Topic: Anyone replace inner tie rod ends?

[ken]

I've got a steering knock that is very noticeable parked with the engine off.  Moving the steering wheel back and forth produces a noise that sounds like it's coming from behind the steering wheel, but it's louder up near the firewall where the rack is.  It's a pretty solid knock- you can feel it.

It doesn't take much steering movement to make the noise, and I couldn't find a loose ball joint or bad control arm bushings.  I've replaced the outers a couple times, but never the inners.

Wondering if anyone has had similar noises.

[Jarett Hoffman]

I've got a steering knock that is very noticeable parked with the engine off.  Moving the steering wheel back and forth produces a noise that sounds like it's coming from behind the steering wheel, but it's louder up near the firewall where the rack is.  It's a pretty solid knock- you can feel it.

It doesn't take much steering movement to make the noise, and I couldn't find a loose ball joint or bad control arm bushings.  I've replaced the outers a couple times, but never the inners.

Wondering if anyone has had similar noises.

With how the inner TRE is designed 99% of the time if you have a noise you will have play in the wheels. Jack it up and check.

[Bluefool]

I've taken my A4 in a couple times for either 'noise' in the steering system or specifically for the tie rods to be checked and the report back has been that the tie rods are fine, but I still have noise.  If I pop the hood, and wiggle the wheel, you can really hear 'something' clacking away under the hood.  Temperature seems to play a role as well.

I've wondered about the rack itself.  I've been befuddled by it and it has been doing it for a couple years.

[ken]

I think that's similar. I can't find any play in the wheel when I jacked it up. I could make the noise a bit by shaking it back and forth. With the wheel up, the knock was almost gone moving the steering wheel. With the tire on the ground, you can hear it a bit just moving the steering wheel and letting it spring back. 

It's been a couple years since I've had an alignment, so I guess I'll replace the inners and outer before then. The price is almost the same for both.