Most drivers expect their vehicle to maintain silence when they are turning. That’s the way it should be, and when your vehicle begins to make sounds, it’s usually the sign of a deeper issue that should be investigated.
The longer you ignore the issue, the worse it is likely to be. In good news, you can diagnose the issue by checking for some clues on your own. Sometimes you only need to add some power steering fluid to address the problem!
Below I will go over some of the more common vehicle noises when turning.
9 Reasons Why Your Car Makes Noise When Turning
A bad coil spring, struts, or shocks cause most noises when you turn. Other options also include a bad steering rack, tie rod ends, or worn ball joints. Hearing a growl when you turn is usually a bad wheel bearing.
These are the most common causes of a noise in the steering wheel when turning, but these are not the only causes. I will also provide a more detailed list of the most nine common reasons your steering wheel makes a noise while turning, with a bonus tip!
#1. Broken Steering Rack and Pinion.
The rack and pinion is the largest component of your steering assembly. It contains quite a few small parts with the possibility of failing and needing to be replaced. If you have a failing rack and pinion, you will likely hear loud bangs immediately following a turn.
If it progresses, you will likely also feel banging in the steering column itself. For not-as-severe instances, you may hear some minor clicking from underneath your vehicle when making a turn.
Steering racks can be quite expensive to replace, so you may think it is best to start by checking the other separate components.
#2. Worn Struts or Shocks.
Even though they are described as suspension components, they can still make noises when you turn the steering wheel.
First, it may be loose or worn out where it connects. If so, you will hear it sliding back and forth as you turn.
Second, you actually utilize the suspension when you are rounding corners and turning the wheel. If you have a problem, you may hear it when turning the wheel.
It is also very common that there are broken coil springs right at the shocks which will create a bad noise. It can also come from the top mount bearings at the top of the shock.
#3. Worn Steering Column Bearing or Boot.
If there’s a squealing noise that sounds like it’s coming from behind the steering wheel, it’s possible you are hearing the noise from a worn or dry steering wheel bearing.
You may also notice lots of play in the steering wheel if the bearing is that bad, in which case the play in the steering wheel is not related to the qcreaking.
This can mainly be easily remedied by spraying grease on the bearing–sometimes you can also use a grease (ordinarily wheel bearings are greased)
There is also a boot to keep water out of the cabin when it rains. The dry boot can also squeal, so lubricating that part could also remedy the squealing while also fixing the bearing squeal.
#4. Loose or Damaged Tie Rod Ends/Boots.
Tie rod ends connect your rack and pinion to your tires and have rubber boots that wear and tear.
If you hear your tie rod bouncing around from metal to metal against your hub, you should replace it. It must be replaced quickly so you do not cause further damage to your veichle.
#5. Worn Ball Joints.
Ball joints move in a pivoting way anytime there is suspension or steering movement. Ball joints are most commonly found on the control arm, as well as on the tie rod ends.
When these ball joints wear out, they either move too much or get stuck in one position. Either of these issues will cause excessive noise during turning of the steering wheel.
#6. Worn Control Arm Bushings.
Even though the control arm is part of your suspension system, it won’t stop from making noises if some of the bushings are worn.
As you turn, the control arm moves around inside of its housing and you will hear the loud bang(s) if the bushings are worn.
Eventually, if the issue gets bad enough, you will even feel the whole vehicle shift as the control arm’s weight slams into the side of the housing.
#7. Low or Old Power Steering Fluid.
One of the simplest causes of noise while you are turning is the power steering pump having insufficient fluid.
Power steering units operate in a “closed” system, so there should be no leak. If there is a leak, one of the first indications will be noise when you turn.
Before just adding fluid and thinking it’s good, find the leak and correct it.
#8. Bad Power Steering Pump
Power steering pumps do the work to make turning the steering wheel easier while you’re driving, but they can become noisy as they are failing.
If you hear noises coming from the top of your engine bay while you’re turning, odds are, it is from the power steering pump.
#9. Bad Wheel Bearing
If your car makes a whirring sound while driving at higher speeds and when you’re turning the steering wheel, it is likely, you have a bad bearing. Anytime you turn your car, you are forcing pressure on the outer wheel bearing.
If you have a bad bearing, when the bearing gets pressure the sound will get louder. More here: Wheel bearing symptoms.
Bonus Tip – Check the Obvious
Before you head to the mechanic, it is worth checking you cab and under your seats to see if there isn’t something wedged under there that could be rolling around as you drive.
As a long-time mechanic, I can’t tell you how many times a vehicle came in with a mystery noise only to discover it was just an empty water bottle rolling around banging into things and making the noise.
It might be obvious. But, when you are worked up about what could be wrong, you will forget the most likely scenario.
Steering Mechanical Breakdown
Your steering wheel is the start of a long chain of parts that turn the tires. The steering wheel is attached to the steering column, which is attached to the rack and pinion.
Turning the wheel will have the steering column spool up, pushing the rack and pinion one way or another. The rack and pinion has a tie rod end on each side of it where the tie rods connect and go to the hub of your vehicle.
Every component in this system has rubber bushings in the areas where two components meet, in order to not allow metal-to-metal contact (which wears down the actual parts).
When these bushings wear down you will start to notice a lot of extra play in the system, and hear noises as things are shifting around.
Remember that you are putting some sort of force when you turn the wheel when driving. This is force can shift a lot of components around, and the most common components are suspension items.
Summary
Your steering wheel making noise when you turn is probably due to a number of problems that need immediate attention. The longer you wait, chances are the problem will get worse.
Bushings and boots are intended to protect the more expensive steering components located around them. When they wear out, they are no longer protecting those steering components and that could lead to more expensive damage.