[sleeping.in.malibu]

Hey whatsupp guys i have a 2009 LT2 3.6 Malibu. i love it, its a great first car. its started to happen a few months ago before my partents gave me the car. as i didnt adress it it got worse. when i turn the wheel all the way to the right you hear a grinding crunching noise from pretty much the steering collum front wheels its kinda hard to explain but when it makes the noise the steering wheel fights me a basically jerks to the left its not impossible to turn but it becomes difficult. so in september i brought it in and they replaced the U-joint...didnt do a thing.....brought it in 2 days ago, i just got home from school and my parents suprised me with it...i got in...exactly the same..i forget the name but they replaced a "shaft" theres a word infront of shaft but idk what it is haha. i have a friend that has a sable and he said he had the same problem but it was the rack and pinion but the guys and chevy said that wasnt the case. if anyone has this same problem plleaasseeee pleasseeee pleaseeee help me

thanks alot, Frankie

 

[chevyguy8893]

First off, welcome to the site.

Is there any way you would be able to record a video of the problem, it may make things easier. I would say to start check the fluid level for the power steering. Does it make any noises driving straight down the road? Was it the CV shaft or intermediate shaft that they replaced?

Another thing to possibly check is turn the wheel all the way one way or another and check to see if anything is rubbing against the tire or wheel.

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

hey thanks and ill check the fluid tomorrow but i think they would have checked that, no noise driving straight, it only grinds to the right so idt anything rubs but ill check that to, it was the intermediate shaft , and i can deffinatly get a vid thats a good idea

 

[chevyguy8893]

They are just thoughts. I didn't realize you said turning to the right, low powersteering fluid would make noise both ways. An intermediate shaft would have caused a clunk noise, but I have never had one binding or making noises you described. I forgot to ask, does the car make the noise stopped with the wheel turned? The video will make things easier to help pinpoint the issue.

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

stopped and while driving, i just took a video of it i just dont kno how to show you it

 

[Silver LTZ]

stopped and while driving, i just took a video of it i just dont kno how to show you it

Post it on YouTube and link it.

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

uploading it as we speak haha

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

put your volume up all the way so you can really hear it

 

[DrivenDaily]

If you were moving I'd say it sounds like the shoulder of the tire catching on the plastic inner wheel well liner. But you speedo shows no movement!

The only time I get any kind of steering noise whatsoever is when I'm doing a power U-turn to avoid a 3-4 minute wait at the left turn. I go to the next intersection (depending on traffic) and do a legal U-turn. When I don't have to stop I can execute it at about 20 MPH. When I do the steering groans but I know it's only because I'm at idle and forcing it to work too hard. When I'm stopped at the same intersection I can turn the wheel fully left and get no sound. But the sound I get is not even close to as loud as that. I don't know if this has helped, but I certainly hope you find the cause and get it fixed!

 

[chevyguy8893]

Sounds like a shudder cause by the hydraulic power steering to me. The is a couple bulletins from GM to run a test on the power steering system and see what the pressures are. If they fall into a certain number there is a hydraulic pressure hose to replace. Also, it could be a hydraulic power steering pump issue. One other thing that may cause the problem is at some point the wrong power steering fluid may have been put in and contaminated the fluid in the system, which eventually leads to pump failure. Since it causes resistance turning it's most likely a pump issue or maybe a steering gear (rack and pinion) issue.

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

yeah thanks and its worse in person i turn peoples heads when im backing into a parking spot and it makes noise

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

yeah i have to brink it back to chevy its rediculous and i had a friend who had the same problem and it was the rack and pinon so ill have to throw the shop manager a few suggestions but tthank you sooo much for your suggestionss

 

[chevyguy8893]

Has the car been going to a dealership for work or a small general shop? I'm confused how they came to replacing the intermediate shaft for that noise. I have heard that noise in a few chevy traverse's and it turned out to be the rack and pinion, but it never sounded near that bad.

 

[sleeping.in.malibu]

ive been going to atlantic chevy up here in new york bc everythings still warrantied but now your the second person to tell me rack and pinion so when im able to give them my car again im letting them kno that has to be the problem...and IMO the reason they did the indermidate shaft is bc they didnt hear the sound, properly, im the only one that knows when its does it bc it only happens when its turn fairly slow and my dad was never able to do and hes the one who dropped off the car this time so im thinking the mechanics just took a guess but im deffinatly going next time to show them exactly what it is

 

[DrivenDaily]

Be careful about how you present your case! Telling a tech what needs replaced instead of giving them all the details so they can properly diagnose it can lead to egos flaring. It's not ideal but it happens.

A tech being told "the sound is coming from the rear" or "it sounds the same as a fuel pump whine" will give them the kind of info they need to ensure they find your issue. Telling them "replace the fuel pump" puts you in the position of diagnosing the issue, and after it's replaced and the noise is still there, who's to blame?

So my suggestion is in line with your last post: Go in with the car, ask the service writer to have their tech come up, show them how to recreate the issue, and get them to verify that they've witnessed it. It leads to the greatest success, which is all you want when it's all said and done.

If you aren't satisfied with your service experience at one dealer, go to another.

When I had my '09 the selling dealer damaged or improperly reassembled the car almost every visit. I checked the car every time it came out and even started taking pictures before leaving it! Finally, they got tired of me telling them to make it right and told me to go to another dealer. So I did. Know what? Over there they treated me and my car so well that I traded it in and got my '11. So, don't be stuck on one service location.

 

[greenman]

I'd lay odds on a bad pump. GM & their power steering gremlins strike again.