weird steering problem. suspension? rack?

[lincolnlogs]

happy friday LVC.
lovin' my 02 LS still.

until it started getting colder, now im just straight upset. lol

my poor LS started making what i would describe as a "squeeking" noise.
i would say its a rubber and metal noise. like if you press and rub your hand down a clean window(same type of screech) only on the driver side tire. turning left or right, but only in certain spots of the rotation does it get bad. its very loud, and i would like to say its not a power steering problem because it doesnt change when i rev it up or anything. and sometimes it wont do it at all. seems that when i drive smooth roads, it doesnt do it. or if its parked for a long time, it wont do it. any help is appreciated. as far as i know, no front end work has been done in a while..

anyone had this problem? its definately a "rubbery" like sound. ive found the threads about the power steering additive, but i really want to say its not that. it is louder outside the car (near wheel) than inside.
people stare when im turning into a parking spot.
thanks in advance!

 

[DANRS112]

Not sure without actually hearing it....My steering sounded like it was working harder than it needed to...flushed the fluid and it sounds better now. Fluid looked horrible. Since it's something cheap/easy thats where I would start.

Grab a turkey baster/ pump and siphon out what you can and see if it looks bad at least.

I also ended up replacing almost all of the steering suspension parts. Outer tie rods were bad, ball joints, sway bar end links, upper control arms, rear toe links etc.

From what I understand it's uncommon for the inner tie rods to go out on these cars but I could be wrong.

 

[Shredicus]

Found a TSB pertaining to the 2nd gens. Not sure if it's applicable but sounds like it can be remedied with a friction modifier if it's the same issue:

TSB

06-5-16

STEERING GEAR SQUEAK WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL DURING LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS

Publication Date: March 7, 2006
FORD:
2003-2005 Thunderbird
LINCOLN:
2003-2005 Lincoln LS, Aviator


This article supersedes TSB 4-10-1 to update the vehicle model years.

ISSUE:

Some 2003-2005 Thunderbird, Aviator, and Lincoln LS vehicles may exhibit 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.

ACTION:

Refer to the following Service Procedure.

SERVICE PROCEDURE


NOTE:

USE ONLY THE FLUID AND ADDITIVE SPECIFIED IN THIS ARTICLE. USING ANY OTHER FLUIDS OR ADDITIVES MAY RESULT IN SEAL DETERIORATION AND LEAKS.

Open the hood and remove the power steering reservoir cap.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 100-00.
With engine off, drain power steering fluid by disconnecting steering lines and clamp plate from steering gear. Refer to Steering Gear Removal and Installation procedure in Workshop Manual, Section 211-00, follow only the steps required to disconnect the steering lines.
Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock to drain fluid completely.
Reconnect steering lines and clamp plate to steering gear. Torque retainer to 15 N-m (11 lb-ft) for Lincoln LS and Thunderbird, torque to 25 N-m (18 lb-ft) for Aviator.
Lower vehicle.
In a clean container mix 50 ml (10 teaspoons or 1.7 oz.) of Motorcraft Additive Friction Modifier, Part Number XL-3, with 50 ml of Motorcraft MERCON® Multi-Purpose Automatic Transmission Fluid, Part Number XT-2-QDX.
NOTE: DO NOT PERFORM STEPS 8 AND 9 ON A HOT VEHICLE.
Pour the above mixture into the power steering reservoir.
Top off (fill) the power steering system with Motorcraft MERCON® Multi-Purpose Automatic Transmission Fluid, Part Number XT-2-QDX and reinstall the power steering reservoir cap.
Raise vehicle on hoist enough so the front wheels are off the ground and can be turned from lock-to-lock.
Start the engine and keep it at idle. Remain inside of the vehicle.
Slowly cycle the steering wheel from lock-to-lock for two (2) minutes.
Quickly and forcefully turn the steering wheel in one direction to full lock (either side). Bounce the steering wheel on/off of full lock twenty (20) times forcefully.
NOTE: IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY IN ORDER TO CREATE A PRESSURE SPIKE IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM.
Repeat Step 13 in the other direction. Return the steering wheel to on center position.
Slowly turn steering wheel to full lock in one direction (either direction) to achieve maximum pump pressure. Hold at full lock for one (1) second, then turn the steering wheel back 90 degrees as quickly as possible. Repeat this procedure twenty (20) times.
NOTE: DO NOT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AGAINST THE STOPS FOR MORE THAN THREE TO FIVE (3-5) SECONDS AT A TIME. DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY OCCUR.
Repeat Step 15 in the other direction.
Cycle the steering wheel slowly for 1 minute to confirm that the squeak is corrected and return vehicle to the customer.
NOTE: IF THE SQUEAK CONTINUES, REPEAT STEPS 13-16 ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. IF THE SQUEAK IS STILL NOT CORRECTED PROCEED TO STEP 18.
If the squeak is still present after performing Step 17, replace the steering gear. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 211-00 for removal and installation procedures.

