Interesting noise when turning right...

Huh · 06-18-2006, 05:43 PM

I get a noise and feel a vibration in the steering wheel when I turn right at low speeds. At first I thought a wheel bearing since there was some play so I replaced the wheel bearing. The noise and vibration did not go away. Well after doing a search and reading about front calipers dragging I thought that was the issue. I rebuilt the caliper today but still get the slight resonating sound and vibration. What else could it be? There isn't much up front other than steering rack and ball joint. Any insight would be very welcome.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Well don't turn right at slow speeds...bada bump...thank yew I'm here all week, try the Prime Rib....

My guess...CV joint, wheel bearing, torsion bar bushing or rear sway bar mount.

Jeff Higgins · 06-18-2006, 07:17 PM

Dragging calipers can also result from a bad master cylinder. Does the brake pedal have a consistant feel, or does it vary somewhat? How much free play does the pedal have before it starts to move the piston in the master cylinder? If there is not enough, sometimes the piston won't return far enough to expose the ports to the resevior, essentally trapping pressure in the system.

When it makes the funny noise, pull over as quickly as you can, jack up that side, and see if it is still dragging. Then check the other side as well. Often only one side will make noise even though both are dragging.

Huh · 06-18-2006, 07:50 PM

I do have another rebuild kit so I can do the driver's side front if that is the case. I don't have any abnormal pedal feel from the time I bought it. When I bought it in February I didn't notice any vibration or sounds from a stop/start or when turning at low speeds like I have felt. It started happening in April when the weather warmed up. Actually it happened the day I had my car inspected for a DE event. I was told the wheel bearing was had some play although not bad it may need replaced. The mechanic tightened it a bit and it helped. Driving back home I stopped at a friend's house and noticed it when I turned into their neighborhood. It seems to happen about 10+ min of driving. It is most noticeable turning right but you can feel/hear it from a stop/start too.

anh911 · 06-18-2006, 08:27 PM

Had the same thing on my 89 last fall. Rebuilt all four calipers and new cross drilled rotors and super blue fluid, repacked the bearings and new seals and no more noise (not to mention it stops sooo much better

I was sure at first it was a wheel bearing but it was the brakes.

rnln · 06-18-2006, 08:49 PM

How does it sound? Does it sound as brake draging, friction, or does it sound as something is "breaking"? I have the sound but still not sure where it come from. For a long time, and many checked, I narrow it down to that I don't even need to turn the steering wheel to reproduce the sound. Anytime the car start moving, forward or backward, if it's the ground surface is either up or down, I can have that sound. It seem like reversing make the sound more pronouce.
As I said, I can reproduce the siound without turning the steering wheel, it's should not have anything to do with the steering rack.
Why do I think we have the same problem? Because after many searching, I foundthat there are at least several people is having this similar problem.
There is one thing I don't know how to check yet, that is the ball join.

Huh · 06-19-2006, 03:59 AM

The sound is a resonating sound like when you take a wet hand and go around a crystal glass. You can feel the vibration from it. I think I will go ahead and rebuild the other caliper too.

livi · 06-19-2006, 04:12 AM

I am certainly no mechanic (as most of you know

), but the sound (humming?) you describe does not sound like it came from the brakes.

Or does it?

Huh · 06-19-2006, 05:39 AM

Since I feel it in the steering wheel I am making and educated guess that it is front steering and suspension related. This is why I am trying to get as many ideas as possible.

V12man · 06-19-2006, 07:02 AM

Maybe a part of the torsion bar lever touching a wheel at max lock only - I have had that happen to me - Terrible noise and vibration throught the steering wheel - left a small scrape on the rim.

Natrally I had just put on different torsion bars....

Just an idea!

na2ub · 06-19-2006, 08:14 AM

If your caliper is dragging, it will feel much hotter than the other calipers after a short drive. Note that front and rear calipers will be different temperatures, respectively, though.

jlex · jlex's Garage

It sounds like a dragging caliper... My sister had the same problem on her '87. I drove it & it was getting worse & worse with time. (It only did it on corners) Knew it was the brakes since the noise would immediately stop when I lightly touched the brake pedal. New calipers fixed her problem, but I have the uneasy feeling the shop could easily have rebuilt them.
Touch your brakes lightly next time it happens and see if the noise immediately stops.

regards,
Jlex.

darkbeer · 07-16-2006, 12:30 AM

I WAS going to make some dumb joke about "turning to the right" thus becoming more conservative/republicanish...the "noise" you'd hear is "duh!"....BUT
then I read the post directly above...

"It sounds like a dragging caliper...My sister had that same problem...."

priceless !

Doug Steinel · Doug Steinel's Garage

I had these symptoms and it was a dragging caliper. Rebuilt the caliper and it disappeared. When it is making the noise, if you tap the brake pedal what happens? If the noise changes, I would take this as confirmatory evidence.