The Daily Grind (Grinding Noise)
December 5, 2021
If your vehicle makes a grinding sound when you turn the steering wheel, it's speaking to you. No, really, it is. So listen to what it's saying and you could avoid a much more costly repair down the road.
A grinding sound coming from the front of your vehicle when you are turning can offer some very informative clues as to what's going on. One cause could be that there's a problem with the mechanical linkage that enables you to turn the wheels. Another is that the hydraulic system that makes turning the steering wheel easier may have its own problems.
Think of it. Hydraulic power steering has many components that need to work in tandem. The power steering fluid may be too old and contaminated. Or its level may be low. That may be caused by a leak somewhere in the system. A technician can check things over to find out exactly what's happening.
Other causes of grinding while turning can be problems with the suspension in the front. You may have a failing CV (constant velocity) joint. It could be your brakes are partially engaging while you are turning. That metal-on-metal sound is never a sign that things are working just the way they're supposed to.
To a technician looking to pinpoint the problem with your vehicle, it's not a daily grind at all. Experience and training will help her or him zero in on what's causing the noise and get you back on the road. Maybe you can enjoy your sound system more after that distracting background noise has disappeared!
Auto Lab Livonia
36251 Five Miles Rd
Livonia, MI 48154
734-432-6000
http://www.autolablivonia.com
Need Service?
More articles from Auto Lab Livonia
In That Case? (Transfer Case Exchange)
January 26, 2025
Ever wonder how all-wheel-drive or 4-wheel-drive vehicles get the power from the engine to the front and rear wheels? The magic happens in what's called a transfer case. In some all-wheel-drive vehicles, it's sometime called a power take-off unit, or PTU. Inside the transfer case is a set of gea... More
Straight to the Point (Alignment Signs of Problems)
January 19, 2025
Its just common sense that your vehicle will drive better if all the wheels are lined up with each other and the road the way the engineers intended. When theyre not, that is called being out of alignment. Here are some signs that your alignment has problems. Your steering wheel isnt straight... More
Auto Lab Livonia Advice: Don't Overlook These 10 Automotive Services
January 12, 2025
Organization is the key to managing a busy life in MI. So setting up an annual calendar for vehicle care can keep Livonia residents on top of preventive maintenance. But you can't just write oil change every few months on the calendar. Modern vehicles have many systems that are vital to the safe ... More