If your car makes noise when turning, it could be due to a problem with the car’s suspension, steering system or wheel assembly. Generally, it is a normal process for many parts of the steering and suspension system to wear and tear as they age, causing noise when the car turns.
Through this article, you will learn in detail about the causes of car makes noise when turning, so that you can identify the cause of this problem and fix it.
Causes of Car Making Noise When Turning
If your car also makes noise when turning, then the main reason for this is damaged CV joints or wheel bearings. Additional causes may include loose brake clippers, damaged ball joints, worn struts and shocks, damaged power steering rack, worn tie rod ends, or sway bar link failure.
Let us understand in detail the causes of noise while turning the car, so that you do not get confused about any such noise.
1. Damage CV joint
Generally, most of the cars are front wheel drive. That is, only the front tires of the cars exert force and the work of turning the car right or left is also done by the front wheels. Therefore, a CV joint axle is used to steer the front wheels during acceleration.
Due to which the front wheel of the car can be turned at any speed to any angle without any friction. But sometimes the cross assembly of the axle CV joint wears out and becomes loose. Due to this, the axle CV joint starts making a strange noise when the car turns.
2. Loose Brake Clippers & Pads
Brake pads and clippers wear loose in the brake assembly provided in the wheels of cars and other vehicles, when the vehicle is driven on rough roads. Then you start hearing the noise of something rattling from the wheels of the vehicle, and this noise stops when the brakes are applied. So it’s definitely going to be brake pads and clipper noise.
And this noise comes on both straight or turning of the vehicle. But these noises will be heard in the vehicle, along with shaking. Therefore, worn or loose brake pads and calipers can also be the cause of the car making noise when turning.
3. Damaged Wheel Bearing
Often, broken or damaged wheel bearings can also be the main cause of noise while turning cars and other vehicles. Because bad or broken wheel bearings also cause friction while the vehicle is moving, you can hear a strange hum at high speeds of the vehicle, and this noise gets louder while turning the car or other vehicle.
4. Damaged Ball Joints
In cars, ball joints control the movement of the control arm and steering. Often, when you miss to lubricate the ball joint from time to time or the ball joint wears out more due to being too old. Then you can hear a strange rattling noise while taking turns in the car or other vehicle and this noise starts increasing on rough roads when the car accelerates. That’s why a bad ball jointcan also be the reason for strange noises while turning the car.
5. Bad Struts & Shocks
Struts and shocks both last a long time, but it is a normal process for both struts and shocks to wear out over time if your vehicle runs on bad or rough roads for a long time. Then the struts and shocks of your vehicle start to deteriorate quickly.
Or the wheel of a vehicle moving at high speed suddenly hits something dangerous, jumps over a big breaker, or falls into a big pothole. Then your vehicle’s shocks system could suddenly fail or leak. Hence, bad struts and shocks can also be the reason behind the car making noise while turning.
6. Damage Power Steering Rack
One of the main reasons why cars make rattling noises while driving is because of a faulty power steering rack. Because in power steering, the rack and pinion work by connecting with you, the lubricant serves to eliminate friction in the power steering rack and pinion. But when there is less lubrication in the rack and pinion, friction starts.
Due to this, the rack and pinion of the power steering becomes loose and starts rattling. Hence, a bad steering rack can also be a major cause of rattling noise in a car, and this noise gets louder while the car is turning.
7. Bad Tie Rod Ends
The tie rod is an important part of the steering assembly in your car. The tie rod connects the steering rack and steering knuckle of the car. The tie arm helps in turning the wheels by the steering wheel. But tie rod ends become loose due to old age or excessive wear. Due to which a knocking noise starts coming when the car is driven in light potholes. When tie rod ends are damaged, the steering of the vehicle starts to vibrate, and there is difficulty turning the vehicle.
8. Bad Sway Bar Link
Sway bar link balances your 4 wheeler or above vehicle during high speed. This sway bar linkremains stable during driving. If the sway bar link breaks during driving, then it can prove fatal for you and the vehicle. Because if it breaks, the balance may deteriorate during your vehicle speed. Often, when the sway bar link gets damaged, a rattling noise starts coming from it and this noise gets louder while the car is turning.
9. Worn Steering Column Bearing
A bad steering wheel bearing could also be causing your car to make loud noises when turning, because when you turn the steering wheel of the car. Then the plastic in the steering wheel starts rubbing with the COWLING on the column. Due to which it starts making strange noise while turning the steering.
How To Fix Car Making Noise When Turning
To get rid of this type of problem in a car or other vehicle, first you have to investigate its causes. After this, the defect related to this problem has to be rectified.
First of all, check all the studs on the complete suspension assembly of the vehicle. If any stud is broken or loose. Then replace the broken stud and tighten the loose stud.
Check CV joint and axle, if CV joint or axle is bad or worn. Then replace them with new ones or you can find the option of repair.
Check the brake clippers and pads in the vehicle’s wheels to see if these components are loose. Then replace the brake clippers and pads with new ones.
Bad or broken wheel bearings can also cause noise when the vehicle turns. So check the wheel bearing, if the wheel bearing is bad, replace it with a new one.
Check the ball joints of the vehicle’s suspension assembly. if the ball joint is loose or worn. Then you’ll need to replace the ball joint as well.
Bad struts and shock absorbers can also contribute to the noise. Therefore, in case of failure of the struts and shock absorbers of the vehicle, replace them with new ones.
The main reason for noise in cars and other vehicles when turning is due to the failure of the steering rack. So repair or replace the bad steering rack and pinion.
Check tie rod ends in suspension assembly. If the tie rod ends are loose or worn, replace them with new ones as well.
Check the bushing of the sway bar link rod to see if the bushing of the sway bar link rod is loose or worn. Then you will also have to replace the sway bar link rod bush.
By checking all these parts step by step and replacing the faulty ones, you can get rid of the problem of the car making noise when turning.
FAQ’s
Q. Does the wheel bearing noise go away when turning?
It depends on the condition of the bearings and their compatibility with the speed and direction of the vehicle. In many cases, the noise may become louder when turning the vehicle due to bad wheel bearings, or it may disappear momentarily when the vehicle is turned.
Q. How much does it cost to repair a wheel bearing?
The replacement cost of a wheel bearing depends on the model of the vehicle, the quality of the bearing, and the labor cost of the mechanic. Typically, the replacement cost of a wheel bearing in a normal car can average between $200 and $350, including the labor cost of a mechanic.
