There are many reasons why you might hear a strange noise coming from your steering, and it’s often something that’s wearing or breaking. In this article we’ll run through some of the most common causes of strange noises coming from your steering, and what they sound like.

Worn Rack Bushes

Rack bushes support the steering rack’s main body. As the bushes wear, the rack’s main body moves under load, often causing a clunking noise which is worst at slow speed when turning tightly in car park type areas.

Damaged Tie Rod Ends

The tie rod ends join the steering rack to the wheel hubs. As the ball joints within them wear the joints can produce a knocking or rattling noise. This noise is usually felt through the steering wheel when driving slowly in a straight line and is most noticeable when going around corners on uneven surfaces.

Low or Contaminated Fluid

Some hydraulic steering systems make a whining or even a grunting noise. In these cases low or even dirty power steering fluid is the likely cause of steering rack noise and should be checked.

Worn Internal Rack Components

As the worn components of the steering rack rub against each other, they can create a grinding or grating noise. These noises can get worse over time and be very apparent when driving long distances on motorways.

Loose or Corroded Mounting Points

Loose or corroded rack mounting points can cause small amounts of movement in the rack. This may produce an intermittent clunk, typically heard under braking or acceleration. Your mechanic will check the rack mounting points during an MOT steering test. There is more on Car Steering Rack at https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/vehicles.

By detailing the noise and circumstances when the fault occurs, a mechanic will be able to more rapidly establish the root cause.