Recently I have been experiencing a knocking from my steering when reversing on full steering lock. I have had it inspected under warranty at my Local Mazda dealer who claim it is perfectly normal. Frankly I am not convinced and was wondering if anyone else has experienced this or has a solution. (12/99)
I notice that on full lock (that Itry not to use) either forwards or backwards the tyres tend to slip slightly as the car rolls. My father told me that his MGB used to do this because the steering can turn just a little too much. I remember someone sometime saying that knocking on full lock is a pointer to worn cv joints. (12/99)
Aren't CV joints only used on cars when the steering wheels also carry drive. i.e. front wheel drive. Since the MX5 is RWD it doesnt have CV joints - the diff handles the different drive speeds. So an MX5 can't have cv joint knock - as it has no cv joints??? or am I barking up the wrong tree here? (12/99)
Now that you mention it I think that you are correct, need a holiday !!! Sorry guys, 2nd day off work and brain has now officially stopped working ;) (12/99)

or am I barking up the wrong tree here?

No you are correct - go to the top of the class! One of the old BL's successes was dealing with the drive to the front wheels of the mini - I seem to remember that they were the first mass produced CV's or did Citroen do it before them? (12/99)

Aren't CV joints only used on cars when the steering wheels also carry drive. i.e. front wheel drive.

I thought that. And I said it on the US list. But I'm told I'm wrong and that the MX5 uses CV joints at the back to drive the wheels. I guess it's to cope with the independent suspension. Whether it's the same as a FWD CV I don't know but it seems to be called a CV joint. (12/99)
Ok, either they do or don't have 'em at the back! BUT!!! The original posting said they had knocking from the steering - And there aren't any CV joints at the front - so its not CV knock its probably the rack mounting. So whether there's some CV joints at the back is a moot point (12/99)

CV = Constant Velocity joint .. and early FWD had Hook joints so speed varied but not if you the linkage right (this is what is used in the propshaft from diff to gearbox) (.. not sure on Mini being first...)

So if you have independent suspension you need a pair of CVs per driveshaft to transmit power from the diff to the wheel. So only Cortinas and Mk2 Escorts style suspensions with beam/solid rear axles and RWD do not have CVs.

Clicking at front... something in tyre tread, wheel bearing, steering rack needs adjusting? (12/99)

Does this happen after you have stopped and turned the wheel?

Does it happen when you are manouvering at low speed?

The reason I ask is that I had a similar clicking on my MK1, turned out to be the brake slides moving when I had stopped and then turned the wheel.

Does it happen when you are stationery and you turn the wheel from lock to lock? (12/99)
Only in the last week have I discovered identical symptoms - at first I thought I'd got a puncture, but a quick walk around the car reassured me that I wouldn't be spending the next 24 hours ringing round for tyre prices! I'm intending to take it to Godfrey Davis (Nottingham) in the next few weeks to see if it IS curable. I'll let you know the outcome. By the way, mine is a 1997 1.6 - is yours of the same vintage? (12/99)
I was worried earlier in the year by a violent knocking when reversing while turning off my drive, which I thought was steering related. However it was correctly diagnosed by Sudburys as brake pads getting low and rattling/sticking in the calipers in a manner to cause the brakes to be applied momentarily when in reverse. A new set of brake pads cured the problem. (1/00)