Extraneous sounds in the steering system may indicate a malfunction. Moreover, the type of breakdown can often be determined by the nature of the sound. Therefore, we suggest that you further familiarize yourself with all possible options faults, their symptoms and solutions.
1 What to do if you hear a hum from the power steering
Often, motorists complain about the hum of the power steering when turning the steering wheel left or right when the car is stationary. If the hum is not loud, then there is nothing wrong with it. We can say that a little noise is a certain feature of power steering, which is found on many cars. If the hum is uneven, i.e. periodically intensifies, is clearly audible while driving, sometimes turns into a grinding noise, which means there are problems in the steering system. First of all, you should check the fluid level in expansion tank, which is located under the hood and add it if necessary. If, after topping up, the sound reappears over time, and the fluid level in the tank drops again, it means there is a fluid leak that requires immediate elimination.
First you need to learn to hear and distinguish a “bad” hum and sound from simple sounds
If the sound is not associated with low level fluids, power steering parts may fail. In this case, you must immediately contact the service center, since repairing this unit is quite complex and requires experience and knowledge. Often, owners of cars with power steering encounter a whistling noise from the steering system. At first it is not strong, and appears only when the steering wheel is turned all the way. Over time, the whistle intensifies and appears in any steering position, especially if the car is not warmed up. The cause of this whistle is the power steering pump drive belt. To get rid of the whistling, the belt must be replaced or simply adjusted its tension.
Often the power steering whistle appears some time after replacing the belt. Therefore, try to monitor its tension until the belt “breaks in”. It must be said that the whistling of the belt can be confused with the whistling of the wheel bearings. If the whistling stops when the car stops, then the bearings are whistling.
2 Creaks when turning the steering wheel - what is the reason?
There may be several reasons why the steering wheel squeaks when turning. Most often this is to blame steering rack. Moreover, it can also creak for various reasons:
- the anthers of the tips have worn out, as a result of which dirt has clogged under them;
- the mechanism became loose, so it came into contact with the body. Such a malfunction is usually accompanied not only by a squeaking sound, but also by increased play in the steering wheel;
- the slats were deformed;
- The tie rod ends come into contact with the rods when turning.
If a rack creaking occurs, you must immediately contact specialists who will accurately determine its cause and eliminate the breakdown. As a rule, steering rack parts cannot be repaired, but simply replaced. This leads to high costs, but under no circumstances should you delay repairs. If rack faults are not identified, attention should be paid to brake system. Often this is the cause of squeaks.
Less often, a squeak occurs due to a malfunction in the steering column; in this case, it is superficial in nature and is clearly audible in the cabin. In addition, such squeaks are accompanied by vibration of the steering wheel, which is also impossible not to notice. Most often, a squeak in the steering column occurs due to its deformation. Sometimes extraneous noise causes worm gear. If a creaking or “shuffling” sound is heard right in the cabin in the area of the steering wheel, it means that they are caused by the steering wheel which, when moving, touches the steering column trim. There is nothing wrong with this, of course. But squeaks can cause discomfort to passengers and the driver in the car.
3 What knocks and crunches when turning - a ball joint or a shock absorber?
There are also several reasons why knocking may occur. Some of them are relatively “harmless”, while others require immediate car repair. The latter includes the knock of the ball joint. True, this element does not relate to the steering system, but to the front suspension, but since both units are interconnected, we will consider it too.
Ball knocks are usually clearly audible on small bumps and when driving on gravel road surface. When the car is moving along smooth road The ball joint usually creaks, but it can also knock if its condition is completely pre-accident. To verify that the ball is faulty, you can inject lubricant into the ball pin using a syringe by piercing the rubber boot with a needle. As a result, the knocking should stop for a short time. Also a symptom of ball wear is the lateral play of the suspended wheel.
If the ball is not replaced in time, the pin may be torn out of the housing, as a result of which the wheel will simply turn out. If the ball pulls out at speed, the car usually rolls over. True, as practice shows, most often this situation occurs when driving at low speed. But, as they say, don't tempt fate.
Another common cause of knocking is wear or lack of lubrication of the CV joint, which is only available on front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles. Sometimes, for the same reason, a crunching sound is heard, especially when the car enters a turn, and the load falls on the wheel with a problematic CV joint. In this case, you first need to make sure that the boot is intact. Often the crackling sound is associated with dirt getting under the boot. Otherwise, the CV joint must be replaced.
The knocking noise may also be due to wear on the steering tips. It is usually accompanied by a squeaking sound when turning the steering wheel. In this case, the knock itself is heard only at the very beginning of the turn. To make sure that it is the tips that are causing the problem, try rocking the steering wheel from side to side while the car is stationary. If you hear a click every time you turn left or right, then there can be no doubt. As in the case of CV joints, first of all, it is necessary to check the lubrication in the hinge mechanisms. If, in addition to knocking, play is also detected, the tips must be changed.
