Clio 197 steering issues?

[197Nathan]

Hi guys, I've recently acquired a 2007 Clio 197 and the car is great, apart from the steering.


The steering feels like it is constantly twitching and fighting whether to pull left or right along the road, and when at low speeds or at idle and the steering wheel is turned, it often makes some awful scraping/creaking noises coming from behind the steering wheel in the dash?


Also not sure if it's related but if also at idle/low speeds and the steering is turned, the headlights and taillights dim quite a bit.


Any help is appreciated.


On a side note, any Renaultsport specialists local to Wiltshire?

 

[petercronin]

That sounds very much like ball joints. I can’t help with the specialist local to you but I’m sure they’ll be one who can just change the ball joints. Whatever you do don’t try and go to renault though, they’ll get you to replace the whole assembly and great cost.

 

[197Nathan]

That sounds very much like ball joints. I can’t help with the specialist local to you but I’m sure they’ll be one who can just change the ball joints. Whatever you do don’t try and go to renault though, they’ll get you to replace the whole assembly and great cost.

Ok mate brilliant thanks.

Considering I bought the car from a dealer (not a Renault dealer) and it was advertised as coming with 6 months warranty, and when mentioned on the test drive I was told it 'just needed tracking', do I have any leg to stand on with regards to them sorting it?

Thanks again.

 

[lewishunter98]

Mine was funny recently and i've basically had everything changed and it still does it a bit, and i think my ball joints might be shot again. It's 10x better now i have had the tie rods etc. changed but squeaking sounds like ball joints. I had mine done in salisbury previously at XDR motors so they're relatively close to you?

 

[mr angry]

Jack it up and check for play at the front its the only way to confirm for sure. If you arent handy that way take it to someone local who could have a look and diagnose. The ball joint comes as a complete carrier unit from Renault but there are many selling the seperate joints now that are straight forward enough to fit for any garage with a press.

Also check are the front tyres evenly worn.

 

[petercronin]

Ok mate brilliant thanks.

Considering I bought the car from a dealer (not a Renault dealer) and it was advertised as coming with 6 months warranty, and when mentioned on the test drive I was told it 'just needed tracking', do I have any leg to stand on with regards to them sorting it?

Thanks again.

If you’ve got a warrantee get it reported to the dealer as soon as you can, leave it up to them to sort. They might be good and sort it straight away or you might have to keep going back, either way if your persistent they should sort it eventually. That’s provided there’s no t&c’s in the warrantee that give them ways out of it.

 

[turkie172]

When you buy it from a dealer it has to be roadworthy get an MOT centre to do a test it's a fixed charge for that then take the list to the dealer to sort it will be the best money you ever spent and cheaper them having to fix it yourself. Even if the car is currently MOT'd the car has to be road worthy the day you take it home.

 

[197Nathan]

Mine was funny recently and i've basically had everything changed and it still does it a bit, and i think my ball joints might be shot again. It's 10x better now i have had the tie rods etc. changed but squeaking sounds like ball joints. I had mine done in salisbury previously at XDR motors so they're relatively close to you?

Alright Lewis, can you PM me what you paid to get them done if you don't mind me asking, and did you provide parts?

 

[197Nathan]

Jack it up and check for play at the front its the only way to confirm for sure. If you arent handy that way take it to someone local who could have a look and diagnose. The ball joint comes as a complete carrier unit from Renault but there are many selling the seperate joints now that are straight forward enough to fit for any garage with a press.

Also check are the front tyres evenly worn.

Definitely confirmed as lower hub ball joints..!

If you’ve got a warrantee get it reported to the dealer as soon as you can, leave it up to them to sort. They might be good and sort it straight away or you might have to keep going back, either way if your persistent they should sort it eventually. That’s provided there’s no t&c’s in the warrantee that give them ways out of it.

When you buy it from a dealer it has to be roadworthy get an MOT centre to do a test it's a fixed charge for that then take the list to the dealer to sort it will be the best money you ever spent and cheaper them having to fix it yourself. Even if the car is currently MOT'd the car has to be road worthy the day you take it home.

I've put it forward to them to see what they're going to do about it, awaiting a reply from their director now.

 

[petercronin]

Fingers crossed it’s a hassle free fix for you. But at least you know what it is now.

 

[turkie172]

If the garage has done this to you and only you will know what kind of garage they are I would be worried about what kind of job they will do to fix it basically the possibility of using used parts so maybe if you get a specialist you pay the labour and they pay for the parts which would be a good one they order the new ball joints and you get new parts fitted and possibly other work done at the specialist while they are doing that job. If your not aware the ball joint with Renault is buying part of the hub assembly with the ball joint fitted it is made up of an inner and outer hub assembly about £200 each but with care and experience the ball joint can be purchased and pressed into the used hub assembly the lower ball joint (the Renault sport genuine one which is not available from dealers) is about £70 - £80 there are others advertised as for the quality I'm not sure but the ones Raptor on the forum sells are good he as an eBay store as well. Some specialist's charge a fixed fee for doing the job I think Arrons Autos in Derby charge £175 all in each side for the job including the ball joint 12 months warranty.
It's just that it is not a normal ball joint job for a similar Clio model with a different engine like a 1.2 and its a job that will have to be done at some time you have a chance to do it right were as if they put used parts on you may have to pay the full thing to be done possibly at the cars next MOT.

 

[Chris_wynn]

I’ve done this job a few years ago for a friend, got the joints off eBay fitted them quite easily but I do have access to a press.
Initially I was only doing discs and pads, but driving it over to my workshop I noticed the car would jump across the road when giving it a fistful, when I put it on my ramp I noticed the o/s/f spring snapped and the ball joints had play. After I done all the work the car kept its line, it could have been the spring, joints or both!
A note for anyone changing the joints though, don’t be snapping any bolts! They just don’t want to leave their cozy aluminium housings lol!