing €40 (25 pounds)
spring plate €35 (20 pounds)
labour €30 (20 pounds)

per side

The car definitely feels better now, the steering is lighter. I also hat the steerings rods replaced, which reduced the clunking when going over low kerbstones....mind you, it is not gone completely so in the not to dim and distant I will have to replace more steering parts before my MOT in January....

[AlexB]

Did you look at page 36 here:
https://meganedoksi.uw.hu/MEGANE_II/MR364MEGANE3.PDF
There is a pointer in our Links section.

Thanks guys. Can you point me to the Tech notes? (i've looked)

Anyone in the UK done this job? Are people using Renault strut mounts, or aftermarket stuff, like GSF?

Webcode, when you say specialist spring compressors, you mean that regular threaded ones don't fit?
(i've replaced shocks on a VW before)
.
.
AND, should the job seem too large or tricky, does any one know if there is a list of Renault Specialist Garages, opposed to proper renault dealers (stealers)?
Im Coventry based.