Grinding noise when turning left

[fishv12]

Good day all!

I need help since I don't quite know where to look for. For the last eight months at least I have been having a very intermittent grinding noise and vibration through the steering when turning left ONLY. It is now happening on a very regular basis so I would like to get it fixed! I have an 02 CC which two months ago received the following:
-Two new CV shafts
-All new upper/lower ball joints
-New left control arm
-Two new wheel bearings assembly
-All new Bilstein shocks

As you can see almost a complete front end replacement. For the last year in winter the power steering pump took 20 seconds to really engage and assist the steering... I have the part to replace that but I really doubt it's going to help with the grinding when turning left at low speeds? What could it possibly be? What can I take a look for? I am thinking it has to do with the steering box (idler arm, pitman arm...etc.) as the suspension elements checked out fine by the alignment guy.

 

[Dirtymaxx03]

grinding or popping?

 

[fishv12]

It's mostly a grinding noise... Higher pitched and you can really feel it through the wheel.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Is the noise proportionate to
or does the noiese change in relationship to wheel speed?
does it change when the suspension cycles while turning left?
I would guess a mounting point could be the culprit, between the transfer case and front diff?
Tough one, cuz you have or have had, so much done already i would think anything external would have been noticed
Leads me to believe something inside the front diff is your issue, maybe t case, not likely lmo

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Are you sure there is no contact with, or binding/wear in the steering shaft linkage?
It is a two piece unit, so potential for replacement is there, maybe?

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Not tryin to be condecending, or like im on a high horse or somethin
It almost seems silly to ask
you have checked the front brakes and brake mechenisims, right?

 

[08txlmm]

What year is the truck? I have an LMM doing the exact same thing. Mine doesn't seem like front end parts though. My hydroboost went out 30k ago and my power steering fluid got low before I caught the problem. Because of this I'm thinking my problem is either the power steering pump(not leaking or low on fluid) or some type of u-joint or steering guide behind the dash.

I have been busy lately and haven't been able to find the problem on mine. If you find a solution be sure to post it because I think I have the same problem.

 

[fishv12]

Let me give you more information... My truck wasn't levelled but now it is with stock parts but it was doing it before and after so that shouldn't really make any difference. As well the noise seem to only me made in the middle of turning left... So when I start turning left for the first 1/4 there is no grinding or sound and when at I finish turning for the last 3/4 there is nothing either. It's really in between for the 1/2 that the grinding/noise can be heard. When I stick my head out of the window I can't really hear it from outside and for some reason it sounds like it's coming from above... Which really leads me to think i should replace the power steering pump since I already have it anyways and give that a shot. I don't know it's weird... Hard to find the time between work and life like so many of us. =)

Hot Cocoal : To answer your many questions I sure hope it's not my diff or tcase! I just came from a 2005 Jeep GC Limited that had 4 diff rebuilds under warantee until they just said it was acceptable noise... I ended up installing a cat back system and trading it on this 2002 DURAMax. With the million problems I had with my Jeep my only one word of advice to anyone is don't buy Jeep lol. Anyways! Back to the subject... I haven't done any of my differential maintenance on this truck yet since my last year and a half of ownership. It's definetely something I should look into as well. The tcase fluid was replaced and came out clean. The noise does change in relationship to wheel speed when it happens... If I turn faster the same noise and grinding happens but at a quicker rate. I am not sure if I understand the question if it does change when the suspension cycles... But I can say that it does not change if I am taking a corner at 40km/h or if I am turning into a parking space... Not sure if that answers your question. As for the mounting point between the tcase and front diff I would not know where to look! I am not sure if there is any contact or binding in the steering linkage... I suppose to verify that I would need to jack the truck and take a really good peak under while someone is turning the wheel. As for the brake system well it's not new but when I took down the calipers and put everything back together I made sure to line everything up as it should.

08txlmm : My truck is an 02 and if I do find the solution I will let everyone know! I would try the pump if I was you mine cost 40$ from rockauto so it's not that expensive now it's just to find the time to do it!

 

[08txlmm]

Replacing the PS pump worked for me. All of the grinding noise went away and a lot of brake pedal feel came back. I should've found time to replace mine a long time ago.

