Steering Squeeks

[hookedup240]

ok guys, i searched, couldn't find exactly what i am having problems with.

So anyway i was leaving my house today after washing my car, didn't have the radio up, and i turn my wheel to start going and i hear like a wine/squeek while turning the wheel.

Checked the fluid and it seemed fine, added a little just in case, and then tried going and it still made the noise.

Now i have never heard this noise b4, and i do not notice any thing different as far as steering goes, just the noise.

I was thinking maybe my pump is about to go or maybe something needs to be greased? I've heard that power steering pumps last a long time that's why i didn't think it was that but it might be.

Anyone know?

BTW- 91 hatch with 117k

Thanks in advanced


PS- newest mod B&M short shifter, i am really happy with it, a lot better than the obx i used to have. Very firm, and i have no rattle above 5k rpm.

Just wanted to add that in.

[Bill Roberts]

Don't know about the squeak except a belt slipping but the whine is low fluid. Top it off.


If the fluid is low, the belt may slip, make sure you have no more than 1/2 inch deflection of the belt. You will be surprised how much fluid it may take to come up to the full mark. I know, mine leaks some. Fill it every weekend.

PS, Damn those rims are tight. I want some!

[FastBack 240]

Mine does the same thing and the fluid level is fine. It really ****es me off because the noise when turning just wont go away. Did you ever come up with a solution yet?:hammer:

[hookedup240]

no, i haven't found out the reason yet, the fluid level is fine. There are no signs of anything wrong, just the annoying noise it makes.

[Dousan_PG]

did you fill it with Power Steering fluid or ATF?
nissan 240sx uses ATF for power steering. say so explicitly in the FSM and user guide.
PS fluid will probably destroy/ruin the pump

[hookedup240]

i was under the impression that ps fluid is the same as atf fluid

[Dousan_PG]

nope
if it was, the FSM wouldnt be in bold type in that section! its different

[hookedup240]

well anyway i'm pretty sure that my mechanic put in the right stuff because i just got a tune up recently and got all the fluids refilled and its still making the noise, i have yet to take it back to him to find out. Any other ideas of what it could be?

[Dousan_PG]

mechanics WONT know
why?
think Power steering=power steering fluid

if its popping and creaking when you turn slow speed THATS WHAT IT IS (ps pump)

mine does it..haha..i goofed back in the day. replacing it one day...soon.

[hookedup240]

ok then...anyone have experience with replacing the ps pump? Is it hard?

[FastBack 240]

Could it also be that the PS belt is to tight or is it the pump?:bash:

[Dousan_PG]

few bolts few hours few lines..should be fine. i've yet to do it
fsm it seems pretty straightforward. probably kidna messy though

[crioten]

woah woah, thats really weird, not using PS fluid, and using auto tranny fluid...dam, if you are correct, then ive been putting the wrong stuff in there...

is there any way to purge my ps system of the PS fluid (this really sounds weird)

can anyone else confirm that using PS fluid in there will cause damage to the PS pump? (not that i dont believe ya, dousan36, but it just sounds way the hell out there)...

hmmm, so maybe thats why the fluid always looks a litle redish, when PS fluid looks like a honey color? also would the PS fluid be more likely to leak than ATF, due to its viscosity?

[Dousan_PG]

ya serious
my friend doubted me too, so i took out my FSM
straight up in black bold larger letters use "ATF"
i was 'aaaaaaah Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!" because i used PS..that's why mine creaks and clunks :( :( :(

[twitchy]

dont mean to hijack this thread but what do you use for fluid in the clutch slave cylinder??

cant find my owners manual...

[Dousan_PG]

Originally posted by twitchy
dont mean to hijack this thread but what do you use for fluid in the clutch slave cylinder??

cant find my owners manual...

no fluid directly to there put it in the clutch master cylinder
it uses brake fluid.

[crioten]

man this does suck...so there is no real way to get all the PS fluid out?

[Bill Roberts]

F U C K me running....all of us are screwing up really bad IMHO.


How come no one has brought this to our attention until now??

This must go in the FAQ section...At once...or start a new thread.

[gregsr20]

ATTENTION!

it may not be any steering problems, mine did the same exact thing, take the cap off of the strut tower under the hood, lube well, then under the fender lube the shock and strut, i bet you it will stop, took me about a week and i found it

[hookedup240]

gregsr20- Thanks, i'll check that out when i get a chance.

