1999 Dodge Caravan Growling in front when steering

DERICCO

MEMBER
1999 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
10,700 MILES

When I start the vehicle, there is no noise
but when I turn the wheel I hear a growling noise as long as the wheel is turning. This only happens when the ambient temp is 65 and above. When it gets cooler it quiets down. When I am under by the front
end its very hard to tell where the noise is coming from. I ahve tryed a grease gun and needle set up
with no luck.
Thanks for any info

David

4 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Check your power steering pump, and the fluid level.

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Monday, October 13th, 2008 AT 3:18 PM

DERICCO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The noise doesnt sound like a whining pump.
It growls when I turn the wheel fast and creeks when turned slowly And it makes no noise when its cooler out. I did ckeck the level of the fluid. Its ok

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Monday, October 13th, 2008 AT 4:50 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Do you get the noise when in park? Or while driving? In Park, its pump or pressure line related, while moving growls are hub bearing related, if you hear it out at the wheels, it's a different noise than a pump. Where it doesnt make sense as a hub bearing is the temperature issue.

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Thursday, October 16th, 2008 AT 4:21 PM

DERICCO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I get the noise both, driving and in park. The noise stays the same, either driving or park, as long as you turn the wheel. Only tempature difference. Steering in the van responds normally.
I would think a pump issue would not be tempature related? My wife drove the van today and said it souned normal 60+ outside. While this past weekend we took a long trip and it was 80+ out and it sounded like something in the front end or possibly a suspension part was close to the breaking point. I knew it was safe because the steering feels fine. It almost sounds like a bad control arm bushing execpt
that it only happens while turning. Not when you push up and down on the front suspension.

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Thursday, October 16th, 2008 AT 6:07 PM