Squeaking while turning

[MilTownSHO]

There is a loud squeaking sound when you turn the wheel on my mom's 98. Mainly when parking and slow speeds, don't notice it much at higher speeds or during normal driving.

Seems to me this only started after replacing the front sway bar and outer tie rod.

So SHO geniuses, what is it?

Reminds me of the Saturn Vues that used to squeak until you lubed up underneath the steering wheel.

 

[bacernate]

Did you do both outer tie rods? That's what t sounds like when they start to seize up.

 

[MilTownSHO]

No just the driver side the other one appeared fine.

 

[Vnuk1]

Mine does the same sound when in low speeds and just turning the wheel and am pretty sure it is the Tie Rods. It's better to just do both at the same time.

 

[TimboSHO]

I've seen both outer tie rods and ball joints do this. Get a buddy and have him listen to the at each front wheel while you're cranking it. After determining which side it is, you may have to jack it up and remove the wheel to determine what is making the noise. I'm not a big fan of replacing both sides just to replace them either. Replace what's broken and move on. Hope this helps.

 

[MilTownSHO]

Replace what's broken and move on. Hope this helps.

Exactly, just weird how it started after replacing just one... maybe the new one is bad.

 

[SHOZ123]

Is the sway bar the OEM one? If not you need some split collars to keep the bar from shifting back and forth.

 

[MilTownSHO]

Is the sway bar the OEM one? If not you need some split collars to keep the bar from shifting back and forth.

Yes it was replaced with a stock bar

 

[Mr Anonymous]

What kind of bushings did you use on the sway bar?

Squeaking while turning is usually either an inner or outer tie rod end or a strut bearing. Occasionally worn a-arm bushings or sway bar bushings (or new sway bar bushings if you don't put a little **** on them) can also squeak.

 

[JCTaz]

Does this squeak sound kind of like a low-pitch whistle? My 97 does this when turning left... any ideas???

 

[mustangracer91]

Does this squeak sound kind of like a low-pitch whistle? My 97 does this when turning left... any ideas???

that low pitch whistle is probably your power steering pump bypass valve working...

What I've done is just undo the outter tie rod end bolt and pull the rod out and work the tierod end by hand, if there's any slop or squeak, there's your problem. sometimes I'll spray some wd40 type product and then work it, alot of times it'll be a quick fix just to diagnose the problem.

 

[stephen newberg]

that low pitch whistle is probably your power steering pump bypass valve working...

What I've done is just undo the outter tie rod end bolt and pull the rod out and work the tierod end by hand, if there's any slop or squeak, there's your problem. sometimes I'll spray some wd40 type product and then work it, alot of times it'll be a quick fix just to diagnose the problem.

When you do this, you are not really providing lubrication, but instead the WD-40 is being in effect a fluid wash out to remove whatever grit is causing the problem. It is only a water displacer (WD) and not intended as lub. After you finish, if you want lubrication, you then need to put on some other light oil or grease.

pax, smn

 

[SHOZ123]

FWIW if you disconnect the outer tie rod end and the tie rod flops down then the inner tie rod end is worn out. It should stick out stiffly on it's own.......

 

[Silvapain]

FWIW if you disconnect the outer tie rod end and the tie rod flops down then the inner tie rod end is worn out. It should stick out stiffly on it's own.......

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