A crunching sound appeared when turning the steering wheel: diagnostics of the control system. Creaking and extraneous sounds when turning the steering wheel - find out the possible causes When you turn the steering wheel, it crunches

Crunching sounds when turning the steering wheel are not a common malfunction, so they can confuse car owners - many simply do not have experience in dealing with this scourge due to its rarity. Meanwhile, the phenomenon is very insidious. It is very dangerous to let the situation with the steering take its course, so when the first oddities (including sound ones) appear in its operation, you need to react. The problem is that the crunching has one obvious reason and many unobvious ones. It’s good if the problem can be fixed in an obvious way, because otherwise the cause of the squeak can take a long time to find.

Crunching noise when turning the steering wheel while driving

A striking feature of the “steering” crunch is whether it is heard only while driving or is heard while standing still. This classification allows you to choose the desired search direction. If a crunching sound is heard during turns and maneuvers in motion, then with a high degree of probability the problem is in. Constant velocity joints allow you to shift the plane of torque transmission. Usually in a front-wheel drive car there are two pairs of them - the internal ones are located near the exit from the gearbox, and the external ones are located directly near the wheel and allow torque to be transmitted even when the wheels are turned out. It is when the steering wheel is turned at speed that a sharp sound appears, the frequency depending on the rotation of the wheels. It is difficult to confuse it with something else; drivers whose CV joints have started to crunch at least once can easily identify the breakdown the second time.

In general, the CV joint is a fairly simple and reliable design. Very rarely they die from natural wear and tear, and if this happens, it is very long runs, at least several hundred thousand kilometers. However, CV joints can fail at any mileage, even very little, the cause will be problems with the anthers.

A kind of rubber covers, designed to protect CV joints from dirt and water, either break due to contact with sharp stones, nails, wire and other debris scattered on the road, or fly off the mount. How long does a protected hinge last and how little does a hinge that gets dirt and water get into? Usually, it takes a little time from damage to the anther to a crunch. In theory, if you notice damage to the boot, but the CV joint has not yet crackled, then you can wash the assembly, lubricate it and cover it with a new boot, but rarely does anyone inspect the car at least weekly from a pit or a lift, so damage to the boot usually becomes obvious after The CV joint crunched. In the vast majority of cases, problems arise with external CV joints.

If it comes to a crunch, then the hinge needs to be changed. Depending on the design of the car, the situation may develop differently. The best option is if the design of the car requires a separate replacement of the CV joint, then everything is simple - buy it and replace it, the complexity of the replacement also depends on the specific car model, the most difficult thing is usually to remove the joint from the drive.

Replacing the CV joint. Photo - drive

But it also happens that the design of the car does not allow changing the CV joints separately, the drives are not dismountable, then it is necessary to replace the assembled drive. In terms of labor intensity, this is much simpler; even a not very experienced car enthusiast can handle the replacement, but the price of the complete drive assembly is always higher than a separate joint would cost, so by saving on service, we significantly overpay for the spare part. Alas, modern trends in car design lead to the use of large non-separable elements, which are cheaper to manufacture but create difficulties during repair.

CV joint malfunctions are the most likely cause of a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel while driving. But if checking all the hinges does not show any problems, you can still pay attention to wheel bearing . The service life of this spare part greatly depends on the make of the car; in some cars, the bearing may fail even at low mileage simply due to an unsuccessful design.

Strictly speaking, the sound made by a broken one can be called more of a howl than a crunch, but you never know, in matters of breakdowns it is difficult to be unambiguous, and all people classify sounds differently. If there is a suspicion of a wheel bearing, it is not difficult to diagnose. It is enough to hang up the front wheels one by one, spin them and listen carefully for any extraneous sounds. Everything should be obvious here - it crunches or doesn’t crunch.

Crunching sound when turning the steering wheel in place

If unpleasant sounds when turning the steering wheel appear when the car is standing still, then the CV joint and wheel bearing can be left alone, the reason is elsewhere. There are many possible options, and among them there is no clear leader in the frequency of problems that arise.

1. Steering wheel friction. On some cars steering wheel due to wear or improper installation, when turning, it can touch the plastic of the steering column lining and make unpleasant sounds. Some cars have a special metal part on the steering wheel for an electrical circuit. sound signal, she may shift a little and begin to walk along a path not intended for her. Usually, breakdowns of this type are easy to fix - having localized the source of the extraneous sound, remove the steering wheel and install it correctly so that it does not rub or touch anything.

