Noisy steering

[Mudmonkey]

I noticed yesterday that when turning it sort of creaks as you steer. Sounds a bit like the back door of the 90 opening (because thats what i thought it was at first :oops:)
Anyway I think its getting worse so needs sorting asap.
Anyone got any ideas of what it could be and what i need to do to sort it?
thanks! :P

[jamesledingham]

I get exactly the same...No idea what it is though!

[Range Rover Blues]

Seized balljoint for starters, unless something it catching.

[jamesledingham]

Mine sounds like a slipping belt or something

[Cassillis]

Mine sounds like a slipping belt or something

Serpentine belt is on its way out check tensioners and belt and replace as necessary.

[jamesledingham]

part no anyone?

[jamesledingham]

Is it ETC5815 or ETC7333?

[Cassillis]

I noticed yesterday that when turning it sort of creaks as you steer. Sounds a bit like the back door of the 90 opening (because thats what i thought it was at first :oops:)
Anyway I think its getting worse so needs sorting asap.
Anyone got any ideas of what it could be and what i need to do to sort it?
thanks! :P

As RRB says Ball joint either on the steering drop arm, steering damper or the drag link

[07DefenderSeb]

I had this problem on the Ka. Constant Velocity Joint was full of muck and was damaged, needed replacing. Creaked really badly on full lock pulling away and round some bends. Like a haunted house's door.

Might be this (is there a CV joint on a Defender? Would have thought so, since 4x4 and not RWD).

[jamesledingham]

Mine only squeals on full lock...

[Mudmonkey]

Thats the exact description of it 07DefenderSeb!!
Could it be a CV joint on the way out then?
Whats involved in changing it?
(not very teccy minded but up for doing it myself! :P)

[jamesledingham]

Not sure. My 'Complete idiot's Guide to Car Care and repair' recommended to me by a fellow forum user says you get CVs on FWDs. It doesn't say whether or not you do on 4x4s.

I'd take a guess as not - I think (I'm probably wrong) that we have the UJ to let the drive line between the transmission and diff bend as it needs to. Does this not take away the need for a CV?

Also the Haynes bible has nothing in the Steering seciton or the index about a CV.

[Mudmonkey]

Hmmmm im sure defenders have CV joints :?
Will hve to sit and wait for someone with a bit more knowledge to come along :P

[jamesledingham]

yup. It's horrible not knowing anything!!

[07DefenderSeb]

I may indeed be wrong too. My understanding is that on any vehicle where the front wheels do more than just steer (as in drive on a 4x4 and FWD) there is going to be a high level of strain on the articulation that allows the wheels to remain in line and (relatively) verticle when turning while the suspension flexes.

Perhaps a Defender doesn't have a CV joint, but none-the-less I wouldn't be surpirsed if the articulation may have suffered.

Do you have a funny drive Mudmonkey? At our old house we had a drive with no lowered curb to the road. We used to reverse out directly into the road in the path of the traffic, then putting full lock on and giving it the beans - i reckon four years of this four times a day caused the problem.

I don't know about repairing it myself. I'd get a hand from some LR mates or get the garage to have a butchers.

Who's to say that I have found your problem - if you're in doubt at least you have a couple of suggestions for the mechanic  8)

[07DefenderSeb]

Thinking about it a bit more - if you agree with the description of the sound the steering makes on full lock with acceleration, i'd put my money where my mouth is and suggest it is the CV joint, which a Defender must have - it probably has a different name as it may be slightly different (?)  :?

[Mudmonkey]

I looked on ebay and found this so they do have them. Just a matter of is it the CV joint that is going? :?

[Rich_P]

All coil sprung Land Rovers have CVs on the front axle due to the full time four wheel drive.  Series vehicles (apart from the Stage 1) do not have CVs and have UJs in the swivels instead because they're part time four wheel drive.

There, I hope that clears up the confusion.  :lol:

[Mudmonkey]

Thanks Rich for sorting that out! :P

[Mudmonkey]

bump
could it be a cv going then or could it be something else?
and if it is a cv whats involved in replacing it? easy? hard?
thanks!

[pantg]

People Hi,

faulty or damaged CVs tend to make a clicking noise when you steer but ONLY when the car is moving.

If your steering makes a "mooo" like (sort like a cow singing the blues???)  noise then I would suggest you first check the fluid level inside the PAS reservoir.

If the level is OK then I would suggest you take a drop and check if it is reddish as it should be.
If it is sort of  brown or black or has small black debris inside then I guess it is time to change/renew the steering fluid (ATF on our landies)

You can do so very easily by removing the content of the reservoir with a BIG syringe (vets supplies have good ones for this sort of job), add new ATF into the reservoir go for a small drive and then repeat the above procedure once or twice more.
In this way you will be renewing the majority of the fluid's volume without the hassle of removing hoses and then having to remove the air bubbles from the system (bleed the system)

I would also suggest you check the steering axle's UJs since those tend to go hard and make steering much too difficult for the steering pump which in its turn starts to complain with the above mentioned "cow singing the blues" "moo" sound.

HTH

Take care
Pantelis