Noise When Turning Steering Wheel

[zj92908]

Since the weather has been getting cooler here in Chicago, I have noticed that my MO has been making a cracking noise when turning the steering wheel, left or right. This happens only on cold starts & when transmission is not engaged P (Park) or engaged R (Reverse) or D (Drive). Upon first start-up in the garage in the morning & I turn the wheel to the left or right (still in park), a noticeable cracking noise is heard. This also happens when backing out of the driveway and turning the wheels. This has never happened in the warmer temps. Any thoughts? My MO is a 2003 SE AWD model w/85,000 miles. CVT replaced 03.2008 @ 51,000 miles & control arms replaced in 10.2009. Any thoughts on what this mysterious noise could be attributed to? Perhaps it is simply due to age and miles on my MO?

[Warhammer]

Might be your strut mounts are dry. Does the sound seem like it's coming from up high, by the bottom of your windshield on both sides? If so, it might be time to pull your struts, remove the top mounts, and lube them up with some good lithium grease.

I just swapped out both of my front struts on my 04 MO SL AWD with 97K miles. After swapping them out, within a week my MO developed a low frequency creaking noise on just the drivers side. Now it's also developed on the passenger side as well. At first, I thought it was the front drivers side hub bearing. One morning, I sat down in my MO and hear a creeeeeak. Got out of my MO and starting rocking it back and fourth (right hand on a-pillar and left hand on front/driver quarter panel) and could hear the creaking coming from the back of the hood just under the windshield! Total give away!

Will be tearing apart the struts again this weekend and lubing everything up. Hopefully will be gone after things are nice and slippery.

[zj92908]

The sound is not coming from up high. It's definitely something with the steering & happens when turning the wheels both left and right. Only happens after the MO has been sitting for a long (4+ hours) period of time & only in the cooler temps. Strange, after driven and warmed up, the noise is gone. I can drive the MO for the first time in the day and hear it, get to my destination & park. Get back in MO, turn on and start driving and the noise is gone. I don't get it.

Any thoughts?

[gatubel]

I had the exact same problem as you described...
I had no idea what was causing this noise until one day
I had my brother turn the steering wheel while in P park.
I knew it was coming from the struts assembly but
couldn't see exactly where...then I notice something,
the strut boots where all worn out, it wasn't even "boots" anymore,
it was rubber Orings around the strut getting caught in the absorber.
I pulled out all the rubber pieces out with some pliers and that solved my problem.
like you describe I had the same noise specially on colder days.
I have not replaced the boots yet but I will eventually replace
both front struts then I can put a new pair of protector boots.

Hope this helps and sorry about my English and my bad Grammar
as I am still learning EnglisH

___________________GATUBEL________________________ _____

[zj92908]

Thanks, gatubel for the reply!

I ran out to the garage & looked at the MO's strut boots...guess what?! They were partially worn out and torn on both the driver and passenger sides. Like yours, some were laying down in the obsorber. I cut off and removed the loose part of the boots and cleaned out the ones laying in/on the absorber.

Will take the MO out tomorrow AM and report back...thanks again!

Your English is just fine...no worries

[gatubel]

awesome, let us know if that worked.

[zj92908]

No luck...noise was still there this AM. Not sure what/where else to look. The front brakes, rotors & driver side caliper all replaced less than 1,000 miles ago @ the end of August 2011. Perhaps something didn't get put back together correctly? Strange how it is only happening in cooler temps & goes away after being driven. Any other thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance!

[Craig_0530]

Originally Posted by zj92908

No luck...noise was still there this AM. Not sure what/where else to look. The front brakes, rotors & driver side caliper all replaced less than 1,000 miles ago @ the end of August 2011. Perhaps something didn't get put back together correctly? Strange how it is only happening in cooler temps & goes away after being driven. Any other thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Check your LCA's and ball joints.

[Warhammer]

Inner & outer control arms then? Might be ball joint clatter.

[zj92908]

LCAs replaced October 2009. Not sure what else to check . . .

[nitely]

Have someone start the car and turn the wheel in the morning while you are under it and follow the sound. Start around the outer tie rod end area and go from there. Touch the tie rod end as the steering is turned and feel for any vibration/sound.

[zj92908]

The MO sat outside today for 12 hours in 65+ degree weather. Turned her on, turned wheel and no noise! Whatever the noise is, it is definitely attributed to the colder temps as described in my earlier posts. Any thoughts?

[Craig_0530]

Originally Posted by zj92908

LCAs replaced October 2009. Not sure what else to check . . .

Hmm. The LCAs could still go bad in that amount of time, I hope that they aren't. Next, I would check the LCA bushings.

[zj92908]

Okay, took the MO to an independent mechanic (whom I have used in the past) & his diagnosis is the lubricant in the steering wheel shaft. He indicated this is not a serious problem & does not need to be an immediate repair. Apparently the cooler temps don't allow the lubricant to move freely, thus causing it to become thicker than during the warmer spring/summer temps. Any thoughts on this diagnosis? Does this sound plausible? Any feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[kindjordan]

I have the exact same problem with my 07 SL. I brought it to Nissan and they lubricated the steering and the cracking noise went away.