[FastBack 240]

yea that could be it because all four struts/shocks are shot and im running on springs at the moment. My car squeeks worse and worse as the days go buy.:bash:

[holisticbeatz]

Resurrecting an old thread..

Does that whine sound something similiar to what it would sound like when you put a car in reverse and back up semi-fast for a long distance? I'm not sure if that makes sense, but when i put my car in reverse and back up, I hear this low level whining sound.

[morpheus8486]

My steering squeaks all the time too and its annoying as hell. It sounded like it was coming from the steering column on the interior, so one day I took the steering wheel off to investigate. Turns out it was nothing more than a plastic disc rubbing on the plastic behind it in the hub. Nothing fancy like belts or power steering pumps, just some stupid plactic disks rubbing against each other. I couldn't find a way to safely take it off so I tried lubing it up with some oil and some lube in a can and that didn't work. The squeak lives on. Has anyone else had this problem? Anyway, I don't know if this will help you out at all but I just figured I'd throw it out there.

[Pepperoni]

Resurrecting an old thread..

Does that whine sound something similiar to what it would sound like when you put a car in reverse and back up semi-fast for a long distance? I'm not sure if that makes sense, but when i put my car in reverse and back up, I hear this low level whining sound.

My car does that too...actually all my friend's cars do that (non-240's). I dont think it's a problem or something to be worried about though...someone correct me if im wrong though.

[RiversideS13]

pull up old thread....

My car just had same problem, like 1 hours ago... but it make noise when the steering column is turning to the right side ONLY? I also tried top off with the steering pump fluid but nothing changed. Does the lubrication of suspension componenet as above threads would help?

thanks

[RiversideS13]

I just had my friend help me turn the steering wheel and i found the noise came from right under my ka24e motor. I have no idea what it is. the noise sounds like low pitch groaning and you can feel very light viberation on the steering wheel. please help me..

thanks

[s13silady]

im using ATF type III... and it runs hella smoother than regular power steering fluid...but i have the same sqeaky problem.. try this... get under your car... and spray your bushing with some WD40 or some type of lubricant... if the squeak goes away, thats your problem...

[RiversideS13]

update:

I checked all the hose and i think there is one hose clamp was loose and caused leakage. I thighten it and turned the wheel left and right while the car is lifted. I saw there are alot of air bubble came out from the reservior and the fluid keep spill over. Why does this happen? After i keep play with it till all the buble is gone, i tested drove it. The steering wheel feeling is weird that it was tight at begging (while it at center) and then it become really light while i made turns. After i drove back my garage and i toped over the fluid, keep turn the steering left and right to make sure the fluid does not go up and down again, and test drive it again. Now it feels all the same and noise had gone away.

Apparently the steering noise was caused by too much air in the system, but My question is that why do i have so much air in the system? Is that mean something gone wrong? I had this problem after i drove in the cali storm...maybe water went into the system? but how?

thanks

[adoboboy]

Resurrecting an old thread..

Does that whine sound something similiar to what it would sound like when you put a car in reverse and back up semi-fast for a long distance? I'm not sure if that makes sense, but when i put my car in reverse and back up, I hear this low level whining sound.

In an attempt to figure out what this problem is, I have a steering noise just like a car in reverse but not as loud. I did get my belts changed recently so a loose belt could be the problem. I notice the noise when the engine is warm. When I got home from work, I popped the lid of the brake fluid reservoir and it was bubbling. Is that bubbling supposed to happen? What is the correct fluid to put into the reservoir? ATF or PS fluid??

[SochBAT]

In an attempt to figure out what this problem is, I have a steering noise just like a car in reverse but not as loud. I did get my belts changed recently so a loose belt could be the problem. I notice the noise when the engine is warm. When I got home from work, I popped the lid of the brake fluid reservoir and it was bubbling. Is that bubbling supposed to happen? What is the correct fluid to put into the reservoir? ATF or PS fluid??

You should be using DOT brake fluid in your brake resevoir. I had that same creaking noise after i crashed, so i checked up on my rack and pinion rack. I solved mines by greasing up the teeth on the racks, and just lubing up old joints. my mechanic neighbor told me i shoulda done that as soon as i got the car. maybe that'll help.