Installing the steering wheel

2. If it is not the steering wheel, then you will have to disassemble the steering column. In it you can pay attention to the fact that does the crosspiece touch the speakers? for something (sometimes funny things happen that the crosspieces rub against the foot mat, which has slid forward too much), and isn’t it curvature of the shaft itself, perhaps something has come loose somewhere or is clogged. This type of problem should be obvious upon visual inspection, but you will have to take everything apart. Another reason for extraneous sounds may be a problem in the connection between the steering shaft and the steering wheel. This mechanism also needs to be reached and inspected.

3. Finally, the problem may be in the steering rack, for example due to bearing wear. But in general, the rack is a complex unit and there can be many potential problems, so it makes sense to leave its diagnostics until last and deal with it at a service center with a normal lift and an experienced mechanic. There is a lot of stuff in the rack that can crunch, and everything needs to be checked in detail. Diagnostics and repair of the steering rack is such a voluminous topic that it is beyond the scope of this material.

4. A crunch when turning the steering wheel in place can also be due to problems in the suspension, namely because of the bearings. They allow the shock absorber to rotate with the steering knuckle. Usually support bearings They are quite durable, but, like CV joints, they can fail prematurely due to the ingress of sand and dirt. It is not difficult to check the “supports”; you need to remove the protective cap, press the upper part of the shock absorber with your hand and rock the car - there should be no knocks or play. If you have a partner, even better, you can ask him to turn the steering wheel, and listen carefully to the sounds and check the play in the bearing.

As you can see: if you hear a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel, there can be a lot of potential reasons for this. Some (like steering wheel friction) are annoying, but do not affect safety, others (like problems with the steering rack) require immediate correction, because the consequences can be very tragic. A long drive on a broken CV joint does not bode well either. Therefore, we would advise you to take the appearance of a crunching sound in the steering wheel seriously, maybe in the end it will be a trifle, but why risk your life? Using the information from this article, even novice car owners can carry out minimal diagnostics at home on their own. If you cannot find the cause of the extraneous sounds, then it is better to contact a good service.

If there is a knocking, humming, squeaking or grinding noise when turning the steering wheel, this is, in fact, not always a problem that requires a solution. So, cars with power steering make noise quite often (a kind of quiet hum) when turning the steering wheel, and this is a feature of power steering systems. Another thing is if this hum turns into a grinding, squeaking or even knocking sound or simply gets worse - then there is a chance that you will have to contact a mechanic.

Can you describe the noise? Is it a crunching, squealing, humming, knocking, grinding, etc. sound when you turn the steering wheel? It is very important that you can correctly characterize this type of sound. Either way, below each symptom we'll look at additional clues to finding the exact problem. But you still need to take into account the following nuances of this noise:

What is the nature of this noise: knocking, grinding, humming, crunching, creaking or something else?
Does the noise appear only when turning the steering wheel, when entering a turn, or under some other circumstances and actions?
Does the noise always occur or does it depend on the weather, humidity, warming up of the suspension/steering components, vehicle load, etc.?
Does the sound occur when you turn the steering wheel left or right or in both directions?
What additional symptoms or problems occur with this noise?

The answers to all these questions will provide valuable information for correctly diagnosing noise when turning the steering wheel.

The front of your car performs many different tasks:

prevents car roll when cornering;
moves wheels up and down for shock absorption;
allows you to turn the wheels with the steering wheel;
transmits power from the engine to the wheels, setting the car in motion, on front-wheel drive cars.

With all this in mind, there are many reasons for the front suspension and steering mechanisms to wear out. Fortunately, as these components wear out, many of them begin to make strange noises, warning that they need to be replaced, lubricated, or fixed. However, by the time they start making noise, they are usually very close to failure, so it is best to have a particular unit diagnosed as quickly as possible. Some sounds made when turning the steering wheel are similar to a knock, others to a squeak, others to a hum, and so on.

Here is a list of all such noises that your car may make when you turn the steering wheel, and possible problems associated with them. These are places to start diagnosing, but remember, this is not an exhaustive list of possible causes. So, what could be the reasons for knocks, creaks, and hums when turning the steering wheel?

Noise when turning the steering wheel in place

This type of noise when turning the steering wheel when the car is stationary is typical for cars with power steering (power steering). And this is a normal condition for any car with power steering. If you get into the car for the first time and hear this quiet hum, then know that it will accompany you quite often. In very rare cases, a hum may appear only when the steering wheel is turned in one direction: left or right.

However, if you have owned the car for a long time, and the hum has become obviously louder, appearing not only when turning the steering wheel in place, but also while driving, then perhaps you should check the power steering. Don't worry, the most common problem with such a symptom as a hum when turning the steering wheel can be easily solved by adding power steering fluid. Just check its level under the hood (a special tank with minimum and maximum level fluid and identification in most cases that it is power steering fluid). A low fluid level may indicate a possible leak, so after adding fluid, check the level at least once a week for the first time.

