Car Makes Noise When Turning Right but Not Left: 11 Reasons

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Want to know why your car makes noise when turning right but not left? There are many possible reasons, such as bad suspension, a damaged power steering system, or leakage in the hydraulic system. But if you are not sure about the exact issue, we can help you pinpoint the problem.

Car Makes Noise When Turning Right but Not Left

 

 

Read on to dig all the reasons and repair processes for a way out.

Why Car Makes Noise When Turning Right but Not Left?

A car makes noise when turned due to many reasons, such as a worn-out part in the steering system or bad CV joints. Other uncommon yet possible reasons include leakage of steering fluid or a defective sway bar link. These issues can cause clicking, grinding, or squealing noises.

– Damaged Shocks and Bad Struts 

A common reason for a car making noise while turning is bad shocks or struts. These components support the suspension under normal conditions. In case of damage, they can produce a creaking or thumping noise, depending on the problem. 

If the struts and shocks are loose or damaged, they will not fix in their position. So, you will hear clunking noises because the components would glide around. But a car making creaking noises would indicate coil spring damage around shocks. 

Another reason your car makes noise when turning right but not left could be bad suspension. Your car’s suspension handles the weight of the vehicle. But if there is a damaged strut, you will hear a more prominent noise while turning the steering. 

– Damaged Tie Rod Ends Cause a Squeaking Noise

If your car makes noise by turning it right, it may be because of the damaged tie rods. These rods are the main component of the steering system that connect the steering rack and pinion to the wheels. 

The ends of these rods may get damaged and cause a squeaking noise when turning the car. A car making such noises has worn-out boots at the end of the rods. 

These rubber boots prevent metal rods from hitting the hub. If the damage is on the right side, you will hear the noise when you turn right. But generally, it can happen to any or both sides. 

– Bad Steering Column Bearings Can Lead to Squealing Noise

If a car makes noise when turning right but not left, you might have a bad column bearing. The steering column is a linking component for the steering wheel and the rack. 

Why-Car-Makes-Noise-When-Turning-Right-but-Not-Left

So, if the bearing is defective, you will hear a noise when turning the wheel to the right. It is especially true when the noise rises from the steering wheel itself. 

It usually happens at hot temperatures because the metal expands. Moreover, a damaged boot can lock water in through the steering column.

– Leakage or Low Levels of Power Steering Fluid

Another reason for hearing noise can be faulty steering. But this problem usually occurs in cars with hydraulic steering. The reason is fluid leakage from the steering reservoir.

It is easy to diagnose as the faulty steering wheel would not work as it did before. Moreover, the wheel would make a specific sound when turned. You should also look for signs of fluid leakage. 

The steering fluid may also lessen with time, or you might have a bad power steering pump. All these reasons can cause a car to make sounds while turning to one side. 

You can check the fluid reservoir. If the fluid is dark in color, it needs service; otherwise, you must replace the steering pump. 

– A Broken Steering Rack Can Be Noisy

A broken rack can also be the reason why your car makes noise when turning right but not left. A steering rack connects the driving wheel to the wheels of a car. Impairment of any component of the rack would result in the vehicle making noises.

You can prevent this by lubricating the steering system whenever required. But if it still gets damaged, you will hear a clicking noise when taking a turn. 

These noises can turn into clonking noises if you do not mend the rack in time. You would also observe these sounds to be more prominent while driving at a lower speed.

– Worn Ball Joints 

Ball joints are present in the front part of your car. They are important for the proper functioning of steering knuckles and control arms. These joints get damaged over time and may worsen if you travel on bumpy terrain. 

This leads to a car making a creaking or thumping noise when you take turns. So, if your car makes noise only while turning to the right, check the ball joints on the right side of the vehicle. 

You can confirm it by lifting the car from these arms with a jack stand. Then you can grip the tire with your hands and try to feel if there is any play or knocking. If yes, then the ball joint is the culprit.

– Bad CV Joint on Car Makes Noise When Turning Right but Not Left

Constant velocity joints ensure that the car wheels take smooth turns. But they can also be a reason why you hear noise while turning right. The problem arises when the boot covering these joints gets damaged. 

A damaged boot means that dirt, water, and other particles can enter and disrupt the smooth functioning of CV axles. The joint boot is a rubber component that can wear out because of extreme weather conditions. In such cases, cars make a clicking noise followed by a popping sound.

