Noise when turning steering wheel

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fanny

Active member
Joined
Aug 27, 2012
Messages
28
Hi when turning left or right I've suddenly got whining noise. Checked power steering fluid which is ok. Am I safe to drive or will it cause damage. Steering feels fine just the noise. Thanks Ann
 
The pump can whine on hard lock & so can the belts
 
Am I safe to drive truck as I can't get to my local garage until Thursday which is my next day off. Will do approx 100 miles from now till then as my o/h works nights and can't drive. Thanks for replies Ann
 
Daft question - what sort of turn do you mean? Full lock, or regular part turn of the steering wheel like when taking a left or right off a main road? I ask because as said, a full lock puts more strain on the blts and pump. I'm suspecting belts myself, but its really hard to diagnose with limited info.

Could also be CV joints - might be dry. Whining suggests a turning part which is why the wheels and belts and pump are suspect. Cant say its safe, if a power steering belt snaps your steering is going to go VERY heavy, if its CV joints it'll be OK you just need new ones.
 
Is the whine there if you turn the steering whilst not moving ? TBH no one can say if it's safe or not without looking at your motor but if it's worrying you a lot the safest option would be not to drive it until it has been fully checked out by a garage
 
Hi sorry makes noise when full lock or just turning slightly also when sat with hand break on and turn the steering slightly it's there again. Thanks for help try to get in garage tomorrow if not till will Thursday .
 
as per our conversation seems more likely when stationary as more strain from tyres
rubbing. remember in days pre pas wouldnt try to turn steering unless vehicle was
moving too.

also find that can have moisture on belt leading to slip from straining, like with
fan belt.

try to give it bit of gas and have motor moving,
 
Yeah,if it happens when stationary.Then most likely to be the power steering pump or belt.
 
My steering pump was very whiney when i bought the car. I drove it like that for a few weeks before I fixed it.

Assuming that your whine is bearing related:

If you strip the pump down you can remove the small bearing that causes the whine. I bought a new bearing from a bearing shop for £4 and it has been perfect for the last two years.

It is not difficult but you do have to whack the old bearing quite hard to get it off the shaft oh and its a bit messy - have lots of cloths handy.
 
cant speak for others but mine doesnt whine, its more of a groan! or squark? and
judder from steering like its momentarily struggling.

perhaps we should make videos
 
Well today no whining at all no loss of fluid as I parked under cover today while at work, placed large sheet of cardboard underneath just one oil mark size of 10p. So still having it checked tomorrow . Thanks again for all your comments
 
I often get a whine when im driving ..... mine comes from the passengers seat :augie:eek:
 
PAS whine

Hi when turning left or right I've suddenly got whining noise. Checked power steering fluid which is ok. Am I safe to drive or will it cause damage. Steering feels fine just the noise. Thanks Ann

Do not panic !
I would start by having the belt tension and belt condition checked.
Water / condensation on the drive belts can cause some terrible noises and does not help grip.
Then for the small cost involved change the PAS fluid by siphoning out the reservoir and topping up with the right grade of ATF repeat after a few days when the fluid in the steering box & pipework has mixed with the reservoir.
It cured noises on my old Terrano r3mR.

If your PAS failed completely it still has steering albeit on the heavy side !
 
Took to the garage today couldn't find a leak so tightened belt. So I'm just going keep an eye on level of fluid over next few days and see what happens. Thanks for all your replies
 

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