Steering noise

[Keif]

Got a noise in my steering and can't seem to locate exactly what it is.

Being parked, engine off when I move my wheel left and right there a knocking when I change the steering wheel direction.

My first thought, track rod ends. So today I had my front end up on axle stands and had a good look round (and changed my wheel for my standard (winter) wheels)
There is NO play in the track rod ends at all.

So crawled under the car, and had the wife move the steering wheel back and forth with out the engine running, and can hear the knocking around the steering box area, however there doesn't seem to be any play in the tie rods.

There is no wheel wobble which seems to be the symptoms for the inner tie rods being worn.

How do I check if the tie rods inner joint are worn/dead.

Or is there anything else I can look for?

Thanks

[marktaylor]

Get under the car and as someone twists the steering pull downwards on the inner tie rod

If there is any play in the racking will show up by doing this

That's how I located my worn rack

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Forum Runner

[Vectra-c-SRI]

ma upper strut rubber mounts are ****ed one ma drivers sides the worst. take the wee cap off and get someone to turn the wheel ya will see it CLICK/SNAP/ sounds if ya know what i mean

[Keif]

I decided enough was enough over Christmas, currently the Signum is sat on axle stands having the following replaced.

Both Strut top bearings
Both Track Rod ends
Both Track Rods
Both Drop Links
Drivers Outer CV Joint.

It's not been with out issues. Managed to shear three of the six bolts that hold the struts top in, so ordered two new strut top mount and longer bolts ("just in case" I get a strut brace at a later date).
Also had issues getting the drive shaft to locate in the new CV joint. I've bent/broken 2 circlips, so ordered a replacement. Anyone got any tips to get it to locate? (i've tried the line it up and smack the f**k out of it method)

I did have the Saab uprated droplinks, and one was very dead (two years old) so opted to spend a bit less and get OE ones (might regret it, but if they last two years i've saved 30% of the cost of them)

[shb1988]

Mine knocked and I found it to be the inner cv joint on passenger side, grab the gaitor and push it towards gear box and then towards the wheel