3rd Gen / L98 Engine Tech 1982 - 1992 Engine Related

steering squeek/creeking?

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Old Feb 21, 2003 | 03:14 PM
  #1  
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steering squeek/creeking?

Every time I turn my steering wheel I can hear a squeeking and creeking sound... My powersteering fluid is dead in the middle of full and empty, so that can't be it... can it?

Should I just go under and start squirting WD-40?

Thanks!
Old Feb 22, 2003 | 05:43 PM
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the only time i hear "creaking" is when the car isn't moving and i cut the wheel all the way left or right....hopefully its nothing major....i just filled my PS fluid so that is fine
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 12:53 PM
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I hope it's nothing major as well

Maybe someday I'll get it looked at... someday...
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 01:51 PM
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yea really, i only care how fast she goes in a straight line not around a race track so it's not a priority
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 02:06 PM
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but what about parking lots... drive threws... and every day driving?
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 02:15 PM
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what about'em
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 03:19 PM
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haha!

Any way, does anyone have any Idea if squirting WD-40 on some parts underneith would hurt anything? I really don't know, but that squeeking and creeking is starting to get on my nerves.
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 03:33 PM
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Isn't WD-40 a degreaser? I would think you would want to grease it....depends, is the creaking from bent/damaged parts or just a little age?
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 06:01 PM
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well, there are new tierods, and a few other new parts related to the tierods... I'm not really sure, I'll have to find that reciept that I got with the car.
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 07:46 PM
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Is the sound easier to hear outside the car or on the inside? It is possible that maybe one of the bolts in the tie rod ends might have loosened up since you replaced them, but to me it sounds like it might be something in the steering column. Does the steering wheel have excessive play in it? Does it move up and down without having to hit the tilt lever. When I say move up and down I mean is just a bit like maybe half an inch.

Also when did you have the tie rods replaced?
Old Feb 23, 2003 | 08:52 PM
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Well, the tierods were replaced about a month ago right before I purchased the car, and yes, my steering has about 1.5 inches of play in it, it HAD 3 inches, but I said I would not buy the car with that much play in the steering, so he replaced a bunch of parts up front (which he said he would if I wanted him to... so I said yes). Any way, it fixed about half of the play, but there is still a bit there, but not near as much as before.

I don't think the steering wheel moves up and down with out the lever, but I'll try. I'm also not sure about how loud the squeeking is out side the car, because I'm the only one who drives it :P But I'll get someone to drive it around the parking lot and see for my self.

What does this hint to?

Also, while I'm trying to diagnose noises, my car "whines" a bit, and the whine increases in pitch (but not volume) as I get higher RPMs (not with MPH, but RPMs). I'm not sure if it whines when I'm up to speed, because my exhaust drowns out just about everything when I am on the gas, but while parking (moving slowly) I notice the steering and the engine whine. I assume it's the engine/tranny whining because it sounds like it coming from the front of the car, and not the rear by the differential.


Thanks Tang, I appreciate it!

Last edited by Error404; Feb 23, 2003 at 08:57 PM.
Old Feb 24, 2003 | 06:53 PM
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Well, the creeking is definantly coming from the tierods (or something they are directly connected to), because when I put my head down there it is clearly from that area and not in the steering column (unless it's all the way at the bottom of the columb). Should I grease some parts?
Old Feb 25, 2003 | 05:28 AM
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Ya I would just start spraying down the steering system with WD40 or some PB Blaster if you can get it. Just spray on the threads if you see any.
Old Feb 25, 2003 | 12:18 PM
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PB Blaster?
Old Feb 25, 2003 | 03:13 PM
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Well, I believe the whining sound is coming from one of my belts or pullies, sounds closest to the AC belt (even when the AC is off, havn't tried it with it on yet) when I stick my head under the hood while the engine is at idle.

Could it be an old belt? what would fix this? The pullies all look aligned together as best I can tell.

Thanks bunches!!



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