 

[stugots]

I have a similar problem although i'm not sure if it can be heard from the outside. I did the tsb and it quieted it, but its still there along with a little clunk and looseness in the wheel. I have an appointment Tuesday.

 

[lincolnlogs]

Found a TSB pertaining to the 2nd gens. Not sure if it's applicable but sounds like it can be remedied with a friction modifier if it's the same issue:

im leaning away from power steering problems, my wheel does not feel harder to turn, or hesitant at ALL.. just screaches like a mad cat! doesnt drive any different, no tire wear, nothing.. sounds like dry rubber and a dry metal. Power steering fluid is clean and topped off. i hear no noise coming from it.. besides the normal "hum"

someonehas to have had this problem before?

 

[lincolnlogs]

I have a similar problem although i'm not sure if it can be heard from the outside. I did the tsb and it quieted it, but its still there along with a little clunk and looseness in the wheel. I have an appointment Tuesday.

mines extrememly noticable from the outside. similar to nails on a chaulk board, hand on clean glass, rubbery noise.

im out of ideas!

 

[Shredicus]

mines extrememly noticable from the outside. similar to nails on a chaulk board, hand on clean glass, rubbery noise.

im out of ideas!

Well ~5 bucks gets you a bottle of XL-3 from the dealership. Might be worth a shot before delving into replacing bushings and whatnot

 

[lincolnlogs]

Well ~5 bucks gets you a bottle of XL-3 from the dealership. Might be worth a shot before delving into replacing bushings and whatnot

fair point. worth a shot. i'll post back with results. can i pull the return line off the resivoir and continue draining, running the pump and adding clean fluid and xl-3 until its clean? then replace the line?

 

[joegr]

mines extrememly noticable from the outside. similar to nails on a chaulk board, hand on clean glass, rubbery noise.

im out of ideas!

Ball joints?
Tie rod ends?
Rack bushings?

does the noise happen only as you turn the steering wheel, or can you hold the wheel at the right spot and have the noise continue while it is still?

 

[Shredicus]

fair point. worth a shot. i'll post back with results. can i pull the return line off the resivoir and continue draining, running the pump and adding clean fluid and xl-3 until its clean? then replace the line?

Honestly I've never gotten all that involved. I just take a turkey baster to it.

 

[lincolnlogs]

Ball joints?
Tie rod ends?
Rack bushings?

does the noise happen only as you turn the steering wheel, or can you hold the wheel at the right spot and have the noise continue while it is still?

only happens as i turn it. if its screeching and i stop, noise stops. every centimenter the tire turns it makes the screeching. ONLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE.

its acting as if the tire is on shiny glass, and is screeching as it rotates.
like an annoying kid with his damp shoes walking across clean tile..

you know? lol
steering stops, noise stops. vise versa.

 

[LS4me]

Sounds like low fluid to me........

 

[jrand]

are you 100% sure the sound is coming from the tire?
because the description of the noise itself (wiping glass or whatever) sounds like the sound my intermediate shaft u joints make when it gets cold. wd40 on the u joints fixed that. but the u joints make a lot of racket inside the car. I am not 100% certain about any sound outside the car bc of the u joints. a search on that will yield more info if needed.
i think you should probably take that to lincoln and let them take a look if fluid looks ok and basic visual inspection fails to provide any further leads.

 

[Broseph]

only happens as i turn it. if its screeching and i stop, noise stops. every centimenter the tire turns it makes the screeching. ONLY ON THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE.

its acting as if the tire is on shiny glass, and is screeching as it rotates.
like an annoying kid with his damp shoes walking across clean tile..

you know? lol
steering stops, noise stops. vise versa.

Was this issue ever resolved? And what was the cause?

I am having the exact same issue in the exact same spot. No noise inside the car, it is definitely coming from the wheel well area. The only thing is I replaced my upper control arm and sway bar links a year ago, and my lower ball joints in the fall.

I have no issue with the steering stiffening or anything, I mainly get it at lower speeds or when stopped, and it only happens when I turn the wheel off center left or right.

It's just so damned loud and I can't figure out what's causing it, so hopefully you figured something out or someone else knows a possible issue

 

[956LS8]

I just started having this issue as well. I think that my power steering fluid is low . What could this be?

 

[lincolnlogs]

not sure honestly. it went away. i got into an accident, and had a 4 wheel alignment and grease done, and the sound is gone. so unless they replaced some magic parts and didnt tell me?

 

[Broseph]

They obviously changed the coils.