Car Making Popping Noises When Turning? Here’s the Deal
Does your whip start popping like a bowl of Rice Krispies when you crank the wheel? Are you wondering where that annoying clicking or knocking sound is coming from? Well, strap in, amigos – we’re gonna figure this out together.
Turns out, there’s a handful of usual suspects that can cause a ruckus in the steering on your ride. From janky tie rod ends to blown control arm bushings, we’ll walk through why it happens and how to fix it.
So keep them peepers peeled while we drop some knowledge bombs about the common causes behind popping noises when turning your car. Pretty soon you’ll be gliding quiet as a cat again!
Here’s the Short Answer Up Front:
Most popping noises when turning come from worn steering and suspension parts. The main culprits are bad tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, sway bar links, and CV joints. Loose bolts can also cause popping until tightened.
Now let’s dig into the nitty gritty details, fun facts, and how to diagnose and fix that annoying pop!
Table of Contents
Buckle Up for the Full Scoop:
Alright hoss, now that you’ve got the cliff notes, let’s ride through the comprehensive lowdown on why your whip’s making all that racket when you turn.
We’ll cruise through what each suspension component does, symptoms of it going bad, and how to get your ride quiet again. Time to drop some knowledge!
#1 Worn Tie Rod Ends
First up in the ole’ popping noise suspects lineup are the tie rod ends. They connect the steering rack to the wheels and let you turn the car.
Over time, the rubber bushings in the ends wear out and get loosey goosey. Too much play develops, allowing the tie rods to knock around when you turn the steering wheel. No bueno, broseph.
On top of that popping noise, worn tie rod ends can cause the steering wheel to wander and be tough to keep straight on the highway. Not ideal for road trips or cruising with the crew!
The fix is straightforward – just swap out those tired old tie rod ends for shiny new ones. A mechanic can handle it or you can DIY it and then do a steering alignment to straighten things out.
#2 Bad Ball Joints
Next suspect on the noise maker list – worn out ball joints. Ball joints connect the control arms to the steering knuckles that attach to the wheels. This allows you to turn.
But like tie rod ends, the rubber on these puppies can wear out over time. With excessive mileage and use, ball joints get sloppy and loose. The result? You guessed it – more obnoxious popping when cranking the wheel.
Besides the obvious popping noise, clapped out ball joints can also lead to uneven tire wear and poor handling as the front wheels get out of alignment. No me gusta, bro!
The remedy is to swap in fresh ball joints so things get tight and quiet again. And don’t forget that alignment! The ride will handle like new.
#3 Failing Control Arm Bushings
Alright, let’s keep this noise detective party rolling! Next up on the usual suspect list are worn control arm bushings.
The control arms connect to the ball joints and wheel hubs, allowing you to steer. Metal arms with squishy rubber bushings pivot on the frame.
But after years of use, those bushings get cracked and flattened. The result is excessive movement in the control arms when turning the wheels.
You got it – more knocking and clunking noises from the front suspension. Bad bushings can also lead to wicked vibration through the steering wheel over bumps.
The fix is to press out the tired bushings and press in new replacements. Get them torqued down and your ride will steer smooth as butter again.
#4 Worn Sway Bar Links
You still with me? Sweet, let’s continue this automotive noise investigation! Moving along to our next suspect – worn out sway bar links.
The sway bar links connect the sway bar itself to the control arms or struts. This helps reduce body roll when cornering for better handling.
But those links contain rubber bushings that wear out over time. Excessive play in the links then allows knocking as the suspension travels and turns. No good!
Besides that popping noise when turning, blown sway bar links can also cause the body to roll more in turns. Combined with other worn suspension parts, this can make handling feel loosey goosey.
The solution? You know the drill – replacement time! Install fresh links and get that sporty, flat cornering back.
#5 Faulty CV Joints
We’re in the home stretch of this popping noise diagnostic, amigos! Next up – worn constant velocity (CV) joints.
CV joints transfer power from the transaxle to the wheels at the ends of the drive axles. They contain grease and ball bearings to allow smooth turning.
But when the grease dries up or the joints get contaminated with dirt and debris, they can start to click when turning the wheels. Bad news bears.
Damaged CV joints can also lead to vibration or shuddering when cruising at highway speeds. If you’ve noticed that too, then for sure get those puppies inspected.
Replacing the faulty joints will get you back on the road in smooth, quiet bliss in no time. Just be sure to use new grease during installation.
#6 Loose Suspension Components
Last but not least in our popping noises investigation – loose bolts and fasteners!
From strut mounts to control arm bolts to sway bar brackets, there are a ton of hardware pieces holding your suspension together.
Over thousands of bumps and rattles, some of those bolts can start to loosen up. The result is play in the components that leads to knocking when turning.
Not to mention those loose parts start rattling around hitting stuff over bumps. Annoying!
Luckily this one is an easy DIY fix – just inspect all the accessible suspension bolts and snug them down with a wrench or socket set. Check the strut top bolts especially.
Torque those puppies back down to spec and your ride will be solid and quiet again. Thanks for the assist, trusty torque wrench!
When to See a Mechanic About That Noise?
Now that you’re an expert on all the parts that can cause popping when turning, here’s a pro-tip:
If the steering parts are seriously worn out, have a professional shop replace them to stay safe on the road. Ride quality and handling can be severely compromised.
But for small jobs like greasing joints or tightening bolts, a DIYer with some tools can often tackle that in their garage and save some coin.
Either way, get any seriously sloppy steering and suspension components replaced stat. The difference in how the car drives will blow your doors clean off!
Silence That Popping Once and For All
There you have it friends – the full scoop on tracking down and quieting annoying car popping noises when turning.
Hopefully now you feel equipped to diagnose whether it’s your tie rods, ball joints, bushings, sway bar links, CV joints, or loose bolts making that ruckus.
With a few replacement parts and some wrench twisting, you can bust that noise right in its lip. Then it’s back to smooth sailing and peaceful cruising.
Your ears, sanity, and passengers will thank you later! Until next time, keep on wrenching and driving in peace my friends.
