A&Q about Lotus
Q:
I had my rack replaced under warranty. The clunking/jiggling noise was reduced but it was still there. Now after 1k miles on the new rack the clunking noise is back full force. I can't hear it as easily now since my 2bular exhaust drowns out the noise.
My rack was replaced with the same steel rack while others had theirs replaced with an alloy rack. I wonder if the steel rack is just a piece of junk. ????
A:
This is almost bizarre. I just started noticing the "clunk" about a week ago, and here is a thread about it. It is very subtle, and happens at low speeds while going over slight bumps in the road. You can feel it in the steering wheel.
Did those who had replacements have a hard time convincing the dealer to do it under warranty?
A:
I kept my stock rack, but did replace the stock one with a quickrack. Best mod I've done to the car (not that I've done many at all). I would however recommend that you buy from Eliseparts (Geary is a stand up guy to take all my abuse! ) and moreover, that you buy the "Zero bump steer steering arm" kit -- something I did not do, and now I regret (and don't have the finance) to do at the moment... Bump steer is quite a bit more noticeable in this incantation of my car -- on rough roads anyway -- more so than the stock one.
Worlds of difference on the track though, as far as I'm concerned -- and the car is just plain more fun and responsive... but I like an almost twitchy car... some people don't...
A:
Originally Posted by Vantage
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.
Had mine @ Symbolic a few hundred miles back for my exhaust install and had them look into my 'clunk' it wouldn't reapear for them, but continues to occur at slow speeds.
Vantage -Let me know how they react to your's.
Cheers
A:
I'm glad to have found this thread. My car has had the clunk since March (@ 3000 mi)--unlike others I don't feel it through the steering wheel, I only hear it at low speeds over minor bumps. It sounds to me like it's coming from the front passenger area but it's hard to isolate.
The dealer had it for two days, and couldn't figure it out. He mentioned replacing the rack but didn't think it would fix the problem (I want to show him this thread). According to him the Regional Lotus Technical Mgr will be there on Tuesday and he will have him take a listen, so I'll be bringing it back.
I can handle minor rattles, but this is just too much.
--Paul
A:
Originally Posted by smicker
I'm glad to have found this thread. My car has had the clunk since March (@ 3000 mi)--unlike others I don't feel it through the steering wheel, I only hear it at low speeds over minor bumps. It sounds to me like it's coming from the front passenger area but it's hard to isolate.
The dealer had it for two days, and couldn't figure it out. He mentioned replacing the rack but didn't think it would fix the problem (I want to show him this thread). According to him the Regional Lotus Technical Mgr will be there on Tuesday and he will have him take a listen, so I'll be bringing it back.
I can handle minor rattles, but this is just too much.
--Paul
smicker, do a search for steering rack and you'll find the two other threads on this matter. I had my rack replaced due to this clunk. I described mine as a jiggling sound over small bumps and never felt it through the wheel either. my rack was replaced and the steering felt tighter afterwards. The service manager admitted that my old rack did have some play in it upon inspection once it was pulled from my car.
I wish I had asked to see the old rack and to have the play demonstrated for me. My new rack is making the same noises again although with a louder aftermarket exhaust (2bular) I can't hear it as well anymore!
Please let us know the outcome of your "clunk" or "jiggle."
A:
Originally Posted by andykeck
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.
... and the sad news is that I think rack #2 is on its way out.
A:
andy, my replacement rack is making as much of a "racket" (ha!) as the old one it replaced. The difference now is that the sound is getting drowned out by my 2bular exhaust. I would venture to guess that a dealer is going to have a hard time hearing the jiggling sound over the exhaust roar. Heck, the dealer initially denied the problem the first time around. It took the Lotus rep getting involved before my 1st rack's replacement was authorized. Once the old rack was out the dealer service rep told me he found a bit of excessive play in it.
Keep us posted on your rack issues.
Oh, without doing a search, did you get the original steel replacement rack or did you get the alloy rack? I know someone had posted about the difference. My replacement rack is the steel model (same as the one it replaced).
A:
Interesting post, since mine just started doing this last night. My wife and I had just returned from dinner and as we started up my driveway it started clunking. My wife, who is generally oblivious to all things mechanical, exclaimed what is that? My car has about 4,500 miles on it.
A:
Originally Posted by arandolph
I will report back after it is replaced to let you know how much better it is.
Vaughn at Lotus of Durham replaced my steering rack last week and it is a totally different car. Not only is the clunking gone, but transmission of road irregularities through the steering column is reduced considerably. Hopefully the new rack is an improved design which will not deteriorate quickly. I don't know if it is the original steel or the newer alloy design -- what is the most convenient way to tell? It definitely appears that Lotus has a bit of a problem with the original racks...
A:
Dropped my car off at HRM on Friday. Over the past few hundred miles (car has over 7000 now) it developed the clunk. The service manager said that some of the early ones had the rack made from aluminum and steel. Whatever it is, we'll see what happens.
A:
My dealer has been trying to track this down for months. Just got it back today after replacing the front shocks under warranty. This helped some, but still have an audible and tactile clunk at low speeds.
I'll definately show them this thread when I take it back in next week to continue working on it.
A:
It happened to me!
Replaced my rack , the noise were gone than come back at slow bump!
Then I found that the bushings for the front arb had totally dried out!
So lube them both and the noise are gone
A:
My rack was replaced also - about 29k on the car. I was in an accident (rear of car) and I dont remember clearly whether the ratlles were there before the accident or not. When I got the car back after the body work was complete, they definitely were there so it went back in and got the rack replaced.
I could hear the noise and feel it in the steering wheel. It almost felt like something was not bolted on right and was banging on the column somewhere up front. All gone now and nicely aligned - very responsive.
A:
Originally Posted by smicker
I'm glad to have found this thread. My car has had the clunk since March (@ 3000 mi)--unlike others I don't feel it through the steering wheel, I only hear it at low speeds over minor bumps. It sounds to me like it's coming from the front passenger area but it's hard to isolate.
The dealer had it for two days, and couldn't figure it out. He mentioned replacing the rack but didn't think it would fix the problem (I want to show him this thread). According to him the Regional Lotus Technical Mgr will be there on Tuesday and he will have him take a listen, so I'll be bringing it back.
I can handle minor rattles, but this is just too much.
--Paul
Well my replacement rack finally came in, BMCD replaced it, but no joy--my clunking is still there. They told me if it didn't fix it (which they had to have known it didn't) that I was out of luck--they don't fix Lotus rattles. So, I guess it's time to start pulling stuff out and looking for it myself
--Paul
A:
Originally Posted by smicker
they don't fix Lotus rattles.
That's a weird thing for them to say.