knocking noise from front wheel area

Hi all , think i have a cv joint problem , car stationary , go from lock to lock and not all the time but sometimes , loud knock 
from area of front o/s wheel  , doesn`t do it  every time , probably about 1 in 3 or 4 lock to locks , CV joint I`m thinking , would you agree ?

It could be, but a cv joint normally makes a cracking sound when been driven at full lock, I doubt there would be any noise when stationary.

I would probably check other components first, e.g. wheel bearing, kingpin, steering linkage, coil spring, suspension bush, basically anything that can move when going lock to lock.

How old is your car?

Are you running bigger tyres, they’re not catching are they?

Robin

2004 , 100K ON IT , WAS FINE LAST TIME OUT , KINGPINS NEED DOING AS LEAKING A BIT OF OIL FROM EASH SWIVEL BUT DON`T REALLY WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON KINGPINS IF CV GONE , ANY GOOD WAY TO TEST FOR CV ? STANDARD SUSPENSION AND TYRES
 

CV joints, worn CV joints, will generally make a very distinctive repetitive "clicking" noise, but usually on full lock and with the vehicle under power, so accelerating - you say you're getting a knocking noise with the vehicle stationary - the chances of the noise being the CV joints is slim to non-existent.

any ideas then , doesn`t appear to be suspension related , seems to come form wheel area , could it just be kingpin bearings ?? quite a loud " knock " when occurs but as i say , not all the time , does it when on the ground and with wheels off the ground

You say it happens even when jacked? In that case there is no load on the wheel or suspension and as the wheels are not going round, the only thing moving is the wheel hub on the kingpins, the steering rods and the steering box.

When you get the knock is their resistance before hand, e.g. something sticks then suddenly frees?

Whilst jacked can you feel any play, left/right or top/bottom?

Years ago I chased a very similar problem and it turned out that the front panhard bar to axle bolt was just starting to back itself out. Tightened back to spec and noise gone. Took ages to find.

I assume this happens in 2WD?

It could be a bad CV joint, when they break they fall apart, won't pivot properly and jam the steering so it won't go to full lock in one direction.

If you can't find anything else broken/worn, then you will have to examine it when you change the kingpin bearings- they are around £25 a side.

This needs 2 people and a mechanics stethoscope. One to turn and one to listen.

Roger

Had another look today and with wheels off ground , appears to do it on full right lock , 90% lock , doesn`t do it . Just before " clunk " you can feel
some resistance , then clunk . will then go approx 3 to to 4 more lock to locks before doing it again ..No play at wheel though both swivels show some signs of leaking . drivers side is worse , passenger side , very slight so both kingpins need doing but thinking the " clunk " is passenger CV joint ??

yes , resistance on right full lock ( not 90% lock ) then clunk . no play left/ right or top /bottom

It still doesn’t sound like a cv joint to me, unless it has completely collapsed. Then it would probably do it on both locks, not just the right.

It sounds more like something is sticking in the steering, then all of a sudden the power assistance overcomes it and it goes with a clunk.

It might be the steering rack or a bush, but could be the power assistance on the steering.