I noticed over the last few days that my car makes a grinding noise when I turn the steering wheel to the left side. When I turn to the right, it doesn't make a sound. I took my car in today to have the brakes done and of course when I tried to show the guy what it was, it didn't do it.lol. He has it now and I know will find out what the problem is tomorrow after he takes it for a drive but just curious. Anyone know? It's a Honda Civic that is a few years old now.
Car Question?
- Thread starter Alex_Ontario
- Start date
With limited information I can only guess that it may be the CV joint ( constant velocity joint ) If you use your car in a way where you very often have to turn you steering wheel to the extreme left side you may have worn out the CV joint prematurely. My suggestion is to get a rebuilt CV joint. If you get one rebuilt from a large well known rebuilder you should have no problems. What they do is to take an old one appart and clean it up, then replace the metal ball bearing inside that have worn out. The rubber boot that covers at both ends of the CV joint is also changed. Do not accept one that has a used or dirty rubber boot covers, this will indicate that the rebuild is from a second or third rate rebuilder that cuts corners and have just taken it apart and replaced the bearing. Who knows if they have just replaced the broken bearings only and not all the bearings. An old rubber boot will also not last as long and may tear and let water into the ballbearings. Not a complicated job to do. Try Canadian Tire.
How old is the car, CV joints can last 10 years or more if it is not abused.
How old is the car, CV joints can last 10 years or more if it is not abused.
There is also another possibility to explore. Worn wheel bearings in the left wheel. Or the CV joint.
edit: wheel bearings is more like a rumble than a grind though, but same symptomology.
edit: wheel bearings is more like a rumble than a grind though, but same symptomology.
Not a car expert so I could be full of crap but I had the same problem once. Had he already done the brakes or looked at them before you tried to demonstrate the noise?Alex_Ontario said:
Could be something as simple as rust on the shield behind the disc. When you turn, the car leans and the build up of rust scrapes and makes the grinding noise. Servicing the brakes and scraping off the rust could clear it up.
Thanks guys. I bought the car last year ( it's a 2004 civic) when the lease on my last vehicle was up so not sure about how the car was driven and haven't had any other problems with it. He was working today on the brakes today so I will find out tomorrow. Just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious.
CV joints click loudly when they are worn out when you are accelerating and turning at the same time. Most noticeable if you are stopped, you turn the wheel and hit the gas. Click click click = worn out CV joint.
Wheel bearings whir when you are driving down the road and when you turn the wheel to one side or the other, the whirrinng will go away. In short, if you are driving at 50 kph, and there is a whirring sound and you give the wheel a quick tug to the right, and the whirring briefly goes away as you load up the right side of the car - then it's your left wheel bearing. Converse applies.
Both of the above only happen when the car is moving.
If your groaning occurs when the car is stationary, then most likely it's the steering rack. You may also feel it in the steering wheel. A worn CV joint or front wheel bearing can not be felt in the steering wheel.
Wheel bearings whir when you are driving down the road and when you turn the wheel to one side or the other, the whirrinng will go away. In short, if you are driving at 50 kph, and there is a whirring sound and you give the wheel a quick tug to the right, and the whirring briefly goes away as you load up the right side of the car - then it's your left wheel bearing. Converse applies.
Both of the above only happen when the car is moving.
If your groaning occurs when the car is stationary, then most likely it's the steering rack. You may also feel it in the steering wheel. A worn CV joint or front wheel bearing can not be felt in the steering wheel.
james t kirk said:
From what you just described, it sounds like the CV joints because of the cick, click sound when I'm taking a left turn.
I just edited my post since the time you quoted.
Worn CV joint is a definite CLICK CLICK CLICK sound.
Worn CV joint is a definite CLICK CLICK CLICK sound.
