Does anyone know why my 97 Estoril's steering clunks now and again when I turn the wheel (only when moving between 1 - 20mph)? Sometimes I can feel the brake pedal move when it clunks. Has anyone any ideas?

I had this a while ago. It was really annoying. It clunked whenever I slowed downed or turned and happened at low speeds or road bumps.

Is it only when you turn the wheel? Because mine turned out to be a worn disc on the front brakes. Replacing them sorted it straight away.

Clunks can be from a number of things though

Could also, possibly, be excessively worn pads?

Mark

yeah I shoulda said that too. Thanks Mark

If it's when the wheel is hard-over it could be a CV joint...?

I have this problem at the moment getting a service tommorow so hopefully know a lil more then..

Ninjaadam39, it only clunks when the car is moving slowly while turining the wheel.
Someone said it could be worn steering rack, but the car has only done 98k. I also had the same problem on my 95 323f which had only done 90k, surely the rack wouldn't wear this quickly as I've had many cars of this mileage and have not come across this. These are mazda's for god's sakes!! I can't beleive or hope it's not the rack.
Classmaz.... let me know what the outcome is when you have your service matey...cheers. It drives me nuts this knocking, other than that 323's are a cracking car.

Errr has anyone thought about CV joints? in which way do you turn the wheel to hear the clunking?

It's not the CV's, if I turn the steering on full lock and drive off there's nothing, it's all fine. It's just when turning left or right slowly basically at the halfway point between straight and full lock I get a few clunking noises and occasionally feel the brake pedal move with the clunking.

[quote="cybercom"]It's not the CV's, if I turn the steering on full lock and drive off there's nothing, it's all fine. It's just when turning left or right slowly basically at the halfway point between straight and full lock I get a few clunking noises and occasionally feel the brake pedal move with the clunking.[/quote]

thats the same problem i have. took it in today and they said they had overbooked going in tommorow. i have my eye on a mx3 if it is the steering rack as i believe they are very costly to replace

mike

Don't think it's the steering rack...did a little test...instead of breaking before I turn (as I usually have to do) I didn't touch the breaks and the clunking didn't happen so I guess it's either the pads or the discs.

could be the brake sleeves have some slight play in them.
or excess play in the bottom balljoint. (unlikely).
ridge on the brake disc.
spring missing (return spring) its a thin wire spring thing that goes between the pads. think its shaped like a "M".

think mine mite be different as it does it wen i turn the wheel not related to when i brake