light clunk noise when turning the wheel??

My truck has been working fine but tonight I pulled into a parking lot and as I went to pull into a spot I could hear a slight clunk when I turned the wheel as I was moving slow. Once I stopped I turned the wheel back and forth to the left and to the right a few times and you could hear a noise each time. I don't think it's heavy enough to feel it through the steering wheel, and I didn't really notice it when I was driving normal speed, but the heater and engine might have just drowned that out.

Any ideas what I'm dealing with before I take it back to the shop to get looked at?

 

Are you hearing the noise once it's maxed out side to side? If so there is bump stops that prevent it from turning anymore. It's metal on metal and can make noise.

If it's making noise before maxing out, I would check tie rods and other steering components.

 

Tie rods
Ball joints upper/lower
Control arm bushings
Steering rack bushings
Steering rack
Strut bushings


I'd start with rack bushings. Have someone get underneath and watch it while you bump queen left to right. Not trying to turn turn the tires, just put tension on steering rack bushings. See if rack moves. Replace as nesecary.

 

If it is really light sounding. Be aware of this.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/release...eering+wheel+spiral+cable+assembly+recall.htm

I've got a binding sound in my steering that I'm guessing this will address.

 

Oh! I did get that recall notice, haven't gotten to take my truck in yet though. Maybe I should just take it to the dealership instead of the normal shop.

Moondeath: not maxed out, just a 30 degree or so turn of the wheel back and forth will cause it.

 

Well the noise just miraculously stopped about three days after it started. I took my truck in for the recalls anyway. They said the serial number on the spiral cable wasn't one of the ones that needed replaced so they didn't even have to do it. Good to go for now I guess.