– Damaged Control Arm Bushings Cause Bad Suspension

The purpose of control arms is to maintain the suspension system of your car. But the upper and lower arm bushings can wear out for different reasons. These worn-out parts might cause a knocking noise in your car. 

Damaged Control Arm Bushings

These sounds are more prominent when the arm lets the wheel turn. So, a car makes noise when turning right but not left due to damaged arm bushings on the right side of the car.

– Clunking Sound From Broken Sway Bar Link

A defective link to the suspension can also lead to noise while turning the car. You will hear a clunking noise which might only be on the right side. 

This component handles safe turning by maintaining the balance of the car. To prevent any accidents, you should check the linking component on your vehicle and get it fixed in time.

– Bad Wheel Bearing Makes a Loud Noise

Another possible reason why you hear weird noises can be bad wheel bearings. It is common for bearings to wear out, and the best way to determine that is to see if speed affects the noise. 

Bad bearings make noise at a lower speed, but it gets louder as you speed up. It is even more prominent when you turn your car. So if your car makes noise when turning right but not left, you might be putting greater weight on the left side of the vehicle.  

– Damaged Brake Pads and Grinding Noise

If you hear a grinding noise while turning and applying brakes, you need to check the brake pads once. These pads wear out and, as a result, metal components come in contact with each other. 

Apart from the noise, you will also face inconvenience while using the brakes. Try getting it fixed as soon as possible because it can increase the stopping distance of your car. 

This problem would not be very serious if you mend it without further delay. This way, you would only have to change the pads. But if prolonged, it would damage the brake rotors as well.

How To Fix a Car That Makes Noise While Turning Right?

To fix the car noise while turning, you will have to replace the damaged component. First, you must test and figure out the exact reason. Once you interpret the problem, you can either fix it at home or hire a mechanic. 

How To Fix a Car That Makes Noise While Turning Right

 

– Test and Fix Suspension Struts

The easiest way to test bad struts is by using a strut tester. It can save you valuable time and would not need much strength. This device will give you a sign when placed near the specific wheel. 

After diagnosing, remove the damaged strut by using a strut compressor. Without it, you will be unable to compress the spring around the strut. Then replace the old strut with a new one.

– Fixing Bad CV Joint

If the car makes noise when turning right but not left and if there is grease leakage, you have a damaged constant velocity joint. You can also check this by disconnecting the joint from the axle and observing the movement. 

If it moves, you need to replace the joint. It is an easy process that requires the removal of the CV axle. Then remove the old joint, screw in the new joint, and install the axle back in its place.

– Repairing Wheel Bearings 

One way to prevent damaging the bearings and prolong their life is to lubricate them. But it is better to hire a professional to repair the damaged bearings. 

Yet, if you have some experience in this area, it would not be a tricky job. Make sure you have a jack stand because you will have to lift the car to access the brake caliper. 

First, locate the caliper to remove the worn-out bearings. Afterward, remove the axle nut and replace the older bearings with newer ones. 

– Restoring Tie Rod Ends

There are many ways to check these rods. For example, you can test the alignment of the hand wheel or look for grease leakage. You can also inspect the rod boots by lifting the car with the help of a jack stand. 

If your car is making a noise due to the damaged ends of these rods, get them fixed as soon as possible. A delay can put you at a high risk of losing control of the wheel when driving at high speed. 

– Identifying Bad Steering Rack

You can test the steering system rack by observing the dead space when you turn the wheel. The best way to do so is to turn the steering wheel and notice if the road wheel also turns as much as it should. If it does not, there is a high chance you have a worn steering rack that only a technician can fix.

– Seek Professional Help

It is better to hire professionals for some issues, such as low steering fluid levels. Mending a broken sway bar link can also be difficult for a layperson. Although hiring someone trained can cost you a fortune, it can save your car from further damage.  

Conclusion of Car Makes Noise When Turning Right Causes and Fixes

Conclusion 

Now that you have explored why your car makes noise when turning right but not left, you can test and diagnose the problem. So, let’s look into the key findings that can help you figure out the exact issue with your car.

  • Worn-out strut, shock, ball joint, and sway bar link cause clunking noise. 
  • A squealing metal grinding noise can be due to damaged tie rod ends, wheel or column bearings, or brake pads. 
  • Repairing or replacing defective parts can stop the car from making noise.
  • Filling the steering reservoir can stop noise caused by the leakage of fluid. 

With the repair processes mentioned here, you can mend the car yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Now fix your car as soon as possible for a safe driving experience.

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