What causes the scraping sound when a car turns?
4 Answers
The scraping sound when a car turns is caused by wear and tear of the outer CV joint of the drive shaft. Reasons for friction sound when steering: The friction sound when steering occurs because the steering wheel is connected to a fixed bracket, and the rotation between the steering wheel and the fixed bracket behind it must be completed by bearings. The sound is produced by the friction between the two disk-like bearing surfaces due to insufficient lubrication. Adding some lubricating oil can solve the issue. Precautions when turning: When turning, avoid turning the steering wheel to its extreme limit, as this can help protect the steering wheel to some extent. Additionally, regularly checking the tie rods can effectively reduce minor issues like steering wheel vibration. Proper use of the car: Correct and proper use of the car's various functions not only extends the vehicle's lifespan but also ensures personal safety. The genuine leather steering wheel has an excellent texture, being smooth and soft to the touch, providing great comfort. Its effective components can block UV radiation, resist static electricity and water, and effectively prevent leather aging, cracking, and discoloration. It also contains antibacterial and anti-mold active ingredients and a water repellent, which can prevent the leather from becoming damp or moldy.
Last time I turned a corner and heard a scraping noise that almost gave me a fright. Later, I found out it was a big stone stuck in the tire tread, and it made a squeaking sound when rubbing against the road during turns. If you've ever installed off-road tires, it's even more noticeable—those deep treads love to trap small stones. However, if it's a sharp metallic grinding sound, then there's trouble—it might be a loose screw somewhere in the chassis, especially common in cars with modified suspensions. If there's a clunking sound when turning the steering wheel all the way, it's usually a sign that the steering ball joint needs replacing. My neighbor's car had this issue, and the mechanic said leaving it unfixed could damage the half-shaft. When parked, try turning the steering wheel left and right—if you can pinpoint where the sound is coming from, it'll be easier to diagnose.
I've fixed this issue many times, and 90% of the cases are due to aging chassis components. For example, if the steering knuckle bushing is cracked, the metal parts will rub directly against each other when the rubber deteriorates, causing a scraping sound. Similar issues occur when the lower control arm bushings are worn out—this problem often becomes noticeable when going over speed bumps at an angle. For front-wheel-drive cars, a torn CV joint boot is even more troublesome. Once the grease leaks out, the joint will grind dry, making a sound like scraping a pot with a spoon when turning. Based on experience, cars with over 50,000 kilometers should pay special attention to the suspension ball joints. You can check for play by shaking the tire by hand. If these fail, they not only cause noise but also make the car feel unstable during high-speed cornering, posing a significant safety risk.
Let me explain in three scenarios: Tire issues are the most common, where foreign objects stuck or tread deformation can cause scraping. Turning the wheels to full lock and crouching down gives the clearest view. Steering system problems often come with steering wheel vibrations; a bad ball joint sounds like stepping on snow with a creaking noise. Brake pad clip deformation is also quite common, producing a sharp metallic sound when rubbing against the brake disc, worsened by chassis tilt during turns. Last week, my car had the third issue—a roadside mechanic adjusted the clip in five minutes and didn’t charge a dime.
