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Thread: Clicking noise when turning steering wheel [video]

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    New Haven, CT
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    10
    My Cars
    2000 540i/6

    Clicking noise when turning steering wheel [video]

    I've recently started noticing a clicking sound when I turn the steering wheel from lock to lock. This tends to happen more when the car is cold and gets better when the car warms up. Here's a video showing the sound:

    http://youtu.be/QlgBP9BgPcg

    I checked the power steering fluid reservoir and it seems fine...any idea what it could be and how serious an issue it is? Handling while driving seems unaffected.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Los Gatos, California.
    Posts
    306
    My Cars
    2002 BMW 540i
    Mine makes a similar noise and I have narrowed it down to being the brakes moving around slightly. You can easily test this by turning with the brake pedal depressed, then again without using any brakes at all to see if the noise goes away.

    Its quite annoying and I have tried a lot of brake pad grease but it persists...I hope its as simple for you. Good luck!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
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    New Haven, CT
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    2000 540i/6
    Quote Originally Posted by shwy View Post
    You can easily test this by turning with the brake pedal depressed, then again without using any brakes at all to see if the noise goes away.
    I tried this and it's definitely not it. It also happens while the car is moving and I'm taking a turn. After driving around some more over the last week I've noticed that the noise only happens when it's cold out (outside temp below ~35 F). When it's warmer the wheel turns with no noise whatsoever, regardless of how long the car's been running. Any other ideas?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Brooklyn
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    19
    My Cars
    2003 530i
    Hey guys, I have similar problem to the above, here is the video:
    https://youtu.be/lYjDYc2YA74

    I can hear this only at warm, dry weather after car was running for about 1 hour minimum. Might assume this problem has something to do with lubricant? Power steering is full, sway bar links and sway bar bushings were replaced recently as well as front brakes... If someone has idea please share. Thank you in advance!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    11,537
    My Cars
    1997 BMW 540i 6 speed
    Possible failure of the clock spring. It connects the steering wheel buttons to the car.


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Wroclaw, Poland
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    13
    My Cars
    1999 BMW E39 535i
    Quote Originally Posted by ohlongjohnson View Post
    Hey guys, I have similar problem to the above, here is the video:
    https://youtu.be/lYjDYc2YA74

    I can hear this only at warm, dry weather after car was running for about 1 hour minimum. Might assume this problem has something to do with lubricant? Power steering is full, sway bar links and sway bar bushings were replaced recently as well as front brakes... If someone has idea please share. Thank you in advance!
    I had the same issue, my power steering fluid was brown, almost black (maybe still from the factory :-)) I've flushed the system with new power steering fluid (ATFIII in that case) and so far so good. Try it it's a cheap fix, might help and won't do harm.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Brooklyn
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    19
    My Cars
    2003 530i
    Quote Originally Posted by edjack View Post
    Possible failure of the clock spring. It connects the steering wheel buttons to the car.
    Yeah, i thought so, but after investigation, figured out that this is not from clock spring, this comes from suspension.

    Quote Originally Posted by adamkas View Post
    I had the same issue, my power steering fluid was brown, almost black (maybe still from the factory :-)) I've flushed the system with new power steering fluid (ATFIII in that case) and so far so good. Try it it's a cheap fix, might help and won't do harm.
    I did it about 8 month ago, while replacing reservoir with hoses.

    Guys, do you have any other thoughts?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    CT
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    136
    My Cars
    2011 750Lix M sport
    I had a similar issue. Took it to my indy and he discovered it was due to the spring not being properly seated on the strut base. Perhaps the spring mount bushing has been dislodged from the strut itself. Have someone turn your wheel while you are outside of the vehicle with your ear by the front wheel. (Obviously not while the car is moving). Worth a shot...hope that helps.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Brooklyn
    Posts
    19
    My Cars
    2003 530i
    if someone needs, problem solved, in my case it was drivers side tie rod...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    North OC, CA
    Posts
    3,327
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    01 M5 TiAg/M1SW
    Yeah, that sounds very much like a bad ball joint somewhere. Take it to an alignment shop, and when they put it on the alignment rack and move the steering wheel, another tech under the car should easily be able to feel or even see where that clunk is coming from.
    Nate J.

    (oOO\ (|||)º(|||) /OOo)
    Titanium Silver/Black Nappa Full 07-18-2001 E39 M5 Heritage (BZ99672). 198,000mi+. Increasing daily. Engine rebuild thread.
    (eŌō\ (||||)º(||||) / ōŌe)
    Alpineweiss III/Black Merino Full 03-26-2007 E60 M5 Manual (CX08265). 157,000+. Dead starter -_-

    RIP, Seabiscuit. Black Sapphire/Schwarz 03-11-2003 530iA Sport (CK39185). T-boned 03-01-2017 at 155,861mi.
    Take 2 "Otto" - Toledo Blue/Sandbeige 04-25-2002 530iA Sport (CH98032). Sold 11-10-2017 at 147,743mi.
    Take 3 "Manuel" - Toledo Blue/Grau 10-29-2001 530i5 Sport (CE92358). Sold 02-01-2019 at 217,600mi. I regret that. Build Log
    Reliable P.O.S. - Green/gray 1995 Camry V6 LE. 270k mi. Sold for space.

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