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 non-obvious 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 happens over 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 - whether it crunches or not.

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, due to wear or improper installation, the steering wheel may touch the plastic of the steering column lining when turning and make unpleasant sounds. On some cars, there is a special metal part on the steering wheel for the electrical circuit of the horn; it can move a little and start walking in a path not intended for it. 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 you turn 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.

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 in passenger cars is a crunching sound that occurs 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 quite a bit of money. 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 difficulty of diagnosing possible steering malfunctions that appear 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.

The situation, characterized by the occurrence of a “crunch” when turning the steering wheel, is familiar to a fairly large number of domestic motorists. We will consider the reasons that initiate this defect in the article we bring to your attention. However, here, as in any technical problem, there are certain nuances.

Causes of crunching noise when turning the steering wheel

For example, if the steering wheel crunches when turning, the source of the crunch may be the loosening of the clamp screw connecting the steering shaft to the steering rack.

Thus, in extreme positions, the steering shaft splines disengaged (slipped) with the rack teeth, thereby causing a knocking sound.

Another source of knocking can be a needle bearing whose wear has exceeded the permissible values. As a rule, this occurs when there is insufficient lubricant inside the bearing.

Elimination of these defects comes down to replacing the worn bearing and tightening the clamp screw that secures the connection between the steering rack and the steering shaft.

Wear of the support bearing or support bushing of the steering rack can also cause knocking, and the only way to restore the functionality of these elements is to replace them.

When diagnosing the problem described, it is very important to test the steering not only in place, but also in motion. The presence of a crunching sound while driving is a clear indication of a malfunction of the constant velocity joint, or CV joint. The importance of this unit and the rather serious consequences of untimely elimination of the defect require a more detailed understanding of this problem.

CV joint malfunctions and repair methods

The importance of such a unit as the CV joint can hardly be overestimated, since it is with its help that torque is transmitted from the vehicle’s power unit to its wheels. This allows the car wheels to turn at fairly large angles - up to 70 0 .

The engineering design of the hinge allows it to have a fairly long service life, but one design flaw still exists. This is to protect the element from penetration, dust, moisture, dirt, etc. It is the rubber boot of the CV joint, or rather its damage, that causes a malfunction of the joint, the main symptom of which is “crunching”.

Ingress of dust, moisture, dirt, etc. on the moving elements of the hinge (balls, grooves) significantly increase their wear, leading to a loss of strength of the structure as a whole. A “crunchy” CV joint is a joint that has not only become unusable, but also requires immediate replacement. Ignoring the “crunch” is fraught with jamming of the CV joint and breakage of the associated suspension elements. Replacing a hinge is not an easy task, but with some technical skills and patience it is quite doable.

So, a “crunch” when turning the steering wheel requires the immediate implementation of the following measures:

• Preparation for repair and restoration work includes:

Reliable fixation of the car using the parking brake, engaging fourth gear, installing wheel chocks (wedges);

Removing the protective cap;

Loosening the wheel hub nut.

• Loosening the bolts securing the wheel and hanging it (the wheel) using a jack.
• Unscrewing the bolts and dismantling the thrust washer of the hub nut.
• Unscrewing the bolts that secure the steering knuckle of the lower ball joint.
• Installing the steering wheel in the extreme position opposite the side where the CV joint is being replaced.
• Pull back the steering knuckle with the strut enough to remove the splined end of the outer CV joint from the hub.
• Removing the inner joint from the gearbox using a pry bar.
• Reliable fixation of the drive shaft, for example, using a vice.
• Removing the inner and outer clamps securing the hinge boots.
• Inspection of the condition of the anthers.
• Removing the CV joint from the shaft. To facilitate the procedure, it is advisable to use a hammer and a tool made of soft material (for example, wood or bronze).

Installation of new constant velocity joints is carried out in the reverse order to that described above.

Video - what to do if the steering wheel crunches

In conclusion of our article, we draw the readers’ attention to some nuances, knowledge of which will allow you to make the most efficient use of the service life of the replaced hinges:

• Replace the hub nut with a new one whose edge is securely locked.
• During installation of the internal CV joint, a special plastic plug is installed at the end of the shaft.
• Before installing the hinges, fill them with a sufficient amount of CV joint-4 lubricant.
• Experts recommend replacing the retaining ring with a new one before installing the mechanism on the car.
• When installing the drive into the gearbox, check the fit (with full fixation) of the side gear. You can use a hammer and a wooden tool for this process.

It is extremely important to maintain the steering in good condition, since traffic safety directly depends on it. One of the problems that the driver runs the risk of encountering is the appearance of squeaking when turning the steering wheel. This symptom can occur both on cars with hydraulic power steering and on cars without power steering. The creaking can come either from the steering wheel itself or from under the front of the car. In this article, we will look at the main reasons why the steering wheel squeaks when turning and what to do in such a situation.

Table of contents:

How to determine the cause of a squeak when turning the steering wheel

The steering mechanism of a car is quite complex, especially if it works in conjunction with a power steering. Because of this, there can be a lot of reasons that lead to squeaking when turning the steering wheel.

Carrying out diagnostic work that will allow you to determine the causes of the squeak should begin with identifying the specific place from which the squeak is heard when turning the steering wheel. To do this, you need to put the car in a hole and ask someone to turn the steering wheel, while listening to sounds from under the car to determine the location of the squeak. Having decided which element is creaking, you can move on to repairs.

Common causes of squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel

Here are the most common reasons why you hear a squeak when turning the steering wheel.

Improperly executed

If you hear squeaking noises from your tires, and it mostly happens when the car is stationary, there is a good chance that the problem is due to improper wheel alignment. In this case, it is necessary to perform a wheel alignment as quickly as possible to correct the problem.

Incorrect wheel alignment angles negatively affect the tires, which begin to wear unevenly and fail much faster than they should.

Silent blocks creak

A common problem that is often encountered in hot weather. If silent blocks begin to creak at high ambient temperatures, this is the first “bell” that they will soon fail.

The creaking of silent blocks in hot weather is due to their drying out. Since the main working material of silent blocks is rubber, at high temperatures it “dries out” and decreases in size, especially if we are talking about relatively old parts.

There is no danger in the creaking of silent blocks until the part breaks. Remove the silent blocks and carefully inspect them for cracks and various types of damage. If there are no visible problems, you can put them in place and continue driving, hoping that soon the air temperature will drop lower and the squeak will disappear.

Please note: For many modern cars you can find silent blocks made of polyurethane, which is not subject to the problem of “drying out” in the heat.

Bearings squeak

If you hear a squeaking, squeaking, or crackling sound from the steering knuckle when you turn the steering wheel, this most likely indicates a bearing problem. They behave in a similar way if there is not enough lubrication for their proper operation or if there is sand (or other foreign element) in the bearing.

Bearing creaking must be eliminated as quickly as possible so that the part does not fail completely. To do this, remove the bearing and inspect it for damage. If they are not found, then lubricate the part, install it in place and adjust.

Please note: When the squeaking of a bearing is caused by foreign elements entering it, be sure to find the reason for their entry into the part.

Steering rack or steering column creaks

It is quite simple to determine the creaking of the steering column by the characteristic vibration, which will also occur when the steering wheel rotates. Most often, the steering column clutch squeaks, and this problem is typical for cars that were unsuccessfully restored after a serious accident. This problem, if the noise is not strong, does not affect the quality of the steering mechanism, so you can continue to operate the car. The situation can only be corrected by replacing the steering column.

Also, creaking can be heard from the steering rack and column joint if they are poorly adjusted or there is severe wear. Depending on the car model, this problem can be solved in different ways. Most often it is possible to adjust the mechanism.

Tie rod ends squeak

Due to damage to the anthers, foreign elements get into the tie rod end pin, which leads to squeaks both when turning the steering wheel and when overcoming obstacles. To determine if there is a problem, you need to inspect the tips, and if sand or other foreign matter actually got into them, you will need to replace them, and it is recommended to change them in pairs.

The plastic casing creaks

Every driver knows that when actively using a car that is not of the best build, “crickets” will appear over time. They represent creaks of the front panel, including the steering casing, made of plastic. This problem is solved in various ways, depending on the car model.

If all the parts described above have been inspected and the cause of the squeak cannot be determined, it is also recommended to check the power steering drive belt and brake elements, especially the pads and discs.

If certain problems arise in the steering of your car, you should correct them immediately, otherwise delay may lead to the fact that the most important system of your car will malfunction and stop functioning normally. If it fails abruptly and directly while driving, then serious troubles in the form of loss of control and other not very successful consequences cannot be ruled out. A crunching sound when turning the steering wheel can mean several problems, each of which should be given special attention when diagnosing. Correcting it yourself or contacting a specialized service is up to you to decide. The car will definitely need good diagnostics, so the service in this case has many advantages.

A good service station will help you do a really good examination of each chassis and steering component in order to get reliable answers to the question of what caused the crunching noise. Turning the steering wheel affects more than just the steering rack. In this process, steering tips are included in the work, as well as rods that pull the elements of the chassis. Therefore, a knock or crunch in the steering wheel does not always mean problems with the steering mechanism. This may cause troubles associated with the chassis. Today we will look at the three most common problems that cause a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel.

CV joint is one of the likely culprits of steering wheel crunching

The steering mechanism does not often make sounds similar to a crunch, but for a CV joint this is the main indicator of a possible problem. Therefore, it is worth checking this particular breakdown first. If it crunches when turning while in motion, then in 90% of cases the culprit will be the CV joint, also called a grenade. This mechanism has a direct connection to the steering mechanism. When the steering wheel is turned to the maximum possible angle and a uniform, slow movement occurs when a grenade is broken, a crunching sound occurs, which intensifies over time. This problem can only be dealt with by replacement, which is quite difficult. The consequences of untimely repairs may be the following:

• gradual complete failure of the grenade and failure of this unit to perform its functions;
• When turning, the wheel begins to slip or slow down, depending on the nature of the breakdown;
• the crunch increases and no longer seems so harmless for the driver and passengers of the car;
• along with the crunching sound, a slight jumping of the car appears when turning to the maximum degree;
• the thrust from the engine has every chance of simply flying out of the mount with the wheel, which will make further movement impossible;
• If a grenade suddenly falls out of its place, a load drop on the engine is possible.

You should not bring a breakdown to such a stage and check what can actually happen to the power unit. It is much better to simply eliminate the cause of the crunching and forget that such a problem was present. Few motorists have ever experienced what an overly neglected CV joint problem means, and reviews of this experience are not the most flattering. If, while turning, your car experiences a crunching sound in the steering area or on the wheels, you should simply replace the grenade with a new one. This is done at any service that services your brand of car.

Steering rack - a peculiar crunch and appears infrequently

Some BMW models in the late 90s had a certain technical subtlety - their steering racks sometimes crunched. It’s not even a breakdown, it’s just that the rack had such a design feature. However, the Bavarians never had a good relationship with slats. But this node is not the only one that causes certain problems. Problems with the steering rack occur in almost all cars; this unit lasts no more than 250-300 thousand kilometers. With such a resource, almost every car has to deal with rack problems. Moreover, in some cases the mechanism can fail much faster. The main signs of a broken steering rack are:

• The crunch may occur during the entire stroke of the steering wheel or at certain intervals during rotation;
• knocks are heard not just under the hood of the car, but directly in the steering wheel, vibration is felt in the hands;
• with the engine turned off, when checking the free play of the steering wheel, a knock is heard in the extreme positions;
• the characteristics of the steering change, stiffness appears or, conversely, excessive ease in turning the steering wheel;
• There are problems in driving; the car does not always react to turning the steering wheel as expected.

If such problems exist in your car, you should work on the steering rack. Unfortunately, the design of the steering mechanism on modern cars is such that in most cases the rack will have to be replaced. This is an important point that should be applied almost always. Steering rack repair is short-lived, so it may not be economically viable and not very pleasant for further use. It is best to change the rack, and it may not be possible to do it yourself in a garage, especially on cars with power steering and other additions to the controls.

Chassis, bearings and other rare crunching options

When you check all the possible causes of the crunching noise when turning, you can safely say that the problem lies only in the chassis. Of course, finding chassis problems is quite difficult; for this, it is also better to use professional diagnostics. Crunching is the prerogative of bearings, but the only type of this element in the chassis that can crunch is the wheel bearing. However, they often buzz when they fail at a certain speed rather than crunch. If you want to diagnose wheel bearings, you can do it as follows:

• lift one side of the front of the car on a jack and secure the car well with stands;
• put the car on the handbrake, and also make sure that the three wheels are firmly on the base;
• sit behind the wheel or have your assistant sit down so that he performs certain actions to spin the wheel;
• after this you need to start the car, turn on second speed and smoothly release the clutch pedal, giving a little gas;
• Please note that such actions cannot be carried out on vehicles with all-wheel drive and a locked center differential;
• after this, you need to turn off the engine and allow the wheel to spin at a fairly high speed;
• if the bearing on this wheel is faulty, it will definitely tell you about it with an abundant hum;
• If the bearing is in good condition, only the sound of friction of the metal parts of the suspension will be heard.

This is a fairly simple way to diagnose wheel bearings and will not require too much time. To implement such a test, it is not necessary to have an assistant; you can carry out all the tests yourself. To do this, you need to quickly get out of the car while the wheel is spinning. The best noise from broken bearings is heard near the wheel. However, sometimes wheel bearings make a noise throughout the garage, then it’s better to replace them before it’s too late. Completely disintegrated wheel bearings will cause serious problems throughout the entire chassis. Therefore, it is worth paying special attention to correcting problems if any. We invite you to watch a short video describing the cause and elimination of the problem with knocking and crunching when turning the steering wheel:

Let's sum it up

If you think that a crunching sound when turning the steering wheel is not such a serious problem, find out the opinions of those drivers who have encountered its consequences due to poor-quality repairs or no restoration at all. After a detailed study of the problem, it turns out that you are not getting the best operating conditions for the car, and if you wait and do not repair the car, you are even exposing yourself to a certain danger. It is best to immediately find the cause of the crunching and completely correct it.

In this case, we are often talking about the safety of the trip, so the best option would be to go to a professional service station and solve all problems by installing factory spare parts. A crunching sound always means a breakdown of a specific control, chassis or other components. Therefore, do not think that this manifestation will go away on its own. Just keep yourself safe and gain more confidence on every trip. What problems have you experienced that resulted in a crunching sound in the steering area?