Creaking while turning steering wheel.

[Day-mow]

When turn my steering wheel it has a dry creak. To me it sounds like it's got no oil. But it does. Is it possible a slightly leaking high pressure line is blocked and not letting fluid to flow? Or something like that?
Steering knuckle need greace is my other thought.

[dogman]

day-mow,my car has same problem,be interesting to see what the forum comes up with.

[mongrelEF]

Sounds like a worn power steering pump? Could also be worth checking the return hose for blockages. How low is the car?

[zorba289]

hi,
had the same problem and mine ended up being loose bolts that hold the steering rack to cross member...apparently this was a recall,if you go to FORD,they can still tell you if your car needed to be fixed...
the solution was a tab of weld on the threads...

john

[Day-mow]

car has SL's in it. its only just happened. im gonna chuck it up on stands 2morro and have a look make sure everythings nice and tight. dad thinks my rack may be loose. or on its way out :\

[Day-mow]

Originally Posted by zorba289

hi,
had the same problem and mine ended up being loose bolts that hold the steering rack to cross member...apparently this was a recall,if you go to FORD,they can still tell you if your car needed to be fixed...
the solution was a tab of weld on the threads...

john

thanks John. so i could possibly call them and see if this was an issue yeah?

[Beer Baron]

The recall was to the check the welds on some AU's. Its the welds on one side of the thread. If yours doesn't have the weld or its been poorly welded it gets redone i think.

Its been a long time since i saw an AU in for this recall.

[Day-mow]

thanks beer baron. i'll jack the car up soon and have a look and try take some photo's

[Day-mow]

problem seems to be power steering rack due by date has come.

there is a really big leak on the passangers side from the boot. so when funds permit i'll replace it.

[boinker43]

Originally Posted by Beer Baron

The recall was to the check the welds on some AU's. Its the welds on one side of the thread. If yours doesn't have the weld or its been poorly welded it gets redone i think.

Its been a long time since i saw an AU in for this recall.

It was in 2005.
Id say most of them were poorly welded because most people complained after the recall of the grinding noise.
Many have been ripped off by mechanics since buying new steering racks and god knows what else.
Mine only started doing it after I took it to ford for that.
And it is the rack bolts coming loose I guess they loosened them or something before welding them poorly.
I got under there got someone to turn the wheel and I could see the rack moving while it made the noise.
I tightened them up with a spanner and its never made the noise again.
The problem is though the rack moves, and this messes with your wheel alignment obviously.
And this is another thing people got stung for, camber and castor kits to get a proper wheel alignment.
When in reality its probably just the rack that needs to be properly aligned and tightened up properly and welded properly.

[boinker43]

Originally Posted by Day-mow

problem seems to be power steering rack due by date has come.

there is a really big leak on the passangers side from the boot. so when funds permit i'll replace it.

Remember a leaking rack end does not require a new steering rack remember this.
You can buy rack ends and boots on ebay for $15 and if you know what you're doing you can screw them in yourself.
Or buy them yourself and get someone to do it.

[boinker43]

Originally Posted by Day-mow

thanks beer baron. i'll jack the car up soon and have a look and try take some photo's

Get someone to turn the wheel and watch the steering rack move
See if you can get under and see without it jacked up so the wheels are on the ground because it doesn't always do it without pressure on the wheels.

[boinker43]

Originally Posted by zorba289

hi,
had the same problem and mine ended up being loose bolts that hold the steering rack to cross member...apparently this was a recall,if you go to FORD,they can still tell you if your car needed to be fixed...
the solution was a tab of weld on the threads...

john

Don't take it to Ford.
They will just wreck something else on purpose while they tighten the bolts and sell you a new steering rack.
So you have it back there next week handing over the cash again.
Mine was fine before I took it in for the recall.
It only came loose AFTER that. Tell me that's a coincidence huh?
Trying to get themselves more work I assume.
Product recall? I think more like bring it in so we can wreck it so you can come back and pay us more money.

[blueoval]

I have had similar creaking before. Turned out it was ball joints. I also had the rack and rack ends replaced too.

Daymow, if in doubt, get someone to look at it to diagnose the problem before you fork out cash. Make sure you know for certain what the problem is.

There is nothing worse than forking out dough and finding the problem hasn't been solved.

[Day-mow]

Originally Posted by blueoval

There is nothing worse than forking out dough and finding the problem hasn't been solved.

true that my good friend

[XESP351]

Definitely loose steering rack bolts. Tightened them and the noise is gone.

Mind you they werent excatly what I would call loose, all it was is a quarter of a turn.

[shazaam]

Had put up with creaking when turning left and right for a few years, then as part of maintenance had rack and upper and lower ball joints replaced and no more creaking since.

[Day-mow]

oh. well thats kinda encouraging. i need to do my rack. its leaking a fair bit of oil so i guess i'll just put up with it until funds are available to do stuff with it.

[mik]

Originally Posted by boinker43

Remember a leaking rack end does not require a new steering rack remember this.
You can buy rack ends and boots on ebay for $15 and if you know what you're doing you can screw them in yourself.
Or buy them yourself and get someone to do it.

i`m intrigued boinker, i rebuilt my rack off car a few years ago, some of the small details i`ve forgoten, can you get at the hammer in keyway that locks the inner tie rods in place without dissasembly of the rack? same question ,o rings at the extremities where they usually leak from?