'Groaning' noise when turning right

[wonkdonk]

Hi all, just bought my Explorer (first SUV!) and I'm enjoying the experience of being so high up - and having cup holders! I usually drive sports cars, so it's a completely new experience for me - fun tho!

Ok, when turning right at low speeds, I get this 'groaning' sort of noise. It sounds sort of like when you turn on snow and the tyres push sideways a little- although this is on the road. I don't get it at higher speeds, but that could be because I obviously turn the wheel much less when going faster!

Any of you knowledgeable folks have any idea what it might be?

Also, I've bought it to tow my racecar to and from events, any advice about things to be aware of would be muc appreciated.

Cheers, and thanks in advance for your help.

Adrian.

PS And why no clock!

 

[Burly]

I have the same thing on left side in a 98. I am not sure what it is, mechanic said he couldn't find anything.

 

[wonkdonk]

I'm guessing it might be something to do with the PAS, but I'm no mechanic!

 

[Burly]

What is PAS?

 

[1998EBX]

I have 98 EBX & I just started having the same noise when turning left. The mech. I use can't figure it out either!

 

[jagarundi]

I have this problem on my 98 XLT. I'm going for a lube job this weekend. I also hear his groan when I'm backing up at slow speeds.

 

[Burly]

Let us know if the lube job helps. BTW a mechanic today suggested flushing PS fluid and adding a additive for conditioning & sealing. Lets not let this die, until we get our trucks fixed.

 

[wonkdonk]

I'll be interested in seeing if the lubing helps.

BTW PAS is how we over this side of the pond abbreviate Power Assisted Steering - I see you guys go for the minimalist approach with PS

 

[km515]

My xplorer sometimes makes that groaning noise after I take it off road but once the mud falls out or I wash under the truck it goes away. Maybe just try spraying underneath to get out some of the grime.

 

[TJM623]

my 98 XLT has made this on the left side...since i've had it almost a year and half now...no clue what it is either

 

[1998EBX]

jagarundi --did the lube job work 4 U??

 

[BigDakota]

I have this problem on my 98 XLT. I'm going for a lube job this weekend. I also hear his groan when I'm backing up at slow speeds.

 

[craiga33]

I get the same thing on my 97 XLT, when I am turning at slow speeds.

 

[Rage1973]

Same problem on my 98, right side turning a sharp left.

 

[mynameisaric]

i really dont think its anything to worry about. i was driving my moms 02 explorer sport today and i swear i remember it making the same noise. its probly the vibration of the road/tire rotation against the round little wheel stop. mine is always nice and shiny, so i must make contact with it all the time.

i've had that noise since i had the truck(2.5 years) and nothing has fallen apart, even after beating the crap out of it offroad.

wonkdonk, do you have the 5.0 or 4.0? i've heard the 5.0 isnt that bad for towing, but your tranny is your weak link. alot of guys put secondary tranny coolers and external line filters to help keep the tranny cool during towing.

 

[gijoecam]

Mine has done that since new. It went into the dealership no less than three times and they could never find anything wrong with it. It's now 8 years old with 105,000 miles on it and it still works the same way it did when new. I have no idea what it is or why it does it, but I wouldn't worry about it.

-Joe

 

['97 V8]

well im happy to say i dont have that problem. SOme guys reported that thier cv's made that noise when they turned right. Maybe its worn. Also Aric sayin about the wheelstop may be another issue.

 

[mynameisaric]

its this little thing i see everytime i'm working near the wheel. its a little metal nub that looks like it just stops the wheel from turning even more on tight turns(as far as the steering wheel will turn). i'll take a picture of it later if you want. i'm sure you've seen it before. but on a full turn, the spindle/steering knuckle contacts this little nub. thus making a metal on metal contact with no lubrication. so the slight vibration could make the noise.... or it could just be the CV shafts at there limits.

 

[gijoecam]

its this little thing i see everytime i'm working near the wheel. its a little metal nub that looks like it just stops the wheel from turning even more on tight turns(as far as the steering wheel will turn). i'll take a picture of it later if you want. i'm sure you've seen it before. but on a full turn, the spindle/steering knuckle contacts this little nub. thus making a metal on metal contact with no lubrication. so the slight vibration could make the noise.... or it could just be the CV shafts at there limits.

Mine doesn't do it when it's against the stops (although I would expect it to then). Mine makes the noise when physically rotating the steering wheel in either direction. If you stop turning the steering wheel or straighten the wheel back out, it doesn't make the noise. Mine definately sounds like something in the steering linkages, rack, ball joints, etc. No clue where it's coming from though. If you take the weight off the wheels, it doesn't do it. I swapped the ball joints a few years back, and it made no difference. I suspect that, until a wheel falls off because of it, I'll never know what it is.

-Joe

 

[mynameisaric]

i dont pay enough attention to it, so i never tried to figure out where it came from until i saw this thread. and someone said tight turns and it made me think of the little metal nub. my front end makes a multitude of other rotating noises even while going straight. i think my pinion depth may be off by a little since i get that deep "whoooring" noise at interstate speeds, and even at low speeds my front end feels like it needs to be replaced(bearings and such). i'm waiting for something to break. then i'll convince my parents that i HAVE to get a d44 up front, because it would be cheaper than rebuilding my IFS.