noise when turning

[jim56]

My 97 makes a noise when turning right and accelerating. hard to describe, almost like it just gets a lot louder, then abruptly quits as soon as the wheel is almost straight again..Doesnt do it turning left.
Also, I cant duplicate it sitting still.
Any ideas?

[97 silverbullet]

its your wheel bearing going, just drive it till it breaks it takes a while.

[Green Machine 95]

if not your bearing, it could be the power steering fluid. My old car made a little noise doing hard turns, it was because I needed to add power steering fluid

[Indy8]

My 97 does the same thing. Only under power,so I think it's driveline related. CV joint or final drive output shaft? Mine sounds rotational but at a higher speed than that of the wheels. Almost like a pulley grinding on metal. It's much louder climbing into the mountains. Maybe turning right places enough thrust angle on one of these areas to reveal a weak spot. Obviously a defect when you have several owners on different forums with the same complaint. I have decided to live with it for now as I can't afford to go poking around.

[jim56]

Originally Posted by 97 silverbullet

its your wheel bearing going, just drive it till it breaks it takes a while.

ARRRGGHHH.what will that cost?

[jim56]

I first noticed it at about 70,000..wasnt very bad.. I have 107,000 now and its getting fairly loud.. Is it possible it could go that long if it is the bearing?

[junior mint]

you might want to check out your strut bearing.I had a Bonneville before my Aurora and had to replace them after they made a weird grinding noise when ever I made a turn. If the wheel bearing was going your abs light should have come on by now as a resistance is created on the bearing and the abs system detects this,I just replaced a front bearing because the abs light was coming on and we tracked it to the wheel bearing which was about to come apart. Hope this helps.

[ericmf]

The problem is a bushing on the control arm. I believe it is a $26.00 part. These bushings go through hell, if you get up under the car look for a large rubber bushing torward the front thats been torn to pieces. The car can operate for years with this problem and cause no harm outside the apparant noise. I haven't fixed it yet on my car but here is the conversation I had with others a few months ago about it:

#889 of 1218 Control arms - Jun 27, 2003 (6:52 pm)
Hey autobahn, you and me are in the same boat. I replaced the entire lower control arm on both sides about 2 years ago, and I'm due for a new bushing set now. I guess I'll get those done in the next week or two. Let me know if you see any big change in the clunking noise. There are a lot of ideas floating around on how to fix that, and it'd be great if the bushings were the answer...they're about the cheapest idea out there.


#890 of 1218 Control arms; - Jun 27, 2003 (7:16 pm)
What tools are needed to do the bushings? I have the clunking noise also after straightening out. I would like to change them because the dealer culdnt find the problem so maybe this is a cheap fix. Im a novice mechanic so should I even try this myself.


#892 of 1218 Control Arm Bushings - Jun 28, 2003 (10:34 am)
The clunking has completely stopped since I replaced those two bushings. The car even handles better. I can't wait to replace the right side ones. Even the slight vibration i had around 65 seems less.
You will need some special tools to do the job. An 18mm wrench and a Torx bit-T55 will remove the two bolts. You will also need a pickle fork to break the lower ball joint free, and a 1/2" wrench to remove the sway-bar linkage. Once you get the control arm off, changing the bushings is not too difficult. I have a hydraulic press which helped alot. It took alot of force to remove the rear bushing.
Pressing the new bushings in place was easy, I just put some grease on them and they slid right into place.
My old bushings were worn so bad they were metal-on-metal, so it's no wonder they were making some noise. I think the job took me 3 1/2 hours, but I take my time and clean the bolts and put anti-sieze on them and do everything right.



I won't advertise here because it is prohibited. If you need more info just e-mail me. I'll do my best to help out. I know how stressful these things can be.

[dafrazi]

What is the part number for the control arm bushing for the 95' Aurora? Is there only one or are there multiple bushings in the control assembly? I have had a clunking noise with low speed right turns for 2+ years. Have had it in the shop 3 times...but no one has been able to figure it out. I was talking to my grandfather (an old wise mechanic) and he told me to check out the control arm bushing and sure enough...there's a big split in it. If I'm going to take this thing apart to replace the bushing I want to make sure I get all the soft parts and replace them at all at once.

[zimaad]

I am curious if my noise is the same as others as my is not a squeak or clunk. It sounds like a bbrrrrpppp...as if the wheel is rubbing the wheel well when I turn. I'll pay more attention to if it's both turning directions or not. I believe it's mostly right...but I make like 5 right turns to get to my house...so no wonder (well, guess that means I make 5 lefts to leave.hmmm)

[dafrazi]

The noise I get is only on slow speed right turns.

[zimaad]

I listned the last few days and only heard it at slow speed right turns also.

[Indy8]

The slow speed, right turn noise(not clunk or snap)is one of the power steering lines vibrating. TSB and fix kit available at dealer. It calls out to reroute the line in the opposite direction and making both left turn, right turn lines the same length. The problem is not enough line pressure at low RPM.

[zimaad]

Thanks!!! AFter reading the bulletin, it sounds like that's exactly it! Here's a stupid question...who pays for factory type problems like that? I don't have a problem forking up the money and fixing it myself, but I'm just curious. I kinda like doing the work myself actually.

[Indy8]

It was paid for under warranty until it expires, then it's considered an "upgrade" at owners expense. It also causes the shudder felt in the steering wheel when turning either direction at a crawl.