Noisy steering

[Tomtit]

My 2002 LS430 has started making a squealing noise from the front when turning at low speeds. Like the tyre noise when you corner too fast. I can turn the steering from lock to lock whilst stationary with the engine running and there is no noise.

My first thought was the power steering fluid, which was brown in colour. I had assumed that the level was correct, but what I thought was the fluid level was actually a dirty mark on the inside of the reservoir. I used a turkey baster to remove as much fluid as possible from the reservoir and replaced it with Dexron III. I bled the system in accordance with the workshop manual but the noise was still there. I have since bled it about 6 times.

I took off the auxiliary belt and spun the PS pump pulley and there was no noise. I was able to pull the pulley towards me with about 1mm of free play. There is no sign of a fluid leak.

The tyres are OK with sufficient tread. i have even put the front tyres on the back and vice versa but this made no difference. I have used the search facility but I have not come across a post with my problem.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Spock66]

3 minutes ago, Tomtit said:

I took off the auxiliary belt and spun the PS pump pulley and there was no noise.

The belt could be slipping may be worth changing.

[Tomtit]

Andrew.

Thank you for that.

The belt is just over 2 years old and is still like new. I have taken it off and refitted the old belt (which did not make any noise). The squealing is still there.

[Malc1]

it's unlikely BUT ....... you haven't picked up summat in the tyre tread maybe ?

Malc

[ambermarine]

There are bearings in the pump and they only come under torque when pressure is applied to the pump when the car is operating normally, moving the steering  while stationary does not apply the same pressure.

You could clear the whole system with the take some out put some in method it wil lrequire about two litres of dextron to get about 80% renewal.

I still think you have suspect bearings and it might be a replacement pump is required.

[BigBoomer]

If there is no noise when you turn her lock to lock whilst stationary, then the problem is not likely to be the steering pump or the belts.
If the noise only happens when the front wheels are rolling then I would suspect something is rubbing in one or the other wheel arch.
Maybe get someone else to listen from outside the car to narrow down where the noise is coming from.
On one of my Honda's the brake backing/dust plate had gotten bent somehow and only rubbed at full lock.

[#Sandy#]

Check for play on the wheel bearings.

[Tomtit]

Thank you to the members who have given their thoughts. I have done some checks and the results are as follows:-

1. I rubbed chalk along the whole length of the 2 year old belt and refitted it. The squealing is still there.

2. The tyre treads are OK. I checked this when putting the front wheels on the back.

3. Fluid replacement - see 6. below.

4. Nothing is rubbing in the wheel arches.

5. There is no play at the roadwheels so I assume that the wheel bearings are OK.

6. The back of the engine undertray was hanging down slightly blocking my vision when I jacked the car up under the front crossmember. The jack pad was probably not central and either the car or the jack moved. The weight of the car went onto the steering rack. I heard a loud crack and found a small pool of fluid on the floor. The result is shown in the attached photo. It is going from bad to worse. I am trying to seal the gap to stop the fluid leaking. I will then take it to have a replacement steering rack fitted. 

I will keep you posted.

[BigBoomer]

That sucks! 😞
I have to admit, I have always jacked using the side jacking points, then placed axle stands under hard-points and lowering the car onto the stands before I go under the car.
Trolley jacks are convenient, but they are prone to causing this kind of damage if they slip/move. Ramps are fairly useful too.

[Tomtit]

George.

I have been using trolley jacks for many years and this is the first time something has gone wrong. With the engine undertray hanging down and the car low to the ground it was difficult to see the exact position of the trolley jack pad, so I have to take responsibility. I have a set of hydraulic ramps from CJ Autos and I would not be without them. In this instance I needed to move the wheels whilst I was underneath, hence the use of jack and axle stands.

[Tomtit]

I have had a replacement steering rack fitted. The squealing when cornering was still there. The mechanic said the noise was from the front offside and may be a sticking brake caliper.

Back home I could not see anything amiss in that area. I removed the brake caliper and disc. Flakes of rusty metal from the disc dropped onto the floor. I wire brushed the remainder of the rust from the back of the disc and the backplate. I put everything back together and went for a test drive. I was able to corner in silence ! I have since driven over 20 miles with no squealing noise.

The flakes of rust were hidden from view until I took the disc off. They must have been causing the noise.

I hope this information will help other owners.

[Supafly]

Thank you for updating and congratulations on resolving the issue!

My heart sank just reading about your trolley jack mistake.  Really happy that you've managed to get it sorted 🙂

[Tomtit]

Because the engine undertray was hanging down at the crossmember I could not see properly to position the trolley jack. I have obtained some of the correct clips to go into the crossmember and I will screw the undertray back in place when it stops raining and snowing. (Wish I had the luxury of a big garage).

[Malc1]

I've not had the undertray on my car for at least 122k miles ............ nothing detrimental seems to have occurred in that time 🤫

I shouldn't stress over it's absence tbh

Malc

[Tomtit]

Malc.

With the amount of rain in our part of the world I am concerned that water could get splashed into the alternator. As it happens we have had a dry morning and I have refitted the undertray.