Power steering in the steering system

Other problems with this symptom could be a faulty power steering pump, air trapped in the power steering system, or a loose power steering belt. In this case, only a specialized service will help.

Almost all of the above malfunctions of the power steering are manifested, in addition to a hum when turning the steering wheel, by even more difficult turning of the same steering wheel.

Knocking noise when turning car while moving

The next symptom is a characteristic knocking sound when you enter a turn. Moreover, the knocking can be stronger the smaller the turning angle and the worse the road. This knocking noise is typical for shock absorber struts that have become unusable - they simply stopped working properly and need to be replaced. Due to the fact that shock absorbers on one axle do not always wear out evenly, knocking is usually accompanied when turning in one direction, but not in the other.

Schematically illustrated shock absorber

Another symptom, in addition to knocking when cornering, characteristic of this malfunction is the appearance of knocking on uneven surfaces, including when driving in a straight line. The fact is that the load on the shock absorbers increases when turning, and they knock more often. Also pay attention to the presence of wet spots on the shock absorbers - this may indicate a leak.

If your car is more than one year old, it already has an impressive mileage (we won’t give numbers, since different models struts can become unusable in different ways, and, in addition, many other factors influence this), its shock absorbers are at risk (a disease of your model, which you can find out about on a thematic forum, for example, or from a dealer), then It is quite possible that the shock absorbers are the cause of the knocking when turning. You can check this by visiting a professional mechanic.

Knocking sound when turning the steering wheel with play in the steering wheel

Although the steering joints do not require maintenance for almost the entire service life of the car, they still wear out under the conditions of our roads. The main symptom of wear on the steering joints is their weakening with the appearance of play and a characteristic but quiet knocking sound when the steering wheel begins to turn. The most accurate way to determine the cause of such a knock when turning is to stand on level ground in a parking lot and try to turn the steering wheel from side to side - first with small movements of the steering wheel, and then more and more until play and knocking are detected. You can also get out of the car, look at the wheels and do the same work with the steering wheel through an open car window or door. If you see that when you twist the steering wheel with small amplitudes the wheels remain motionless, then there is play in the steering system that needs to be eliminated.

You can overcome this malfunction by having a specialist diagnose all the hinges for wear and play, and replacing the worn hinges and connections and tightening the corresponding mechanisms that give the steering wheel play.

Creaking or grinding noise when turning the steering wheel both at a standstill and while moving

Another noise that can be heard when it comes from the steering wheel and reacts to steering wheel turns is a squeaking or grinding noise. These sounds are usually also a symptom of worn joints in the steering system or front suspension. As in the previous case, it is necessary to diagnose the connections in the steering or suspension and replace them as necessary.

But the most common problem with this symptom is worn steering tips or a lack of lubrication in them.

Also, the cause of squeaking (sometimes to the point of crunching) when turning the steering wheel, regardless of whether the car is standing or driving, can be the support bearings of the strut or lower ball joints. In the latter case, an additional symptom is wheel play when the car is suspended.

Crunching when cornering in front wheel drive cars

It also happens that the car crunches when entering a turn. Moreover, the sharper the turn and the higher the speed, the more characteristic and louder the crunching noise produced. It seems that this crunch does not depend on the turn of the steering wheel, but comes precisely during a turning maneuver on the road and is emitted from under the wheel that bears the load - that is, the wheel on the outside of the turning path. At the same time, the crunch most often occurs when turning only in a certain direction: to the right or to the left.

This crunch is typical only for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles. And the cause of the crunching noise when turning the car is the CV joint, better known among common people as a “grenade”.

A CV joint is a connection that allows the front wheel to turn in all directions at a certain angle while maintaining a constant axle speed. Because the CV joint is constantly spinning and under severe stress, it sometimes wears out and must be replaced.

CV joint internals

You can check the condition of the grenades in the car by turning the steering wheel all the way and driving the car slowly and then a little faster in a circle - first in one direction, then in the other. If you hear a crunching sound during this maneuver, then your CV joint is worn out. Please note that if such a crunch is also accompanied by vibration, then the car should be taken to a specialist as soon as possible.

Grenade (highlighted in red) in anther

The grenade should always work inside the boot, which protects it from dirt and dust getting into the system. It often wears out due to damage to this boot. And the crunch of a grenade is nothing more than the grinding of dirt particles inside it or scattered grenade bearings.

