'Knock' feel in steer wheel at low speeds after 2.6.16 update

[Joelaron]

anyone ever sense this? ..you pull away from a stop or a rolling slow speed and turn the wheel to initiate a turn and feel a small 'tick' or 'knock' as if there's a small amount of play in the steering linkage? When I feel it, if i turn the wheel immediately in the other direction, it doesn't 'tick' back.

In my racing days, I would instantly think that my pitman or idler arm needs to be tightened or a center link bushing is failing, causing a sense of play in the wheel at low speeds under heavy weight shifts of the car. It started a few times, just after the 2.6.16 update, but now it's every time I pull away from a stop and turn the wheel.

I wanted to reach out to y'all before contacting CS, as i'm trying to go an entire month without having to get my car serviced again. ...is anyone else feeling this same thing?

-car drives straight (was just re-aligned a few months ago)
-can not be felt at speeds above 5mph
-have not hit any potholes
-happens in all driving modes
-can not be felt if car is at a stand still (only happens when I accelerate at any speed from a stop)
-i've reset the car several times (i hold the 'a' at least 5 times a week so my sound system works)

thoughts?

 

[ColonelBadger]

It's possibly the steering wheel airbag moving. Next time try holding the airbag as you turn. Mine in warm weather has some "play" and will move/knock when making junction turns.

 

[Joelaron]

It's possibly the steering wheel airbag moving. Next time try holding the airbag as you turn. Mine in warm weather has some "play" and will move/knock when making junction turns.

interesting! I'll give that a try.

 

[FooFighter]

I felt it in my initial test drive. I felt it in the loaner GT. I feel it in my own Air Touring everyday. I kinda accepted it as “within spec”.

 

[L-Dude]

There's nothing wrong with your car (well, at least not because of this thing lol). It is called the Ackermann effect, and it happens with every AWD vehicle. It get this in my Audi too.

 

[marsarbu]

I always had it, I got used to it. It is that "steering wheel" feel that we're so longing after. The car is talking to you, you are one with it, communicating the subtle texture change in the road, as you attack that apex at the McDonalds drive through.

 

[Joelaron]

thanks everyone! so I can keep hammering my car into the apex w/o fear that my wheel will eject itself from the frame!

....and I learned about the ackermann effect today...

 

[TAG54]

I have the exact same issue. Nice to know that i'm not alone with it. Yes, I am used to it, but it is still disconcerting nonetheless. It really feels like there is something wrong or loose with the steering linkage or whatever. It should be "tight" as you turn the wheel. I have not experienced this issue with other AWD cars. The ackermann effect is something different. It does not explain clunky steering.

 

[marsarbu]

I feel like it's coming from the left side of the steering column, from where the indicator is. I am wondering if it doesn't have something to do with somehow triggering the mechanical canceling of the indicator, even if it's not the case because the indicator wasn't on. I think the mechanical ping I get in my hands through the steering wheel, plus the sound it makes, it reminds me a lot of the indicator being returned to its original position when straightening out the wheel.

 

[TAG54]

mine happens regardless of whether the turn signal is on or not

 

[marsarbu]

mine happens regardless of whether the turn signal is on or not

Same here. I'm just saying that it feels like the same thing that happens when the turn signal is reset to its neutral position. Same sound, same feel.

 

[ColonelBadger]

I have the exact same issue. Nice to know that i'm not alone with it. Yes, I am used to it, but it is still disconcerting nonetheless. It really feels like there is something wrong or loose with the steering linkage or whatever. It should be "tight" as you turn the wheel. I have not experienced this issue with other AWD cars. The ackermann effect is something different. It does not explain clunky steering.

I spent months with Lucid diagnosing a similar issue... had the car in the shop as well as Mobile service. Eventually diagnosed it as the airbag in the steering wheel moving when it's turned enough. Once they told me that I was able to hold the airbag in locations where I knew I'd normally feel the "movement" and lo and behold nothing. I also moved the airbag and noted it made the same noise as what I was hearing when I was just driving and turning. Interestingly I just went through my first winter and the movement went away, probably because as the temp dropped things tightened up. Now that warm weather is back, the feeling/noise is back. Ho hum, I'm just used to it now.

(Lucid did try and replace the airbag to fix it, the one they put in move more and felt worse, so I stuck with the original one)

 

[marsarbu]

I spent months with Lucid diagnosing a similar issue... had the car in the shop as well as Mobile service. Eventually diagnosed it as the airbag in the steering wheel moving when it's turned enough. Once they told me that I was able to hold the airbag in locations where I knew I'd normally feel the "movement" and lo and behold nothing. I also moved the airbag and noted it made the same noise as what I was hearing when I was just driving and turning. Interestingly I just went through my first winter and the movement went away, probably because as the temp dropped things tightened up. Now that warm weather is back, the feeling/noise is back. Ho hum, I'm just used to it now.

(Lucid did try and replace the airbag to fix it, the one they put in move more and felt worse, so I stuck with the original one)

Wait, the airbags are rattling around somewhere?

 

[ColonelBadger]

Wait, the airbags are rattling around somewhere?

The center part of the steering wheel that holds the airbag moves, or at least mine does. I can hold it and move it subtly and when I do I feel it through the steering wheel and hear a "click" kinda noise.

 

[Joelaron]

this feels totally connected to acceleration and turning at slow speeds. It will never happen when turning the same direction in sucession.. if I change direction, then I feel it.

 

[ColonelBadger]

this feels totally connected to acceleration and turning at slow speeds. It will never happen when turning the same direction in sucession.. if I change direction, then I feel it.

Sounds similar to what I feel. Once I've turned one way the airlock has shifted in that direction and won't do it again, until I turn the other way. Also only does it at slow speeds when you're turning 90 degrees or similar (like pulling out of junctions or parking)