Technical Loud knocking on steering wheel.

[eolonano]

Hello guys, I hope you can help me: sit down, It can take a bit to explain my problem.

When I use the steering wheel (especially when the car is moving slowly or it isn't moving at all) I hear a clear knock from the steering system.

I have rapidly checked all the bushes, ball joints etc..
The problem seems to be one of the tie rods.
I check the tie rod by steer the wheel with the engine shutted down.

Only the tie road on the right side is knocking.

It is better say that the right-side tie rod connects the steering rack with the passenger's wheel.

I think the knock is not originated by the tie rod end on the wheel; it seems come out where the tie rod is connected in the steering rack (the joint covered by the rubber dust boot)

It seems to me that I can feel the vibration on the rod when I see that joint moves a bit sideways)

Because of the rubber dust boot, I can't see the joint but I think the problem is there. I need to buy the entire rod?
To change it, I have to dismount the rod from the wheel and then pull?
Can be damaged the steering rack, too?

 

[fingers99]

Probably is the rack end (rather than the track rod end). Can be done, but I've never done it. Worth checking the Seicento Technical Manual (in the Downloads section).

The alternative is just to swap the entire rack out for a known good one.