During the use of a car, the sound of "cọc cọc" or "cạch" appearing when steering is a sign that should not be ignored. According to a technician at the Ninety Eight Auto Auto Repair, Maintenance and Care Center (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), the cause may come from the steering system, but it may also be related to some details of the suspension system.
Differentiating the time of sound appearance
To determine the cause, it is first necessary to pay attention to the time the noise appears. If the sound is mainly emitted when turning the steering wheel, especially when steering at low speed or when the car is standing still, it is necessary to check the details in the steering system and related parts.
Meanwhile, if the noise appears when the car passes through potholes, decelerators or bad road surfaces, the cause may lie in the suspension system, such as bridge joints, rubber clamps, link bars or shock absorber details.
However, these two phenomena may appear simultaneously, so it is not advisable to just rely on the time of sound to accurately conclude the damaged part.
Check the joints and steering shaft
One of the locations to be checked is the steering axle and joints on the steering system. Depending on the design of each model, the steering axle can use joints or intermediate joints to transmit motion from the steering wheel to the steering mechanism.
After a long period of use, these joints may wear out, creating abnormal gaps between the details. When the driver rotates the steering wheel, the worn details may move or collide due to the appearance of gaps, creating a "cạch" or "lọc cọc" sound.
The steering rotor is also a part that needs to be checked. This is the joint in the steering drive mechanism, which helps transmit movement from the steering mechanism to the wheels. When the rotor is worn and cracks appear, the car may make noise, the steering wheel feels unsteady, or the ability to hold the direction is affected.
Other parts to check when steering
Not every "cọc cọc" sound when steering originates from the steering system. The bearings or rubber bases of the shock absorbers can also make sounds when the wheels change the angle of rotation, especially on cars using MacPherson suspension.
In addition, bridge joints, gearbars, link bars and some other details of the suspension system, if worn or have awkwardness, can also cause noise when the car steers or moves on bad roads.
For vehicles using hydraulic power steering, vehicle owners should also check the condition of power steering oil and pipes, fillers, and connectors.
Oil leaks can cause the power steering system to work abnormally, making the steering wheel heavier, or emitting a whimpering sound. However, this is not a typical cause of the "whimpering" sound.
When cars experience a crackling sound when steering, car owners should not rush to replace a part based only on external signs. Technicians need to check the vibration of each joint, the condition of the steering shaft, roturizer, suspension system and accurately determine the location of the noise.
Early inspection helps limit the risk of widespread damage and, more importantly, ensures that the steering and suspension systems always operate stably and safely during operation.