 

[fishv12]

Well I just found the time to install my power steering pump. I sincerely thought it was fixed until I turned in the Tim Hortons this morning. Maybe this is a sign it is time to stop drinking. Either way it seems like it got better but I don't know. I didn't do a full fluid flush as I didn't have time when the job was done but I had done one a maybe 6 months ago. I also didn't use synthetic power steering fluid but just the standard ps fluid without the extra seal additives. Maybe I should just flush with synthetic fluid and see what happens. I am trying to narrow it down.

 

[fishv12]

TTT

Now it's been a couple days of driving and the problem hasn't gone. I have noticed that the only difference from changing the pump is that there is barely any sound when it happens but mostly all vibration through the wheel. It is still very intermittent... One more thing I noticed is greater steering resistance since I changed my pump for some odd reason.

 

[DPC]

Maybe a long shot but turn your wheel all the way to the left, craw under the truck and see if your stub shaft is pulling out of the diff. Possibly your retaining clip is shot?

 

[fishv12]

What is the stub shaft just so I know what to look for.

 

[DPC]

It's the the shaft that comes out of the drivers side front diff. Your half shaft bolts to it.

 

[fishv12]

You are 100% right this is what it is. The driver side stub shaft sticks out and i noticed gear oil sprayed out on a piece of metal next to it. I can't imagine this is a cheap fix. How much do you think I am looking at? What is involved? I imagine the whole front diff has to be be torn to pieces... thx for the help i really appreciate it

 

[DPC]

It is actually a cheap fix. Unbolt your half shaft from the flange, pull the shaft out and inspect for damage. Usually you just need to replace the retaining clip and push the shaft back in the diff. I know merchant sells them. http://www.merchant-automotive.com/stubshaftsnapring.aspx I would also replace your diff oil. Inspect the seal to make sure it was not damaged.

 

[fishv12]

Thanks for the reply DPC I ended up taking my truck in the stealership and I suppose I should say this with a capital s. I just didn't feel like dealing with this at this point in time. I suppose I just felt that for once I would ease my life and pay someone to do the work for me. Big mistake or not you tell me. I paid 500$ for them to replace both front axle seals and change the fluid in the front diff. Then I also paid 600$ for them to replace the block heater as it was leaking but that is a whole different issue. Then as they thought it was due to my oil pan shield being loose they just ripped that right out as it was laying against the steering column. That was an extra 55$ to remove the shield. So that was a total of almost 1200$. Then they thought it was the lower steering column bearing so I paid another 200$ today. No dice! I am too poor now to keep gambling.

Now 1400$ later I am back to square one with the same noise but at least my truck is in better shape I guess. My wallet is hurting quite a bit so I will be waiting to get it checked once again. I have more pressing rust issues that i would like to invest in first before going on a wild goose chase plus it's not the hunting season quite yet. They suspect the airbag coil to be the culprit and by that I assume they mean the clockspring which I have replaced with a used one to install some steering wheel controls. I intend to take off the steering cover and listen closely if the noise is coming from there. I am thinking of doing it myself with new parts if I do hear anything... Otherwise I really doubt it is that. The noise really sounds like it comes from down below outside the truck. It sounds and feels like you reached the end of steering turn by turning the wheel all the way over and holding but while turning. This makes no sense to me.

Again thanks for any help I can get

 

[fishv12]

Well I guess I should give an update on this subject which still remains a mistery! My new power steering pump ended up not sealing well and leaked. So I ordered a whole unit with reservoir and replaced it. Thought it would solve my problem but no! Then I finally received my clockspring and changed that too but without any luck as I found out after driving a few hours making turns that it came right back and then some. I also got my truck aligned after putting new tires on and they found a bad upper ball joint which I had changed 15000kms ago go figure so I replaced that as well. And I need new front brake pads but I really doubt it's that.

It sounds much louder now and much like opening a old rusty door while turning. The dealership thought the next thing to try is a new upper steering column. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[fishv12]

Well I bought some new rotors and pads and changed the front yesterday and the noise is still there this morning At least my brake pads don't clunk anymore. At this point my truck is totally quiet other than the steering issue

 

[christg]

i had same problem. this spring i pay for replacing my leaking steering gearbox for a rebuild one at the local power steering shop. from that day every time i turned at low speed i hear noise and vibration on the steering wheel. after messing around with all the power steering shop mechanic at the town . they told me that the gearbox unit is the problem and cant build pressure like supposed and create air in the system that made the pump noise and vibration. they change the rebuild power steering Gearbox for another one and the problem is now gone.