S2 steering noise

[georgethackray]

I have an intermittent problem on the steering of my 944 S2 Cab. Occasionally when turning while the car is moving slowly there is a 'reverberating' noise as though something is vibrating and causing a rather tuneful note! I can't recreate it, it just happens every so often. It's a bit like a deep hum, but only while the steering wheel is actually been turned. I suspect something os binding somewhere.

Any ideas?

 

[Fen]

They all do that. A fluid change might help, but it's a harmonic the system picks up. Usually reversing into a space in a car park can recreate it pretty effectively, especially at work if that gorgeous girl from marketing happens to be walking past at that moment in my experience []

 

[georgethackray]

Something I'll have to live with then I guess - thinking about it, it does occur more when reversing. If ever I'm down your way I'll try it while the gorgeous girl from marketing is walking past, it might not stop the noise, but it will take my mind off it[].

Cheers Fen.

 

[Fen]

I'm afraid that was the gorgeous girl from marketing at my last employer. Since she was doubtless made redundant along with the rest of us I have no idea where she is now.

 

[944psi]

I imagine she is on some handbag forum somewhere talking about the time Fen from IT was reversing into a parking space and his car trumped at her....[]

Another thing to consider - could it be the intermediate shaft in between the steering column and the rack? Mine made a graunching noise on some turns as the UJs had stiffened up. Just a thought!

Phil

 

[Justin85]

My 89 groans when reversing out of the drive sometimes too. Never really does it when going forward, and only at low speeds.

Justin.

 

[ianreeves]

My 968 does this too.. I thought it was to do with the conversion from LHD to RHD as we have a bit more pipe than Porsche intended. Also it can be improved with a fluid change...

 

[iainfuller]

Not wanting to be known as something of an owners manual anorak (although I was a train spotter as a boy!) it is actually referred to as a "rushing noise that occurs at full steering lock" and "is a characteristic of the construction and does not indicate a fault in the steering assembly".

And lets face it, we all start making embarrasing noises as we get older.

Now, on a totally unrelated issue...........

I loaded a picture of the car several months ago and have tried every which way to get it to load as my 'avatar'? but to no avail - any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

 

[georgethackray]

ORIGINAL: iainfuller
Not wanting to be known as something of an owners manual anorak (although I was a train spotter as a boy!) it is actually referred to as a "rushing noise that occurs at full steering lock" and "is a characteristic of the construction and does not indicate a fault in the steering assembly".

Hi Ian, that's a different noise I'm afraid - the rushing noise is something to do with the power steering pump still pumping when on full lock, and you hear the liquid. It's quite common on many cars with power steering. The noise I have - and by the []sound[] of it, I'm not alone - is completely different. It's a fairly low pitch hum / reverberation, and it occurs only when the steering wheel is being being turned before full lock is reached.

ORIGINAL: iainfuller
I loaded a picture of the car several months ago and have tried every which way to get it to load as my 'avatar'? but to no avail - any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

I had trouble getting my avatar to load - it was down to the size in kilobytes being too high.

 

[iainfuller]

George

interestingly enough I've never experienced the 'rush' but I do get the low thrumming noise. I assumed they were one and the same? Either way it sounds like a common affliction

Iain

 

[georgethackray]

I've heard the rushing noise more when I've been outside the car and someone else has been manouevering it. I guess inside the cockpit the sound insulation stops it.

 

[Fred Hindle]

George,
Check to fluid resevoir - see if it is foaming.
The problem sounds as if power steering orientated.

Cheers,

 

[iainfuller]

Here goes with a re-sized avatar!

 

[georgethackray]

ORIGINAL: iainfuller

Here goes with a re-sized avatar!

And still no joy by the look of things[]

 

[georgethackray]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle
Check to fluid resevoir - see if it is foaming. The problem sounds as if power steering orientated.

Hi Fred, I've checked the fluid and its clear of foam and is at the correct level. If you hear the noise, it doesn't seem to be power steering, its more like a bearing or something that's causing vibration, and the frequency of the vibration is high enough to be audible. You can feel the vibration through the steering wheel when it's at it's worst. Next time I see you I'll try to demonstrate it. It's a bit like the sound you get when you're sat in the pub waiting for your next pint to arrive, and in boredom, you run your finger round the rim of the glass. If you get it right, the glass will reverberate and give off a note. The steering does this, but lower, more like a hum.

 

[924nutter]

My 944S used to do that intermittently, and erroneously, or otherwise, I made the assumption that it was the power-steering belt starting to slip when under full load at somewhere aproaching full lock. Old fluid can do funny things. I read somewhere, maybe in the 928 forum, or maybe in this month's Post that a 928 had lost almost all of its self centring ability because of old ATF. For the cost of it it wouldn't break the bank to eliminate it.
Just to make you more jealous George, my Turbo Cab hasn't started doing it yet, so it must be a curable porblem

 

[Fen]

I'd describe it as a howl, but I'm sure it's the same noise. It is something to do with the RHD pipes having a different harmonic I believe, and it also has something to do with age as clearly Porsche would have fixed the problem if it had afflicted new cars. Fluid changes help sometimes, but not always.

 

[georgethackray]

Hi. The mention of harmonics makes sense. I'll try a fluid change......

Thanks.

 

[cdickinson]

Mine has done this for the last 18 months. It is definately audible and is an odd reverberation - only happens when reversing very slowly and normally going from hard right to hard left!
I just accept it as one of those nice quirks of running a more mature motor - I blame it on it's character if there is a tall blond walking by...
Fluid, reservior, pipes etc look perfect, so I just accept it as old age....(and the car's part are fine too!!)

 

[richthomas]

Mine does this too, and the only way to describe the sound is exactly like George did, running your finger round the rim of a glass. I put it down to lifting caliper plates making to pad just rub the disc, but could be fluid related. I get all the same symptoms as George, and it only occurs when turning right. If i touch the brake while doing it, it stops, so that is what lead me to think it is caliper related. Normally happens as I turn on to my drive, or into my road, both right handers.