Noise in steering

[Larry100]

My 2000 Ford Windstar steering sounds like two pieces of rubber being rubbed together when I turn the corner, any ideas anyone?

[vairman65]

Originally Posted by Larry100

My 2000 Ford Windstar steering sounds like two pieces of rubber being rubbed together when I turn the corner, any ideas anyone?

Hey, I've got a 2k also and have been told it is the top of the strut assembly thats squeeling. I'm going to tear it apart this weekend hopefully and see if that is the deal. I guess the lube wears out or something on the part that turns.

[12Ounce]

A number of things can cause noise, and the top of the stut is a good candidate. You may want to purchase the strut "bearing block" and have it on hand before removing and disassembling the strut. Be sure you have the right tools on hand to do a safe job... those coil springs can be dangerous.

Tie-rod ends and other suspension members can also make noises.

If you can get the noise while the van is sitting still, I would suggest you use a length of hose as a stethoscope to better locate the noise.

[DBinBC]

had the same symptoms on my 2000 a couple of years ago and Ford replaced a tie rod end which solved the problem.

[bruker]

I have an `01 Windstar and I also had a noise problem that only happened when I turned left. It was a buzzing-rubbing kind of sound. I greased and lubricated just about everything possible and it still made the noise. It turns out that the powersteering fluid was just a little low. I topped it off and the noise dissappeared!

[JBJR]

I posted a msg. a while back on this problem. I thought I had a fix when I took my 98 Windstar 3.8 to the mechanic I've used for over 7yrs. He's been pretty good on other problems I've had and seen in this forum, but this noise issue really has him puzzled. He did the following due to squeaking noise when turning left (also worse when eng. cold, gets better when eng. warms up (like yours mom4two), unless weather is real cold during day then doesn't improve at all)& knocking on right side when moving from a stop : 10/00 changed struts; P/S pump; (fluid was black), 10/02 right rear motor mount; 10/03 ball joints; both outer tie rods & sway bar links; 12/04 right c.v. joint, right front motor mount, sway frame mount; and 1/05 break pads, flushed p/s fluid (dark not quite as black as before). WHAT'S LEFT?

I've seen alot of good responses in here in the past, I know someone out there has the answer. Any Ford mechanics out there? THANKS.

[SonOfDolomite]

Had the same issue on my 95, took a grease needle attachment for my grease gun and greased up the sealed bearings for the tie rods. Never had the noise again.

[JBJR]

I wish mine was that simple. When the mechanic replaced the tie-rods in 10/02 the replacements had greas nipples and when I saw him last (1/15/05) he greased them again. I thought that was the fix, but noise came back within a week. Thanks though. I'm about ready to go back into debt and get a new van. DEFINITELY NOT A FORD THOUGH! I should have learned my lesson with the mistake, I mean mustang I had years ago. I can't believe the number of postings the Windstar has, over 5,000. Who am I fooling, yes I can. And so many of the same types of issues. Wish I had known of this forum before I bought it, I will definitely look in here before I buy my next car. Ford should be made to fix these things. Anybody up for a class action suit?

[12Ounce]

Did you try using the hose as a stethoscope?

[JBJR]

NO, but I have to take the van back to mechanic for passenger side window problem (again. another Ford factory defect issue it seems)and I'll suggest it to him. Makes sense to me. Something else I was thinking about, could it be I bought a defective P/S pump or the pump went bad? I mean the squeaking noise seems to react to cold. I know my mechanic did not put the correct p/s fluid when he replaced the pump, because he had never heard of that. I showed him where it was mentioned in this forum. Then I looked in owners manual and it said it there to, has to be ford p/s fluid or type F steering fluid. So when he flushed it on 1/15/05 he replaced it with fluid I bought, but maybe the pump had already been damaged by then, being it was put in on 10/03.

[steve_o]

I have a 99 Windstar 3.8 and had a nasty rubber to rubber squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel. I read through this forum, bought a greese needle and a tube of Mobile 1 synthetic, hit the tie rod ends and etc., covered the penetration point with silicon and ... the noise(s) went away.

Not sure specifically who to thank....but thanks.

[FredA]

Save yourself a lot of headaches and expense. It is most likely the tie rod ends. Don't replace them. Just take a greese needle and inject some greese through the rubber boots at the lower and upper ball joint assemblies. It works great.

[12Ounce]

'99 3.8, 180k miles.

I have recently (5000 miles ago) started having the rubber squeaking sound in my left front end. Took me awhile to get around to attending to it. Since I had already used the grease needle on the tie rod ends, I was sure it was more than just that.

Because my time is limited, I decided to do "everything" at once so I wouldn't have to come back to it. So before starting, I purchased a new shock (Ford ..they only had one), strut top bearing kit (AdvanceAuto), torsion bar link (AdvanceAuto), tie rod end (AdvanceAuto). I rented a spring compressor from O'Reillys, because no one else had one on hand.

It was the easiest strut shock replacement I've ever done. (Be sure to have a 18mm wrench and socket.) The strut is designed to be repaired while the compressor stays in place ... this speeds up the process. The O'Reilly compressor was a perfect tool for the job. And yes, the cowling was removed.

So what was "squeaking" in the end? Its a guess, but I think it was the torsion bar link ... it was the only thing that really was worn out.

[scalpel]

I had severe noises after a pot hole incident. From recomendations from other treads, I replaced the struts and bearings and both outer tie rods (they showed play). The noise dissapeared for about two months but its back again. Its not nearly as loud but it resembles the rubber rubbing sound. I regreased the tie rods with no help. I cannot always get it to repeat the sound so I can't exactly locate the noise.