A&Q about Lotus
Q:
So I think I might have the Steering Clunk issue.. previously discussed... though mine is an 06, so you'ld think they'd fixed it, but maybe it's just an issue with most Elises?
Can you tell me how much your Elise has steering clunk over bumps etc? The steering feels tight, unless it gets jolted, then it sounds and feels like something is loose, but if you wiggle the wheel back and forth, I don't fee anything loose.
At an autocross today, it was wet, I noticed it a lot on a skid pad, under load, over concrete seems when the front wheels would skip a bit, it got pretty severe, but under normal driving conditions it does it as it has for several weeks.
Normal?
A:
Under very specific road conditions I can feel the faintest of "clunks" if you will call it that. I cannot hear it and I can't feel it in the seat of my pants, only in the steering wheel through my hands.
It seems as if, for a brief moment, a bushing or joint in the linkage is loose, although only the slightest bit. No manner of yanking on the wheels/tires, turning the wheels, tugging on the steering wheel or attempting to reproduce it when driving can make it happen. It only seems to happen on it's own, particular schedule.
I do happen to notice it most when the car is cold and when I'm driving it gently. If I'm driving hard or have been driving for a while I don't usually feel it at all.
I think it might be the suspension unloading or something like that, but I can't be sure. Perhaps one day I'll get it checked out, hopefully nothing falls off in the meantime...
A:
Yup, mine clunks. I notice it mostly at slow speeds.
A:
No clunk here thankfully
A:
I am taking mine in to have the steering rack replaced later this week. It had been clunking for a while, but last time I had the front end jacked up I grabbed the left front tire and moved it back and forth. It would move nearly 1/4" at the extremities, with a loud clunk emanating from the steering box at both extremes. Now that I know what to feel for, I can feel it impacting steering at speed when it moves, not to mention the clunking noise and simultaneous jarring feedback through the steering wheel when navigating around parking lots at low speeds. I will report back after it is replaced to let you know how much better it is.
A:
When my rack went, there was no doubt that you could feel it in the steering wheel. It got bad enough that I was able to sit in the dealer's parking lot sawing away at the wheel and they were able to hear it several feet away.
What I didn't realize until I got my car back was how badly the steering had deteriorated. It had gradually developed quite a dead spot. The new rack was a night and day improvement.
A:
Mine seems OK so far (about 2800 miles), no clunk.
Francis
A:
Originally Posted by fpitas
Mine seems OK so far (about 2800 miles), no clunk.
13,000 miles, no problem (fingers crossed).
A:
at slow speed my steering just started to grind and clunk today.
A:
I also have the clunk. It's not audible, but transmits up through the steering wheel at speeds < 35mph.
A:
Originally Posted by Allan Gibbs
I get the clunk too. It's at slow speed with minor bumps.
This is what I am getting as well.
A:
looks like Lotus better recall the steering rack. Way to many cars having or had this problem.
A:
I have the clunk.. just as you describe.. not bad, but it's there. My car was built June 05. I'll mention this to the dealer when it goes for it's 1,000 mile check up.
A:
Got back from my service appt this afternoon - the steering clunk is a faulty steering rack. They've ordered a replacement from Lotus and will install under warranty.
The Dealer thinks it is a defect - and I've got to agree since I have only 5800 miles on the odometer on relatively smooth Florida roads. BTW, this is not the first steering rack they've replaced. For Miami owners - service at The Collection is excellent, much better than Prestige Imports.
A:
I don't mean to be an alarmist, but is there any danger of failure if your steering clunks? Some days it is worse than others, but the car still drives well. It will be a few days before I can go in for service, and probably another week for the dealer to get a new rack in.
My car has already been to Newport European and they did not find a problem, so I will try Symbolic this time.
A:
i had my rack replaced last year, it was replaced with a beefier one according to the tech.
i doubt theres any danger to it, it'll be very noticeably bad before a failure i'd imagine.
A:
I have a 2005 and have had the same issue. I here and feel it at speeds between 20 and 30 mph. As I type this Lotus is replacing my steering rack as a first step. Hopefully this helps.
A:
no
clunk
A:
I'm also one of the people that had steering wheel vibrations at speeds around 80mph. Despite rebalancing using a Hunter roadforce, I couldn't rid the car of the front end shakes. Could the bad steering rack have caused this? I'll have my new rack in a couple weeks, time will tell...
A:
Clunk clunk clunk...
everytime i pull out of my garage or go over bumps - bugs the hack out of me.
had that for 6mo since Jan 06 (about 3000mi)
Going to take her in whenever I have time to get the shifter recalled, and have the rack replaced at the same time.
I also found the quicker ratio rack for sale on an UK website - if the dealer won't replace mine under warranty. IIRC, it wasn't a hard job at all.
I thought it was my imagination the first time I felt it (read about the on the S1 somewhere on web) then did a search here and confirmed it wasn't my imagination.