squeaking sound and light grinding feel to steering wheel

LsUnV2

LsUnV2

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when i turn my wheel there ia a squeking sound and a light grinding feel to the steering wheel. i popped the hood and the sound is isolated to the actual steering wheel itself. it seems to be getting worse as the days go by. The squeaking sounds is not a quick squeak but a long continuious sqeak through the whole turn of the wheel both back and forth. the grinding feel seems very light but is enough to be noticable
 
wow useless post, i really need some help or its going to dealer. and i hate the dealer
 
What year is your LS? Your sig tells me all about the mods, but no essential information like engine or year.
 
This noise is a very well known issue in 2003 and some 2004 cars. My 2003 LS had it. Do you hear it more at low speeds, like in a parking garage?

There is a TSB (Ford Technical Service Bulletin) about it, TSB #10-04-01, which describes the fix. The first fix is adding Motorcraft Friction Modifier XL-3 to the Power Steering pump. In some cases this fixes the problem. If it does not, the second way to fix it is to replace the steering rack. Cost for this is about $800 if your car is not under warranty.

I can send you the TSB if you want as a PDF file if you send me your email address. The TSB describes the whole process the service guys would do. You may want to try adding the XL-3 first yourself -- its easy to do. You can get it at any Ford dealer for about $5 (comes in a little bottle), and you can add it with a turkey baster.
 
the sound seems to be isolated to the inside of car at the steering wheel as stated above, is this the same symptoms you had?
 
LsUnV2 said:
the sound seems to be isolated to the inside of car at the steering wheel as stated above, is this the same symptoms you had?
Click to expand...

Yep. Sounds like some grit got in there, right? And you hear it more at low speeds, right?
 
ToddG said:
Yep. Sounds like some grit got in there, right?
Click to expand...

feels like grit, sounds like squeak. so does that mean rack is going bad??? steering return is not perfect, i thought it was from the lowering, i noticed it a few days ago and it got much worse today. i actually hear it all the time whenever im turning the wheel. no matter the speed
 
LsUnV2 said:
feels like grit, sounds like squeak. so does that mean rack is going bad??? steering return is not perfect, i thought it was from the lowering, i noticed it a few days ago and it got much worse today. i actually hear it all the time whenever im turning the wheel. no matter the speed
Click to expand...

Seems like your symptoms are much worse than what the TSB describes. The TSB describes the issue as "a steering gear squeak when turning the steering wheel, especially during low speed parking maneuvers. The noise may sound like it is coming from the steering column area and may be felt as a roughness in the steering wheel while turning". But, that is for a normal car. Your car ain't normal since you've lowered it. Remember, the LS was designed with very tight tolerences in the suspension. By lowering the vehicle, you've put stresses on parts that were not designed for it. My guess is that you wheel/tire/susp mods have made a normally occurring problem much worse, and that the steering rack is about to totally fail.
 
I had the same thing with my 04, try the Friction Modifier as ToddG suggested first, it worked for me.
 
I dropped in some friction modifier that I got from AutoZone a little while ago. We'll see tomorrow on the way to work if it did anything.
 
ok i noticed today when vehicle is cold the sound is gone, when the car is very warm it comes back.
 
it just got seriously worse tonight, should i even try the modifier of just complain to ford since im under warranty
 
i have this problem since day one, and it seems to be getting worse lately.

ive also noticed that when its dead cold season the grinding is worse and squeak(its not a squeak, its a weird whiirring sound) its louder. almost like grease is too dry for a smooth wheel turn.
during summer, when its hot its alot smoother and the grinding is lighter with lower whirring sound, kinda like the grease is melted and proper.
this is added to my repair list as well. its definately in the steering column mechanisms
im also experiencing a weird, very light squeal going from park to reverse after a cold start. it stops immediately before pulling out the driveway
 
taking to ford in the am. took there this evening and talked to a good friend of mine that works there and he also mentioned the clockspring possibility, The sound and feel is not there on start up and takes a good 15 to 20 mins of driving to start happening. I dont see how that can be the clock spring but they are gonna take a look at it in morning, also does anyone have the TSB regarding this issue that i can take up there in the morning???
 
A clockspring is the spring located parallel to the torqued dolly pins. Pull the no friction braking module and its behind there upper right hand corner.
 
took to dealer this morning and what do u know, rack is bad, replacing under warranty....sorry ford thats gonna be expensive, lol also they are replacing my rear deck speaker and pass rear speaker. sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. i love warranties
 
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