If a knock is heard on bumps, as well as when the car enters a turn, it may be due to wear on the shock absorber. In this case, the stronger the load on the wheel when turning, the stronger the knocking noise is heard. Since the shock absorbers of the left and right wheels rarely fail at the same time, clicks are heard only when turning in one direction.
These are all the main causes of steering system noise. If you are unable to accurately determine the cause of the noise, immediately have your vehicle diagnosed by service center. After all, steering is one of the most important systems responsible for safety!
This article discusses the main reasons why clicks are heard when turning the steering wheel. Describes how to diagnose and solve this problem.
Normal operation of the steering system should not be accompanied by extraneous sounds, such as knocking or clicking noises when turning the steering wheel. The appearance of such symptoms indicates the likelihood of wear of components of one of the critical systems active safety car, or other components of the chassis that are driven along with the rotation of the steering wheel.
Possible reasons extraneous sounds when turning the steering wheel:
- wear of the steering rack drive shaft cardan crosspieces
- play in the splined connection of the rack drive shaft
- wear of the steering rack supports
- biting the steering rack rod
- radial play of the steering column shaft
- moisture ingress and corrosion of the lower ball joint
- wheel drive grenade malfunction
- violation of the integrity of the spring
If you hear clicks when turning the steering wheel, which can also be felt on the steering wheel, you should check the condition of the steering drive elements. The wear of the crosspieces is detected by probing the universal joint when turning the steering wheel to the right and left at a small angle.
The bite is clearly felt by the hand and allows you to accurately identify the worn part. It is necessary to take into account that there are several such parts and some may be in hard to reach places. In some cases, it may be necessary to dismantle components to disassemble and inspect components, followed by replacement of the faulty part.
Play in spline joints
Play in the splined connections of the rack drive shaft is detected in a similar way. In some cases, the so-called “bleeding” of the shaft can help. To do this, you need to loosen the fastening bolt and move the shaft several times along the splines, then tighten it again. There is a possibility that the splines, as a result of wear, have lost effective engagement and, as a result of such a procedure, will come into more intimate contact, and the free play in the connection will be eliminated for some period of time. If bleeding does not help, change the spline shaft.
Worn steering rack supports
During the operation of the car, not only the steering rack mechanism, which takes up the load with each turn of the wheels, wears out, but also the rubber fasteners, through which the unit is fixed to the body or subframe, are subject to wear, destruction and loss of elastic properties. In this case, when you turn the steering wheel in place, you will feel characteristic knocks or clicks, indicating that the rack body is moving freely. The larger it is, the stronger the sound will be under load. Wear is detected by monitoring the position of the unit when the steering wheel is turned left and right. At the same time, the movement of her body will be clearly noticeable. The solution is to either seal the clamps by placing a layer of rubber under them, or immediately replace worn-out rubber bands with new ones.
Biting the steering rack rod
Biting the steering wheel when rotating indicates damage to the rod due to corrosion as a result of moisture getting inside the body. Typically, biting appears when the steering wheel is turned to a certain angle or number of revolutions. When a rusty section of the rod passes through the plastic guide bushing, strong friction occurs, since the surface of the rod is no longer mirror-smooth, but rough. This is accompanied by a characteristic creaking or clicking sound when turning the steering wheel. The unit must be disassembled and inspected for parts damaged by corrosion, followed by their replacement. In advanced cases, the entire rack will need to be replaced.
Steering column shaft play
Clicks in the steering column usually appear while the car is moving and indicate the presence of radial play in the shaft as a result of bearing wear. Backlash is diagnosed simply - just reach the shaft with your hand and try to swing it relative to the axis of rotation. If a malfunction is confirmed, repair of the steering column is possible on some cars; on other models, only replacement of the entire assembly is possible.
The malfunction is not critical and, apart from an unpleasant knock, will not cause any other consequences for some time.
Corrosion damage to the lower ball joint
A rusted lower ball joint, which bears a significant load, can produce characteristic clicks and a fairly loud squeak when turning. Reason – mechanical damage boot and moisture ingress, resulting in leaching of the lubricant. In addition to creaking, there is usually already play in the connection, resulting from friction of the rusty ball against the plastic seal. As a result of the play, a clearly audible knocking sound occurs when driving over uneven surfaces. Damaged by corrosion spherical bearing to be replaced.
CV joint malfunction
The natural wear and tear of the CV joint or its destruction due to the ingress of dirt leads to the joint biting when it rotates, especially at extreme angles. This is accompanied by clicks or clattering noises when turning the steering wheel in place and, most obviously, when starting with the wheels turned. A torn boot will also help verify the probable damage to the grenade. The drive grenade cannot be restored and must be replaced with a new one.
Broken strut spring
Often the cause of extraneous sounds is a spring that has burst as a result of metal fatigue. A failed spring can be easily identified by inspection. The elastic suspension element should be replaced in pairs with the opposite one to avoid body distortion. A broken coil can touch the body or other parts, producing grinding and clicking noises when turning the steering wheel.
