Hi y'all,

I own a 2001 honda accord sedan. Lately I've noticed a slight clunk in my steering while turning the wheel back and forth when the vehicle is stationary and also at low speeds when turning the wheel. Theres no clunk at higher speeds. It's not a very loud clunk either. Kinda like a knock. It seems like it knocks when I turn the wheel and the power-steering is trying to resist and turn the wheel back to its original position. It doesn't seem to do it all the time though. I'm wondering if the PS pump is starting to go because it hums slightly louder than normal at times. Could it be something wearing out in the steering controls somewhere? Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!



Rob

Try to back up (empty parking lot) with your wheels turned one way or another. If you hear clicking - it is you cv joints.

Hope this helps,

Sam

I notice one clunk when I back up with the wheels turned but no clicking. The clunk seems to feel like its coming from the steering column but I know sound travels so it could be orginating from elsewhere. I also forgot to mention that one of the cv joints have already been replaced about a couple years ago. I'm pretty sure its the passenger side thats been replaced.

I notice one clunk when I back up with the wheels turned but no clicking. The clunk seems to feel like its coming from the steering column but I know sound travels so it could be orginating from elsewhere. I also forgot to mention that one of the cv joints have already been replaced about a couple years ago. I'm pretty sure its the passenger side thats been replaced.
Some aftermarket axles are of a low quality. Check it out.

Sam

My 92 did the same thing. I had a broke stabilizer link. Nothing serious just a headache to listen to. Do you have any shimmy when driving?

That kind of single pop or klunk when transitioning from steering one way to the other, or coming off center, is usually going to be some slop in the steering linkage or the steering rack mount itself.

Inner tie rod ends are more prone to make this kind of noise on a lot of cars. To check this, you simply raise the car, grab a tire from both sides and jerk it sharply in a left-right steering motion...if you feel the pop on that side, gently squeeze the dust boot around the inner tie rod with one hand while pushing the tire in and out with the other...you'll feel the slop in the ball socket of the bad tie rod end.

Outer ends can do this too. but the slop motion is up/down rather than in/out, and as such they don't tend to produce the popping inners are known for.

Next put the car back on the ground and closely watch the steering rack mounts while someone turns the steering wheel left/right fairly rapidly (back and forth a partial turn, just off center)...if you see the rack moving side to side, corresponding to the pop, the rack mounts are loose or a bushing has deteriorated causing the popping.

Occasionally one will break a tooth in the rack steering gear and pop, but this generally only occurs just coming off center, not when turning back the other way with the wheels already turned...if I understand your description, you get it any time you go back the opposite direction, yes?

Also as mentioned, check the stabilizer bar links and bushings...especially the ones that hold the bar to the body...they can really pop against the body when the car shifts direction....usually only when moving, when there is a lot of side load on the body causing the bar to shift, but not always.

Worn upper strut mounts/bearing plates can cause this too...usually when this is the case, you can pull the dust cap off the top of the mount, and put your finger on the top of the strut and you'll feel the klunk while someone turns the wheel back and forth rapidly...