NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH) ISSUES
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | EVALUATION/CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| RATTLE OR EXCESSIVE CLUNK* | 1. Steering gear loose on engine cradle/crossmember. | 1. Check fastener torque and tighten to specifications. Replace as necessary. Check steering wheel center following repair. |
| 2. Loose strut assembly mounting fasteners at tower or knuckle. | 2. Check fastener torque and tighten to specifications. | |
| 3. Excessive play in inner or outer tie rod. | 3. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 4. Engine cradle/crossmember mounting fasteners loose at frame or bushings worn. | 4. Check fastener torque and tighten to specifications. Inspect bushings and repair as necessary. | |
| 5. Wheel mounting (lug) bolts loose. | 5. Inspect wheel mounting (Lug) bolts and repair as necessary. Tighten bolts to specifications. | |
| 6. Stabilizer bar link joints worn (occurs with steering input only when moving, not stationary). | 6. At park, jounce only one side of vehicle front to exercise stabilizer bar. Replace stabilizer bar link. | |
| 7. Loose lower control arm mounting bolts at engine cradle, frame or crossmember (occurs with steering input only when moving, not stationary). | 7. Check control arm mounting bolts and tighten to specified torque. | |
| 8. Loose intermediate shaft or column. | 8. Rotate intermediate (steering) shaft in relationship to gear, checking for free-play. Check column fasteners and tighten to specifications as necessary. | |
| 9. Lower control arm pivot bushing worn (occurs with steering input only when moving, not stationary). | 9. Inspect bushings for wear and replace lower control arm as necessary. | |
| 10. Internal steering gear noise. | 10. Drive vehicle on rough road listening for noises. Also, steer rapidly back and forth when stopped listening for noises. Replace steering gear as necessary. | |
| 11. Loose inner or outer tie rod. | 11. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 12. Damaged engine cradle/crossmember. | 12. Inspect the cradle/crossmember for cracks or other damage. Replace as necessary. | |
| POPPING NOISE | 1. Loose steering gear mounting fasteners. | 1. Check fasteners for proper torque and retighten as necessary. |
| 2. Loose outer tie rod mounting nut or jam nut. | 2. Check fastener torque. Replace nuts as necessary and tighten to specifications. | |
| 3. Loose intermediate (steering) shaft coupling at gear input shaft. | 3. Make sure coupling is fully seated on gear input shaft. Retighten or re-seat as necessary. | |
| 4. Worn tie rod (outer or inner). | 4. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 5. Worn axle half-shaft. | 5. For evaluation and correction, refer to DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| SQUEAKING OR RUBBING SOUND | 1. Steering column shroud or shaft rubbing. | 1. While turning the steering wheel, listen down column to locate. Check interference between moving components. Move or realign shrouds or shaft as necessary. Replace components if this does not correct problem. |
| 2. Clockspring inside steering column noisy. | 2. Remove clockspring and reinstall steering wheel for testing. If noise is gone, replace clockspring. | |
| 3. Boot/dash seal lubrication inadequate. | 3. Remove boot seal and recheck for noise. Lubricate seal as necessary. | |
| 4. Steering gear inner or outer tie rod noisy. | 4. While a helper turns the steering wheel, use an electronic listening tool to determine if noise is coming from either outer tie rod. Replace outer tie rods as necessary. Refer to DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 5. Steering gear internally noisy. | 5. Remove dash seal boot, then exercise the steering wheel. If noise is still present at gear, replace steering gear. | |
| SCRUBBING OR KNOCKING SOUND | 1. Incorrect tire or wheel size. | 1. Replace incorrect size tire or wheel with original equipment size. |
| 2. Worn motor or transmission mount. | 2. Drive vehicle, moving accelerator pedal rapidly up and down attempting to locate noise. Try in both forward and reverse. Replace mounts as necessary. | |
| 3. Tires contacting wheel well. | 3. Make sure wheel house is properly positioned. If not, reposition as necessary. If steering wheel is properly centered, check steering gear travel left to right by rotating the steering wheel to each stop. Steering wheel should rotate the same amount in both directions from center. If not, replace steering gear. | |
| 4. Interference between moving steering components and other components. | 4. Check for bent or misaligned components. Correct or replace as necessary. |
Note. * A light clunk may be felt or heard during steering wheel reversal while vehicle is stationary. This results from internal steering gear rack movement at the bushings and in no way affects the performance of the steering system. This movement may be felt in the steering components during steering wheel reversal.