Symptom Chart - Steering Noise/Vibration

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHART - STEERING NOISE/VIBRATION

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Steering grunt or shudder - occurs when turning into or out of a turn at low speeds (temperature sensitive)	Steering gear or power steering hoses.	GO to STEERING GEAR GRUNT/SHUDDER TEST COMPONENT TEST .
Steering System clonk - hydraulic knocking sound	Air in the steering hydraulic system.	CHECK for leaks in the system. PURGE the air from the system. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
Power steering pump moan - loud humming noise occurs when the steering wheel is rotated to the stop position. Produces a 120-600 Hz frequency that changes with rpm	Power steering hose grounded out to chassis.	INSPECT the power steering hoses. REPAIR as necessary.
	Aerated fluid.	CHECK for leaks in the system. PURGE the air from the system. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Steering gear isolators.	INSPECT the isolators for wear or damage. REPAIR as necessary.
	Low fluid.	CHECK the fluid level. REFILL as necessary.
	Power steering pump brackets loose or misaligned.	CHECK bolts, brackets and bracket alignment. TIGHTEN bolts to specification. REPAIR or INSTALL new brackets as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Steering gear clunk - occurs only while cornering over a bump (can be temperature sensitive)	Steering gear.	INSPECT the steering gear for loose mounting bolts. TIGHTEN as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Feedback (rattle, chuckle or knocking noise in the steering gear) - a condition where roughness is felt in the steering wheel when the vehicle is driven over rough surfaces	Column intermediate/flexible shaft joints damaged or worn.	INSTALL a new intermediate/flexible shaft. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
	Loose, damaged or worn tie-rod ends.	TIGHTEN the nuts to specification or INSTALL new tie-rod ends as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
	Steering gear insulators or mounting bolts loose or damaged.	TIGHTEN the bolts or INSTALL new bolts as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
	Steering column intermediate shaft bolts are loose.	TIGHTEN the bolts to specification. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
	Steering column damaged or worn.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new steering column as necessary. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
	Loose suspension bushings, bolts or ball joints.	INSPECT the suspension system. TIGHTEN or INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
Feedback (nibble at the steering wheel) - a condition where slight rotational movement is felt in the steering wheel when the vehicle is driven over rough or grooved surfaces	Lateral runout in the tire or wheel.	GO to PINPOINT TEST H .
	Yoke spring in the steering gear.	CHECK TSBs for revised yoke spring for applicable vehicles.
Accessory drive belt squeal/chirp - when rotating the steering wheel from stop to stop	Loose or worn accessory drive belt.	ADJUST or INSTALL a new accessory belt drive as necessary. REFER to ACCESSORY DRIVE .
Power steering gear hiss	Steering column intermediate/flexible shaft-to-steering gear is binding or misaligned.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new intermediate/flexible shaft as necessary. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
	Grounded or loose steering column boot at the dash panel.	REPAIR as necessary.
	Damaged or worn steering gear input shaft and valve.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new steering gear as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Steering column rattle	Loose bolts or attaching brackets.	TIGHTEN the bolts to specifications.
	Loose, worn or insufficiently lubricated column bearings.	LUBRICATE or INSTALL new steering column bearings as necessary. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
	Steering shaft insulators damaged or worn.	INSTALL new insulators. REFER to STEERING COLUMN . INSPECT the rubber spider coupling for damage.
	Intermediate/flexible shaft compressed or extended.	INSTALL a new intermediate/flexible shaft. REFER to STEERING COLUMN .
Steering column squeak or cracks	Insufficient lubricated steering shaft bushings.	LUBRICATE the steering shaft and shaft tube seals.
	Loose or misaligned steering column shrouds.	TIGHTEN or ALIGN the steering column shrouds.
	Steering wheel rubbing against steering column shrouds.	REPOSITION the steering column shrouds.
	Insufficient lubricated speed control slip ring.	LUBRICATE the speed control slip ring.
	Upper or lower bearing sleeve out of position.	REPOSITION the bearing sleeves.
Power steering pump noisy	Incorrect assembly of components. Imperfections on the outside diameter or end surface of the power steering pump rotor. Damaged or worn power steering pump rotor splines. A crack on the inner surface of the power steering pump cam. Interference between the power steering pump rotor and cam. Damaged or worn power steering pump rotor and pressure plates.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new power steering pump as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Power steering pump swish noise	Power steering fluid flow into the bypass valve of the pump valve housing with fluid temperature below 54°C (130°F).	Acceptable condition.
Power steering pump whine noise	Aerated fluid.	CHECK for a leak in the system. PURGE the air from the system. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Damaged power steering pump cam.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new power steering pump as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
	Damaged valve cover O-ring seal.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new power steering pump as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Power steering pump clicking (mechanical) noise	Power steering pump rotor slippers too long, excessive rotor slipper-to-slot clearance or damaged or worn rotor assembly.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new power steering pump as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .
Power steering pump clatter noise	Damaged corners on the outside diameter or the power steering rotor or distorted rotor slipper ring.	REPAIR or INSTALL a new power steering pump as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING .