Most car owners would be a little worried if their steering wheel made noises when turning. And if the noises don’t display any apparent issues in how the car runs, many drivers would simply ignore the noises and continue driving.
However, if you do hear creaking or strange noises when you turn the steering wheel of your car, it is best to have it checked up. Strange noises are never good.
Here are some of the most common reasons why your car steering creaks or makes noises when turning.
Common Reasons Why Your Steering Wheel Makes Noise When Turning
Two places that will need to be checked if your steering makes noises are the steering system itself or the suspension system. When using the steering wheel, the different parts within these systems can suffer wear and damage over a period of time due to various factors such as heat and friction.
Here are some of the most common factors that can cause the steering wheel to make noises when turning.
Clogged Steering Reservoir Tank
Your car comes with a steering reservoir tank which contains the power steering fluid.
- Now, the tank is designed with a filter to ensure that the steering fluid is kept clean of debris and dirt.
- If, however, the filter in the steering reservoir tank gets clogged, it is only a matter of time before the tank piles up with debris and gets clogged.
- If the tank is clogged, then the supply of steering fluid to the steering system gets impacted and as a result, the steering will make noises every time you turn the wheel.
Dry Ball Joints
The ball joints help in ensuring that the suspension control arms and the steering knuckles move seamlessly. However, this seamless movement can only happen if the ball joints are well lubricated.
Any time the ball joints go dry, or if they are not properly lubricated, then they can generate cranking noises when in use – which is every time the steering wheel turns.
Worn Out Tie Rod Ends
The job of tie rod ends is to support the movement of the wheels as the steering wheel turns. If, however, the tie rod ends are worn out or damaged then they will generate noises each time you turn your car’s steering.
Damaged or Worn Suspension Bushings
Suspension bushings tend to suffer wear over a period of time. And as times passes, they tend to break apart which can lead to the formation of cracks.
- If you hear creaking sounds that you’ve never heard before each time that you turn the steering wheel, then it is because of worn out suspension bushings.
- If this is what is causing the steering to makes noises then replacing the suspension bushings will resolve the issue.
Worn Out Shocks
- The jolts and vibrations that are generated with the movement of your car while it runs are absorbed by the shocks.
- Any kind of damage or wear to the shocks reduces their tendency to absorb the vibrations of the car as it moves.
- When this happens, you will find that your ride gets bumpier and your car will bounce around and generate noises when the steering is turned.
Faulty Power Steering Rack
The job of the power steering rack is to provide the steering rack with hydraulic fluid whenever the steering wheel turns. If the power steering rack develops a fault then this impacts the supply of hydraulic fluid to the steering rack.
As a result, you will hear a whining noise each time you turn the steering wheel. This whining noise is most prominent when the car is running at low speeds or while you are navigating turns.
A Leak in the Power Steering Fluid
Power steering fluid lubricates the steering rack and helps in ensuring smooth movement of the steering wheel. A leak in the steering reservoir tank would impact the flow of power steering fluid to the steering rack.
When this happens, the steering wheel is not able to move smoothly. You will find that you need to use greater force to turn the wheel. This, again, is another reason why the steering may start generating noises while turning.
Car Mechanics You Can Trust!
Do you hear strange creaking noises each time you turn the steering wheel? Or are you facing any kind of car trouble? If yes, we can help. Give Accurate Service a call today at 520-620-9129 or schedule an appointment online at your convenience!
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