What would cause the car to make a grinding/popping sound when you turn sharp?

Tiny
MOMMY2BEE
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 NISSAN SENTRA
  • 273,000 MILES
When turning it makes a pretty loud ginding/popping sound. Someone told me it could be cv joints. Does that sound right? How much would this cost to fix, and it has been doing this for quite some time. What is the long term damage I may be causing by having put it off for so long?
Saturday, December 31st, 2011 AT 10:47 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,916 POSTS
The car has to be moving for the cv joints to make noise. You didn't say when the noise occurs. If it occurs when standing still and turning the steering wheel, the upper strut mounts are binding. Very often they can be worn but there is no way to tell until the struts are disassembled to be replaced. Binding and popping is a different story. That is easy to identify by reaching over the top of a front tire, holding your fingertips lightly on the spring, then feeling for smooth rotation while a helper slowly turns the steering wheel. If the mounts are binding, you'll feel the spring build tension then suddenly pop free and turn.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2011 AT 10:55 PM

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