Creaky noise in steering when car is cold

[fpilot]

Hi everyone. Not knowing much about cars, does anyone have any idea what it could be. Only when it is cold outside and having been sitting for awhile, when I turn the wheel it likes to creak. When the car warms up then the noise goes away.

Thank you very much!

[Richard Wooldridge]

Can you isolate it to either inside the car or outside in the front end? If it's inside, its likely a problem with the plastic housing at the bottom of the steering wheel rubbing against the wheel. Mine does that also. If it's outside, it's most likely ball joints or some other expensive item. You might have it lubed, if it's outside, and see if the noise is affected.

[t walgamuth]

Also could be ice in the boots of the ball joints. If that is it you can squirt grease in with a needle attachment for your grease gun.

Tom W

[fpilot]

Hey guys. Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in my reply. It has been very busy. The noise is coming from the passenger front wheel area. Last night when it was cold and my car had been sitting, I turned the wheel and heard it making a creaky noise no matter which way I turned it. It is funny it only does it when it is cold. If it is the boot, is that expensive? I think I remember I had a small tear in the rubber.

Thank you.

Marla

[Graham]

Originally Posted by fpilot

Hey guys. Thanks for the replies and sorry for the delay in my reply. It has been very busy. The noise is coming from the passenger front wheel area. Last night when it was cold and my car had been sitting, I turned the wheel and heard it making a creaky noise no matter which way I turned it. It is funny it only does it when it is cold. If it is the boot, is that expensive? I think I remember I had a small tear in the rubber.

Thank you.

Marla

First thing to do, would be to check the level in your power steering reservoir. I have had a similar noise from time to time and it has always been low level.

Graham

[Richard Wooldridge]

Hi Marla,
noises due to lack of lubrication are funny... My 380SL was making a "dry bearing" noise when the temperature here dropped below freezing. I took the AC idler pulley off and lubricated it with a grease "needle", but it continued to make the noise until the temperature warmed up again. Now the noise is all gone! One thing you can be sure of is that the noise is a precurser to further problems. So, I think it would be very advisable to take it in to a good alignment shop and ask them to give it a "once over" to check for worn or damaged parts, concentrating on the passenger side front. Whatever they charge will be worth it in your peace of mind.

[al76slc]

Originally Posted by Graham

First thing to do, would be to check the level in your power steering reservoir. I have had a similar noise from time to time and it has always been low level.

Graham

I vote for this one. I have a perpetual leak in PS pump, and a fill to the line always works.

[fpilot]

Hi everyone and thank you very much for your suggestions. I checked the power steering fluid and it is low so thank you very much on that. Do I need to use any power steering brand in particular to add fluid. I am also taking it into the shop next week to have other things looked at as well. I do not know about you guys but opening the truck with the key is always tricky. It is sticky so having that looked at and the old ac. It still blows air on the windshield (as defroster) when it should not. Thank you.

Marla

[fpilot]

Hi everyone! Thank you very much for your suggestions. An inexpensive solution fixed the problem! I am happy about that. The power steering fluid was low so I added some and the noise is gone.

Thank you.
Marla