Steering groan..

I have a 2007 Dbl cab, 2.5" coilovers, uniball UCAs, aal rear.

I have a strange groan sound that comes from the front end, more specifically drivers wheel well when turning slowly.

The sound is still there when I lift front end and remove weight from suspension. If I turn the wheel quickly the sound is barely there, but a slow steady turn of the wheel in either direction will cause a groaning sound.

It doesnt sound pump related, more like bound up metal, or something is dry?

If I grab the wheel at 3 and 9 o clock and give it a strong shove in either direction I can get the groan too. Ive removed the wheel and done the 3/9 on the rotors eliminating the tire and wheel spacer from the equation and the sound persists.

Searching yields nothing..Help!

 

Nobody with a funny sound as a result of slow steering imput?

I've checked the bushing at the rack and they are tight/good, cannot find any movement, TRE's look good.

I just wonder what else could be causing the noise? For some reason I am leaning towards a lower balljoint. Perhaps a CV problem?? I dont think turning the wheel will have any impact on wheel bearings, etc.. Correct me if I am wrong?

Thanks!!

 

Hi Chris, I see you are the resident expert on the site! Thanks for chiming in!

I have done the test with a friend and it sounds to me like it is coming front the driver's wheel hub...Being it is related to steering imput I have narrowed it down to:

Steering rack itself - Dont think so,
Tie rod ends - Don't think so,
CV joint - Possible,
Lower ball joint - Possible, did give it some fresh grease to no avail,
Upper uni-ball - Don't think so, recently installed and well lubed, no slop/movement.

Are there some areas I am overlooking? For example the wheel bearing, does it receive any lateral pressure when the vehicle is turning?

I guess I just dont have a good enough understanding of a IFS system to determine what is moving when steering.

Ive tried the 12 o clock and 6 o clock wiggle and have no slop, therefore I hope that eliminates a wheel bearing.

Chris, what else can I check?

I did also think at one point it was a wheel spacer causing the sound, but removed the tire/spacer and was still able to replicate the sound.

 

Ive also fully removed the front sway bar to eliminate that as a possibility,

Checked for steering slop in the the shaft itself, seems tight and solid.

 

CV joint? Its rear wheel drive...
Mine was groaning once it was just a little low on power steering fluid, might wanna check that.

 

It is a 4x4, sorry, left out the most important part!!

I'll check the fluid tonight, thanks for the idea. It doesn't sound pump related but I cannot rule that out yet,

JW

 

maybe he's 4x4?

 

OK, its best to start simple you might luck out, better then going through all that then finding out afterward it was something small.

 

Still no luck, I cannot identify the source of the sound. I have it narrowed to drivers wheel well...think I will have to start tearing it down shortly and inspecting bearings etc.

Anyone else with this issue?

 

Well, the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure what could be causing the sound.

Full front axle tear down tomorrow....We will see,

$50 says drivers front wheel bearing

 

my truck was groaning a little bit yesterday after i came back from the desert

 

Most steering "groans" indicate inconsistent pressure in the PS system. A good way to check for this is to drive the truck a bit and then look in the PS fluid reservoir for bubbles. If you see bubbles, there's air in the system, which means a leak. Confirm by rubbing your fingers on the underside of the pump, rack, and hoses to check for oily residue. If no bubbles and no oily residue, your PS system is fine...look elsewhere.