Many drivers quite often encounter such a problem that when turning the steering wheel, clicks or knocks are heard. This situation can occur in both old and new cars; it is quite common. Any driver can determine the source of these clicks without contacting a service station. This saves time and money. If the car owner has at least some repair skills, then he can fix the problem himself, spending only on new spare parts.
If the steering wheel clicks when turning, and this sound is heard with every maneuver performed, then first you need to determine the nature of the sound. If the sound is clear and ringing, then this indicates the presence of a metal-to-metal impact. If the sound is less clear, muffled, then this is more likely a contact of metal and plastic. In addition, it is necessary to determine at least the approximate location where the sound comes from. This will not only reduce the troubleshooting area, but will also help to at least approximately determine the breakdown.
The simplest cause of clicking noises in the steering wheel is incorrect tire pressure. If they are too different from each other, clicks may appear in the steering column when turning the steering wheel. In addition, the cause may be torn off fender liners.
If you hear clicks in the steering wheel, check the pressure in the wheels and the condition of the wheel arch liners.
If the screws have been torn out, then the torn fender liner will cling to the tire and dangle, making clicking noises when turning the steering wheel left and right.
These breakdowns can be quickly and easily fixed: properly inflate the wheels and screw on the wheel arch liners.
However, there are more serious reasons for knocking in the steering wheel. For example, a malfunction of the steering mechanism is quite dangerous, then clicks are heard directly in it. You can also check the car yourself by arriving at the overpass and carefully examining the suspension.
First of all, the condition of the steering tips is assessed. If the boot of such a tip is damaged, dust and sand will get inside, as a result of which the part will begin to wear out quickly. And then there will be a backlash - the source of clicks and knocking.
This reason can be identified by loosening the steering rod, for example, with a pry bar. If in this case there is knocking and play, the tip must be replaced. In addition, it is recommended to replace two tips at once, since any tip develops a slight play over time. And if you replace one (install without play) and leave the old one (with play), then the car will run unevenly, and noise and knocking will also be noticeable. In addition, the wheel alignment may constantly go astray.
Checking the condition of the car suspension
Steering rod silent blocks can also cause clicking noises. Wear of silent blocks and delamination of rubber can even produce clicks when turning the steering wheel in place and while driving. If this is the cause of the knocking, then the silent blocks must be replaced.
If the steering wheel clicks when turning, check the tie rod ends and tie rods.
When the rack bushings wear out, a knocking noise in the steering wheel may also occur. There is a small gap between the rack and gear. Sometimes it is possible to eliminate the gap using adjusting bolt. If this does not help, then the worn bushings need to be replaced.
The clicking noises may come from the steering column shaft. If damaged it may emit extraneous sounds. It just needs to be replaced.
Clicks in the suspension when turning the steering wheel may indicate a broken outer CV joint. Then they will only appear when turning. If clicks occur when going uphill, then the internal CV joint. It is also easy to determine this breakdown: you need to drive the car onto an overpass and check the boots. If they do not fit well, the clamps are torn or have come off, then dirt has gotten inside the CV joint, and therefore it has failed. You should not delay the replacement, since over time the CV joint may completely turn out, then the car will need to be delivered to the repair site by tow truck or tow truck.
The cause of clicking noises when turning may be a faulty CV joint.
If clicks when turning are heard along with the characteristic hum of the wheels, then the problem lies in wheel bearing. One of the most dangerous malfunctions, it is better to immediately replace the bearings, and if the driver is forced to drive such a car, then the speed should not exceed 80 km/h.
Additional symptoms
Causes of clicks in the steering column
As we see, there can be many reasons for clicks in the steering wheel. Suspicious symptoms may include the hum of wheels, tapping, ringing, crackling, etc. In addition, it is always necessary to monitor the behavior of the car itself. If there is one breakdown or another, the car will not behave as usual on the road. If the tip or bushing breaks, the car may “wobble” while driving. If the CV joint is faulty, the clicking will increase over time to an unpleasant grinding sound. The car will always show what is wrong with it.
Are clicking sounds in the steering wheel dangerous?
Depending on the origin of these clicks, the danger of the situation is determined. For example, if clicks occur when turning the steering wheel with the turn signal on, then you should not be afraid at all. The turn signal simply makes a sound that is reflected by the steering wheel. But if the CV joint, hub bearing or strut support is broken, you should not hesitate to repair the car, since continued use of such a car leads to worsening of the breakdown, which may result in an accident on the road.
Ways to eliminate clicks in the steering wheel
As mentioned above, all malfunctions associated with clicks in the steering wheel can be eliminated by an ordinary driver. It is enough to identify the fault and either replace the broken part or rebuild it. There is nothing complicated here.
The steering wheel is one of the most important parts of the car. Any malfunctions, sounds, or clicks that arise should be immediately attended to. Steering must always be in good working order. Clicking noises in the steering wheel are a signal that there is a problem with the steering. Therefore, you should not forget about them and not pay attention to them. Take care of your car.