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        General >> Problems >> Steering Groan
        
(Message started by: emptypockets on Nov 27^th, 2009, 5:54pm)

Title: Steering Groan
Post by emptypockets on Nov 27^th, 2009, 5:54pm

Sorry,

Its him again.

Got the 2.3 back from the garage after fitting mud flaps and also oil flush, oil and filter, really expensive spark plugs and putting antifreeze into the cooling system which, believe it or not did not contain ANY!

New problem. The steering has developed a groaning/grinding noise mainly when turning right and when stationary or at very slow speed. My garage man thinks it is in the steering column and may only need silicon sprayed into lower part of the column or possibly behind the steering wheel/airbag location. Has anyone any experience of this and could I do it myself? Funds are low.

It Ain't Easy.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Simmo on Nov 27^th, 2009, 5:58pm

If the car has been on a ramp with the wheels fully suspended it can cause a problem. Take the weight off the front wheels so they are just touching and.with the engine running, turn the wheel from lock to lock a few times. This may cure the problem. Do NOT hold the wheel on full lock as it will strain the seals.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 27^th, 2009, 7:06pm

If you look you will see I posted a very similar question, mine does the same as yours groans only when turning right, very hard to describe the noise, I posted it as sound like a aero engine drone as heard on the films.

have not yet had chance to try the jacking up solution.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by emptypockets on Nov 27^th, 2009, 9:21pm

Thanks Simmo.

I have just noticed this from our own fault finder section.

Steering. Graunching noise at low speeds when steering. Check radius arm bushes for movement of pin inside rubber bush.

I have never heard the term 'graunching' before but it just about sums it up.

I shall try your suggestion first and then this if unsuccessful.

Cheers

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 28^th, 2009, 4:45am

Could be as Simmo says, a result of the front wheels being off the ground. But usually you'd get a vibration in the steering as well when turning slowly, which passes after a few miles.

Is the fluid level okay ?

Does the noise seem to come from one side only ?....if so, then I'd suspect the top bush/bearing on the strut may be the cause....just guessing though :)

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by big_timer on Nov 28^th, 2009, 6:01am

is there any schematic diagrams of the whole front suspension so i can get an idea of all the bushes?
car taking rough ground pretty hard,and want to eliminate bushes that i have changed already.hoping its not the bottom ball joints

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 28^th, 2009, 8:37am

To add to it mine is the same noise no matter what speed. I recently renewed the suspension springs could thta be connected?

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Simmo on Nov 28^th, 2009, 9:13am

on 11/28/09 at 06:01:45, big_timer wrote:

is there any schematic diagrams of the whole front suspension so i can get an idea of all the bushes?

The details you want are Here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/suspensionman.htm) :)

It may also be helpful to look at THIS page (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/wishbone.htm). The torque settings at the bottom of the page must be achieved with the car on the ground. The 'buttons' on the left of page may also help. :)

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 28^th, 2009, 9:24am

Come to think of it have just tried mine whilst static and no noise.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by PJDavis on Nov 28^th, 2009, 6:01pm

Is it a 'sound' rather than a 'feeling' through the car? If it's just a sound, then you might just have a slightly worn spool-valve. An example is the older big Volvos with rear drive, one would always hear groaning, or even a high pitch squeeling from the rack. Of course you should avoid holding hard over at full lock if possible.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 28^th, 2009, 7:26pm

In my case it is a sound only but it is during driving only but as soon as right lock is started to be applied.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by PJDavis on Nov 29^th, 2009, 12:33am

Is the sound like hard running water through a pipe? Like a swishing sound? If so, the valve on the opposite side is becoming weak. As long as there is no 'feeling' through the steering, or a 'juddering' over the juddering because the car has been 'wheels-free' then the steering is fine! Whistling or groaning is not normally an MOT failure!

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Jonnycab on Nov 29^th, 2009, 1:06am

Could just be the power steering pump is on the way out :-/....they can groan & grind :)

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 29^th, 2009, 11:37am

on 11/29/09 at 00:33:44, PJDavis wrote:

No juddering but as I said in my earlier post on this subject the noise is hard to describe, just a groan doran type, but if pump on way out why only one way?

Sounds as if it might not be as bad as thought (at the moment)

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by emptypockets on Nov 29^th, 2009, 1:11pm

Full Marks Simmo.

Took your advice on this thread and coupled it with another one on the same subject where you advised a guy from Sweden or Denmark about the procedure to eliminate this noise/vibration.

I didn't have a jack available today so I copied his method and went to a nearby soft gravel car park. Half a dozen turns each way and hey presto! Problem eliminated.

Many Many Thanks.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Simmo on Nov 29^th, 2009, 3:10pm

Glad to have helped John. Pleased you're sorted and thanks for the PM. Best wishes, Mike

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Nov 29^th, 2009, 3:49pm

If it stops snowing/raining here I will give that a whirl and let you all know.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Chieftain on Dec 3^rd, 2009, 3:44pm

Right time for an update! today the weather managed to only hail and rain in the morning, so this afternoon I jacked up the car and as per Simmo's instructions, lock to lock about 8 times, then the test drive. Amazingly the groan/droan has gone whopppeee.

No Simmo what i want to know is what have we done mechanically to cure it? any ideas? but many thanks for the advice.

Title: Re: Steering Groan
Post by Simmo on Dec 3^rd, 2009, 4:13pm

on 12/03/09 at 15:44:54, Chieftain wrote:

Now Simmo what i want to know is what have we done mechanically to cure it? any ideas? but many thanks for the advice.

I'm afraid I, and I suspect others, don't actually know. It seems to be a consequence of having the wheels fully suspended and the only logical suggestion is that somehow either air gets in to the system or the fluid is disturbed to such an extent that it needs to be re-settled. All I know is that the method you followed has worked every time in the absence of any other fault. Another quirk of the Scorpio . ;D