Your car is extremely complex system, And steering system with suspension consist of many components and differ in their structure, type of operation and components from model to model and even often from modification to modification of the same model. Therefore, this or that noise can indicate not only everything that we have given above. The steering column often makes various sounds, steering rack, steering knuckles, shock absorbers and hinges. Even a simply fallen off or weakened part that is completely unrelated to the control or suspension system can, for example, begin to touch elements of the steering system or suspension when turning the steering wheel or on bumps, respectively.

However, the optimal course of action when one or another extraneous noise appears when turning the steering wheel or the entire car is to first identify additional symptoms of noise (steering wheel pulls to the side, more accurate identification of sounds). Next, you should inspect all the boots of the steering system and suspension under the car, check the steering wheel, and then the wheels for play.

The steering system is key to any vehicle and if it breaks, it can lead to loss of control. vehicle and life-threatening situations on the roads. In addition, a malfunction of this system can cause failure of other automotive equipment.

The main sign that something is wrong with the control system is a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel in place or while moving. A crunching steering wheel can be a sign of a number of malfunctions, therefore, when such symptoms appear, it is necessary to carry out urgent diagnostics of the car and repair the breakdown.

Whether to carry out diagnostics and troubleshooting yourself or use the services of qualified mechanics from a car service center is a purely individual question. It is worth noting that car services have a number of advantages, the main one of which is the availability of specialized equipment. A good car service center will be able to carry out high-quality diagnostics of the car in a short time and identify the exact cause of the steering wheel crunch.

Many people mistakenly believe that this type of malfunction can be associated solely with the steering rack. But this is fundamentally not true. Among the most common causes of a crunching steering wheel, which are typical modern cars, there are 3 categories.

The steering mechanism itself may produce similar sounds, but this probability is quite small. Most often, a crunching sound when turning is produced by a faulty one, which is also called a grenade. The occurrence of such a sound when driving is almost always associated with a malfunction of this element. Experts associate the occurrence of a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel while driving with a CV joint failure in 90% of cases.

This mechanism is directly attached to the steering wheel and, if malfunctioning, can produce a crunching sound when the steering wheel is turned at maximum speed while running smoothly. This sound may become louder over time as the mechanism fails.

This problem can only be solved by replacing the CV joint with a new one at a service center. The operation to replace such a mechanism requires high qualifications and the availability of specialized equipment, so it is not recommended to do it yourself.

Among the consequences of untimely replacement of a broken grenade are:

Complete failure of the mechanism and loss of steering functions;
Wheel slipping or braking while turning;
Increased crunch level;
Jumping of the car at the maximum angle of rotation and inadequate response to turning the steering wheel;
Engine thrust failure;
Changes in engine load.

Untimely repairs and ignoring the problem of a broken CV joint can lead to serious consequences and more expensive repairs in the future.

Steering rack problems

Steering rack with electric power steering: 1 - steering wheel, 2 - steering column, 3 - propeller shaft, 4 - electric motor, 5 - steering mechanism, 6 - control unit, 7 - torque sensor

The appearance of a crunching steering wheel is rarely associated. As a rule, such a disease is characteristic of one eminent Bavarian manufacturer.

Many models BMW release the early and mid-90s had serious problems with steering racks. The rack crunch of cars of this brand became almost a hallmark of the brand in those days. It is noteworthy that such a crunch was not essentially a sign of a breakdown, but was associated with design features car.

Models from other manufacturers also experience certain problems with the rack. This mechanism is designed for an average mileage of up to 300 thousand kilometers. In certain cases, the racks can fail at any mileage and cause a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel.

Among the signs of failure of such a mechanism are:

The crunch of the wheel at a certain level of rotation or the crunch that accompanies any manipulation;
Knocks and crunching are felt on the steering wheel and are complemented by vibration when turning;
knock on extreme positions steering wheel even with the engine off and free running wheels;
Unusual steering response and excessive tightness or, conversely, ease of turning the steering wheel, which was not typical for the car before;
Inadequate reaction to turning the steering wheel and difficulty keeping the car on the road.

If a crunching sound occurs in the steering wheel, you should carry out a full diagnosis of the car and repair the rack if necessary. In most cases it is required complete replacement slats, since repairing slats is not durable and is considered unprofitable.

It is best to have the replacement or repair done by a specialist because steering modern cars with hydraulic boosters and other mechanisms requires a professional expert approach.

Car undercarriage crunching

If the above-described causes of crunching are excluded, you should proceed to diagnosing the chassis. The occurrence of malfunctions of this nature in a given unit has a low probability and is associated with many technical difficulties in finding a specific cause.

The only element of the chassis that can make a crunching noise when it breaks is the hub bearing. Most often, when they malfunction, they produce a low hum at high speeds.

