Power steering making creaking noise

[sumomus_01]

My power steering is making a creaking noise when turning the wheel at low speeds i.e when parking etc. there's plenty of power steering fluid in.

MK3 Golf driver 1.8 1994

Any ideas?

[Desertfish]

Is it making a creaking noise or more something that comes close to a buzzing noise?

Mine is a 1995 and is doing a similar thing. When I talked to my mechanic about it he told me that that was the power steering working.

[milescook]

Does it happen when you turn to full lock? (Which you would do at low speeds I'm guessing). If so don't turn to full lock, and get your steering rubbers changed. They are an MOT failure anyway (or so I was told and charged for).

[P0WERS160]

Yeh how come it makes that whirring noise when (on any car with PAS) you proper full lock the steering wheel? I even managed to stall (right word..?) a car once by just sitting there with the engine running and holding the steering on a tight full lock!!

[milescook]

The Power Steering uses power from the engine to help you turn the steering wheel in a nutshell. When you turn the wheel to full lock, it's trying in vain to turn past full lock and makes these "groaning" noises, like someone tryingto do something vey hard!

Because it's drawing so much energy from the engine trying to turn the wheels past full lock, and can stall the engine. You have rubbers that stop you turning to far, but they try to absorb the force of the power steering. When these wear they become softer and there is less absorbing and more of a firm wall, if you get my drift.

The top tip here is if you turn to full lock turn back slightly, in fact that's what myh driving instructor who was also a mechanic used to tell me.

[P0WERS160]

Yeh that is what I instinctively did, just wondered why.. Cheers

[jona_20017]

My '94 Golf was making the same noises when the wheel was turned. the garage where I had it serviced informed me I needed replacement half shafts, cost me sixty quid to get this done. Seems to have cured the problem

[sumomus_01]

I took mine to a local garage and was told by a fella that over time the mk3 power steering takes air through a small leak that vw recalled the cars for to replace a part (many never went back). he released the trapped air and the creaking stopped. that and a brake readjustment - £20.

[cadiz1]

Hi Folks,

My mk iV Golf was making noises when turning the wheel . Sometimes sounding like a exhaust blowing. Read all your postings. In the end problem proved to be very simple. changed alternator belt and tensioner . The problem was the tensioner. At one point it was thought to be the power steering pump.

Always start at the simple components!

Hope this helps