grinding noise...

Hello :wave:

I have a 97 Buick LeSabre custom (106k) that emenate a strange grinding noise when I turn the wheel on short steering i.e trying to park. It's not the usual CV joint clunk (when they go) and I don't hear it when I'm driving around doing the usual turns. Also, there's an occasional buzz coming from the dash board, near the stereo and passenger side air bag area during acceleration, it's more off than on but still, it makes me wonder.
Any thoughts? :confused:

Hello :wave:

I have a 97 Buick LeSabre custom (106k) that emenate a strange grinding noise when I turn the wheel on short steering i.e trying to park. It's not the usual CV joint clunk (when they go) and I don't hear it when I'm driving around doing the usual turns. Also, there's an occasional buzz coming from the dash board, near the stereo and passenger side air bag area during acceleration, it's more off than on but still, it makes me wonder.
Any thoughts? :confused:


Hello

Is the grinding noise just when you turn the steering wheel or when the steering wheel is turned and you are moving?

I'm thinking that it's either your brakes or a wheel bearing. Do you hear the noise at higher speeds? Can you make the noise come and go while driving by turning the wheel slightly? If this is so it may be the wheel bearing.

Post back with what you can answer.


Regards

Dan

Hi Dan,

I don't hear any noise when I'm driving around i.e city or highway driving, fast or slow. It seems to happen when the car is cold and not moving or on short, sharp turns like trying to back into or out of a parking spot.
Thanks for the reply and happy holidays,
Matt

It's likely the bearing caps on top of the front struts have dried out and are groaning as you turn. You only hear it at a standstill or at very low speed when there is not a lot of other driving noise. They probably only cost $30-$40 per side to purchase but you have to remove the struts to replace them.

I had mine replaced (94 LeSabre) about 5 years ago and I just recently replaced them again when I did the front struts. I think next time mine start groaning I'm going to try to just get some grease into them using a grease needle but I don't know if I can reach.

It's likely the bearing caps on top of the front struts have dried out and are groaning as you turn. You only hear it at a standstill or at very low speed when there is not a lot of other driving noise. They probably only cost $30-$40 per side to purchase but you have to remove the struts to replace them.

I had mine replaced (94 LeSabre) about 5 years ago and I just recently replaced them again when I did the front struts. I think next time mine start groaning I'm going to try to just get some grease into them using a grease needle but I don't know if I can reach.

Thanks for the reply cheesep, I'll have my mechanic check it out Tuesday. While we're on the subject of grease, how would you go about silencing squeaky brake pedal?

Happy holidays,
Matt

It would be really awkward to actually get grease up into there. I would just spray WD40 through the thin straw and try to get it on the linkage where the booster connects, where the brake light switch moves in and out, and way up where the pedal is actually connected.

Good luck!

I'll give it a try. Would I have to crawl under the steering wheel near the pedal to be able to reach that area? :bricks1:

Regards,
Matt

Yup, get a flashlight, move the seat back as far as it will go to give you more room and keep a rag handy to catch any drips or overspray.

I guess it's better than paying than paying a some mechanic $75 to do the same thing.

So has your 94 Lesabre given you any serious i.e expensive problems through the years? How many K's does it have?
Matt

A quick thing to check would be the power steering fluid level. When the level is low the pump will give you a grinding type sound when the wheel is turned, especially at low speed due to increased load on the steering system.

the power steering fluid level is fine

I guess it's better than paying than paying a some mechanic $75 to do the same thing.

So has your 94 Lesabre given you any serious i.e expensive problems through the years? How many K's does it have?
Matt

Bought it June 97 with 56k's. Now has 233k. It's been a fabulously reliable overly comfortable long distance traveller. No expensive problems that I would call unusual for a GM. Two alternators, one starter, both rear brake slave cylinders. Recently replaced both front hub and bearing assemblies, both lower ball joints, one drive axle and both front struts. Regular maintenance of course, oil changes, brake pads, transmission flush and filter, cooling system flush.

Now that the front end is all quiet and straight I can hear the hubs at the rear and feel also that the rear struts should be replaced. Great car! It just needs a little more TLC these days with all those k's.

So the grinding (groaning) noise problem was finaly solved. :jump3:

Turned out my 2 front ball joints were gone and since my safety certificate has not expired yet they were replaced for free by the used car dealer who sold me the car. Talk about saving $500 at least.

Anyway, thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

BTW, did your buick ever suffered that (much discussed) intake manifold plastic cover problem?

Matt

Hey great news on the groaning fix. Funny I've never actually heard ball joints grind or groan. Good thing to watch out for. . .