To diagnose such bearings it is necessary:

Raise the front of the car using a jack;
Place the car on the handbrake;
Place 1 person behind the wheel, who will start the car and smoothly release the clutch, slowly pressing the gas;
After acceleration, you must turn off the engine and allow the wheel to rotate at high speed. Faulty bearings will immediately give themselves away with a strong hum.

This check cannot be carried out on vehicles equipped with the system all-wheel drive or have a center differential lock.

Broken bearings can cause more serious problems with chassis and lead to unpredictable situations on the road.

A crunching sound in the steering wheel when turning is always a sign of breakdown of car components, so you should not ignore such a problem. In the absence of proper experience and equipment, it is best to have your vehicle diagnosed and repaired by qualified specialists.

Steering is an important component, the health of which determines the safety of the driver and other road users.

A faulty steering system must be repaired when even initial symptoms appear. One of the most common steering problems passenger car A crunching noise is considered to occur when the steering wheel is turned too hard. If you notice such symptoms, do not delay repairs. Next, we suggest talking about steering diagnostics. Of course, you can contact the service, where specialists will quickly identify and efficiently fix the problem. The advantage of contacting a service center is that the latter has professional equipment, as well as the experience of its workers, which will ultimately allow you to quickly and efficiently diagnose and repair your machine. True, there is also a drawback to such repairs - professional service is not free, which means you will have to fork out, and quite significantly. In our article, we want to talk about self-diagnosis of common faults in the steering of a passenger car.

Let's start with the complexity of diagnosis possible malfunctions steering, which manifests itself when the steering wheel is turned strongly. The thing is that at this moment you are turning not only to the steering rack, but also forcing other components of the car’s chassis to come into play: CV joint ends, tie rods, wheels, etc. Therefore, let's try to take a closer look at each node from which this crunch can come.

So, let's start with the CV joint. The first thing a motorist thinks about when he hears a crunch when turning the steering wheel is that he has problems with the CV joint. In almost 90% of cases, it is the CV joint that is the culprit of such a defect. The CV joint, also known as the “grenade,” is directly connected to the steering mechanism of the car and if it fails, it is the crunch that you will hear when entering a turn. If you do not pay attention to this malfunction, the crunching noise will intensify over time and can lead to a serious problem that threatens your life.

The next part that can cause such a defect is the steering rack. Note that such a malfunction is less common, and the crunching sound differs from a faulty CV joint.

Signs of a malfunction in the steering rack:

Crunching sound when turning the steering wheel in any direction;

Vibrations and knocking, clearly transmitted to the steering wheel;

Play and knocking in the free movement of the steering wheel when the engine is turned off;

Abnormal ease or excessive stiffness when turning the steering wheel;

Poor response of wheels to steering wheel rotation.

If you see something familiar in the signs described above, then you need to urgently repair the steering rack. Note that on most passenger cars the steering rack is not serviced; it is simply replaced with a new one. However, there are folk craftsmen who take on the task of repairing the slats. It's up to you to decide, but I would like to say that new steering racks are quite expensive.

Chassis elements. If all the symptoms described above do not correspond to the sounds your car makes, we advise you to pay attention to other reasons, which, although very rare, can still become a source of malfunctions. Diagnosing the malfunction of any element of the chassis is not so easy, since this unit consists of a large number of parts, and each of them can crunch, squeak and make other unpleasant sounds. We advise you not to waste your time, but simply go to the diagnostic stand, where specialists will quickly identify possible defects.

In conclusion, I would like to note once again that the crunch that appears must be eliminated. If you were unable to diagnose the cause of such a sound at home, then you definitely need to go to a car workshop and immediately repair your car there. We also do not recommend waiting for some miracle and thinking that over time the unpleasant crunch will disappear somewhere. Practice shows that in this way you only worsen the condition of the car, and you also risk your health.

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 that 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 the steering rack is to blame. 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 creaking sound in the steering column occurs due to its deformation. Sometimes extraneous noise is caused by the worm mechanism. If a creaking or “shuffling” sound is heard right in the cabin near the steering wheel, it means that they are caused by the steering wheel itself, which, when moving, touches the trim of the steering column. 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 surfaces. When the car moves on a flat 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 similar situation occurs when driving at low speed. But, as they say, don't tempt fate.

Another common cause of knocking noises is wear or lack of lubrication of the CV joint, which is found only in 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 the problematic CV joint. In this case, you first need to make sure that the boot is intact. Often the cracking 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 the problem is in the tips, 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 knocking sound 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 car diagnosed at a service center. After all, steering is one of the most important systems responsible for safety!