Help/advice unknown sounds
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Instructor
Joined: May 2005
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From: Council Bluffs Iowa
Help/advice unknown sounds
I have a 99 coupe and I have covered parking at work (great acoustics). I've noticed when cruising thru the parking lot at idle speed a strange sound when turning the wheels. It's in the front end and sounds like a low ginding or dry gurgling sound. I only hear it when I'm turning and it's definately coming from the front. I can also hear it while turning in a quiet neighborhood. Unknown at higher speeds. I thought I saw a thread on something like this before but can't find it. Any thoughts on what it could be, what to look for, or what to do to further troubleshoot? I don't know if ths should be in the tech forum but thought I'd try here first.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Noise
Jack up the front, start the car and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock with the steering fluid warmed up. If you don't hear the noise after repeated cycles, it's probably a wheel hub bearing. Turn the wheels as fast as you can turn them by hand, and listen for a bearing noise within the hub.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 147
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From: Council Bluffs Iowa
Originally Posted by Don Kisamore
Jack up the front, start the car and turn the steering wheel from lock to lock with the steering fluid warmed up. If you don't hear the noise after repeated cycles, it's probably a wheel hub bearing. Turn the wheels as fast as you can turn them by hand, and listen for a bearing noise within the hub.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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Noise
It depends on what you find. If it's a wheel bearing hub, it's not too tough, just costly for the part, since it has the speed sensor built into it. If it's the steering actuator, it gets even pricier, and probably would require a dealer's input. You might try changing and flushing the power steering fluid if the noise is coming from the steering cylinder. One more thing,-be sure to check the steering fluid level, both cold and hot. You can"bleed" the system by turning the steering wheel lock to lock with the engine running.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Brenham Texas
I have the exact same thing happening to my '04. I hear it every day when I leave my parking garage from work. I have checked the power steering fluid several times and it appears ok. It really drives me crazy when it makes that rubbing noise. I'm gonna take a good look at the car this weekend up on jacks.