No intake manifold leak. In fact none of the trouble spots listed in the following link have shown up in mine.

http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/Used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2028/act/usedcarreviewreliability/

Is your Lesabre Custom or Limited? Is there much difference between the 94's and the 97's? Also, I find that I get a slight motion sickness driving this car! Is this normal? I've only had it for 2 weeks.
Matt

Is your Lesabre Custom or Limited? Is there much difference between the 94's and the 97's? Also, I find that I get a slight motion sickness driving this car! Is this normal? I've only had it for 2 weeks.
Matt

Mine's a Limited.
There are not much engine/drivetrain differences. Mostly cosmetic body and interior changes. See the following link

http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2028/

The suspension is very soft, like driving a couch. Nice highway car but I don't like it around town. The suspension is very sensitive to any problems such as wheel balance or bearings or driveaxles. No comment on motion sickness . . .

Speaking of wheel balance, my cars shakes a bit when I come to a stop and also pulls a bit to the left if I let go of the wheel. Is this related to wheel balance or shall I start looking else where?

Happy new year,
Matt

Speaking of wheel balance, my cars shakes a bit when I come to a stop and also pulls a bit to the left if I let go of the wheel. Is this related to wheel balance or shall I start looking else where?

Happy new year,
Matt

Sounds like your front brake rotors are warped. This is a common problem with many vehicles. Search this forum for rotor and you'll find a bunch of posts. I would replace them rather than have them resurfaced.

I had my front rotors and brakes checked this morning and they happened to be brand spanking new.... :confused:

I had my front rotors and brakes checked this morning and they happened to be brand spanking new.... :confused:

If they're cheap replacements they may be warped even though they look brand new.

Thinking back though, when I was dealing on my Le Sabre I noticed a slight shake in the front end upon braking which I thought for sure was the rotors but the dealer did something else to fix it. He didn't tell me what. Possibly something with the ABS system or the brake modulator if there is such a thing. Don't know for sure, don't want to send you off on a rabbit trail. All I know is that about 2 years ago when shaking upon braking developed again, new rotors absolutely fixed it.

Well, I'm not quite sure what to do. Is there a way of checking if the rotors are warped? Could it be bum tires? It's a slight shake that becomes more prominent the more the brakes, rotors and calipers get hot.

I doubt if its the tires. You would notice vibrations more when you are just driving along normally, not necessarily when braking.

You would have to check the disc runout with a dial indicator. The tolerance is 0.002 in. I wouldn't trust myself to measure that and I don't think very many people do. With several vehicles I have owned or fixed for others, I have simply replaced the rotors and solved the problem.

If you just want to check it out for cheap pick up some used ones from the autowreckers. I think any 93-99 Olds 88, Bonneville or LeSabre will do. They'll tell you.

By the way, if you don't have a Haynes Manual yet for your car you should get one. Small investment, extremely helpful.

It could be a new warped rotor. Pulling to one side could be from not bleeding the front calipers correctly also.

Try stopping using only your parking brake (if you know how to do that) and see if you still have this problem. Do it somewhere safe like a big empty parking lot or empty back street.

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try.

It could be a new warped rotor. Pulling to one side could be from not bleeding the front calipers correctly also.

Try stopping using only your parking brake (if you know how to do that) and see if you still have this problem. Do it somewhere safe like a big empty parking lot or empty back street.

Well, I tried stopping using the parking brake only and there was no shaking or pulling to either side what so ever... :confused:

Speaking of wheel balance, my cars shakes a bit when I come to a stop and also pulls a bit to the left if I let go of the wheel. Is this related to wheel balance or shall I start looking else where?

Happy new year,
Matt

Matt

You could have a caliper hanging up causing your rotor to heat up and warp. The slides get sticky and should be taken apart and lubercated with sinthetic brake grease.

I'm working on my brothers 91 LeSabre and the drivers side caliper piston is so stuck in the caliper that I can't even get it to move! So, not only the slides get stuck, but the pistons in the calipers can too. A sicky/stuck caliper can cause pulling too. If one side is doing more braking than the other it will pull toward the side that is braking more.

Regards

Dan

Hi Dan,

Is this a big job or should I replace the calipers all together?
Matt

Something is wrong upfront for sure.

I like to replace everything when I do the front brakes. DIY saves so much money I can afford it.

Maybe pull the rotors and take them to the autoparts and put a dial indicator on them to check for warping.

If they're cheap replacements they may be warped even though they look brand new.

Thinking back though, when I was dealing on my Le Sabre I noticed a slight shake in the front end upon braking which I thought for sure was the rotors but the dealer did something else to fix it. He didn't tell me what. Possibly something with the ABS system or the brake modulator if there is such a thing. Don't know for sure, don't want to send you off on a rabbit trail. All I know is that about 2 years ago when shaking upon braking developed again, new rotors absolutely fixed it.

When your car was shaking was it side to side type shake? Mine has this front to back jerky motion. Can warped rotors cause this type of shake? I'm shaking just typing this. :) I wonder if it's something to do with the ABS. Is there a way to adjust the ABS sensitivity?

Cheers