Clunk in steering

[AIbandit]

Every time I turn from one direction to the other I feel and hear a small clunk in the steering somewhere around center. It does it while sitting still an moving.
Anyone know what this could be?

Thank you,
Brian
89 5.0

 

[faststang90]

sounds like a rag joint

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/DOR-31000/79-93-Mustang-Steering-Shaft-Rag-Joint

 

[AIbandit]

Thanks,
Would this lead to a critical failure? I'm trying to source a SN95 Cobra rack and pinion right now so I'd rather wait to take it all apart.

 

[87_LX_5.0]

A worn out rag joint will cause a lot of "slop" in the steering. If you can turn the wheel an inch or so in each direction without any of the steering components moving I'd look at the rag joint first. If your steering is still responsive I'd look further down at the rack itself.

 

[RedHotFox]

I'm not sure if this will help you, but I was having the same issue with my fox at one point and it turned out to be ball joints. I've had that happen on two of my foxes. It seems like the ball joints are a problem area in these cars.

 

[AIbandit]

I'm not sure if this will help you, but I was having the same issue with my fox at one point and it turned out to be ball joints. I've had that happen on two of my foxes. It seems like the ball joints are a problem area in these cars.

Interesting could you see it at the wheel when you turned it?
I do have some slop at my wheel and thought it was wheel bearings.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Do you have full length headers? Mine has done this in the past because the rag joint was hitting one of the header pipes.

 

[AIbandit]

Do you have full length headers? Mine has done this in the past because the rag joint was hitting one of the header pipes.

I have full lengths but they're not hitting and it did it with shorties too. Also it only happens when I turn the wheel left.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I would still look into the header thing. Mine wouldn't hit until i was turning AND giving it gas at the same time...i could sit in a parking lot and turn lock to lock without it hitting...it took turning and the twisting of the engine under load to cause it to hit, and now that you mention it i specifically remember it hit when turning left because i almost ditched my car turning left into my buddy's driveway because i left off the gas right when the knuckle was on the pipe and it locked my steering up and i couldn't turn at all.

 

[BlackGT89]

It could be so many things. I have replaced my rag joint with a Maximum Motorsports solid steering shaft, along with the follow host of parts: new Summit steering rack, Ford Racing lower control arms (with new ball joints included), SN95 spindles (from salvage yard but in good shape - for 5 lug conversion), steering rack bushings, sway bar bushings. I still have the clunk and I suspect it's in the bushing/bearing up near the steering wheel. From what I hear there is no replacement, unless one wants to take their chances from a salvage car.

 

[AIbandit]

I replaced my shaft with an MM and it actually rubbed more. I had to limp to a muffler shop and they bent my header tube out.
The clunk is still there after replacing the shaft/rag joint and the rack bushings. Steering response is instant, I think my bump steer issues are gone.

Could it just be my wheel is loose? The sound and feeling seem like it's right there.

 

[LarsD]

I had a problem like this last year on my 91. Turned out it was a bad inner tie rod.

 

[Opposedodie]

Every time I turn my wheel left I get a sound too, turns out to be the wheel and tire combo I have , but only to the left...The sound is the tire scrubing the plastic inner fender ...