What Causes Abnormal Noise When Turning the Steering Wheel in Place?
2 Answers
Here are the reasons for abnormal noise when turning the steering wheel in place: 1. Disc brake noise: This is caused by damage, deformation, or detachment of the disc brake's brake shoe support plate, vibration damping spring plate, or guide plate, which increases the clearance between the brake shoe and the brake caliper support frame, leading to mutual impact and noise. You can go to a repair shop to fix the deformed parts or replace the detached ones. 2. Front suspension ball joint noise: The clearance between the ball joint and its seat becomes larger, resulting in severe looseness. Since the ball joint seat is a sealed structure and cannot be disassembled, you can only go to a repair shop for replacement in this case.
Just a few days ago, I helped my neighbor with a similar issue. The squeaking or clunking noise when turning the steering wheel while stationary can indeed be quite annoying. The most common culprit is the power steering system—for hydraulically assisted vehicles, dirty or insufficient power steering fluid can cause the steering pump to grind and produce noise; for electrically assisted vehicles, aging motor bearings can also emit a humming sound. Additionally, the steering column's universal joint or bearings may wear out, resulting in a clicking noise when you turn the wheel. Oh, and don’t forget to check the top mount bearing of the shock absorber—it bears the entire weight of the vehicle and is under the most pressure when turning the wheel while stationary, so if it’s worn, it’s bound to creak. It’s best not to ignore these noises, as they could indicate worsening damage to the steering system. I recommend having a mechanic use a stethoscope during maintenance to pinpoint the source of the sound.
