There are occasions when cars make noise at different points, or when the cars have to perform certain functions like igniting, accelerating, slowing down, or turning.
This noise is usually an indication that something is wrong somewhere in the vehicle and depending on the type of noise, that is the sound, the frequency at which it sounds, and when it sounds, you get to discover what is wrong with your vehicle and what you need to do to fix it.
Therefore, the reason why your car makes noise when turning right but not left is because of a worn-out wheel bearing, a broken steering rack and pinion, loose or bad shocks and struts, a loose or bad power steering system, bad CV joints, and bad tie rods.
Can a Car Make Noise When Turning Right but not Left?
Yes, your car can act up in the form of bringing out unpleasant sounds and noise when you are turning right and will be silent, not delivering the same sound when you are turning left.
This is because the components on the right side of a vehicle are different from those on the left side, and when one or more components on the right side of a vehicle are acting up, you get unpalatable noise when you are turning on that end.
What Causes Car to Make Noise When Turning Right but not Left?
Here are some of the problems that could cause your car to make noise when you are turning right, but not left:
1. Worn-out Wheel Bearing
The Wheel bearing of a vehicle is responsible for the smooth running of the vehicle while driving. It ensures that there’s little or no friction that might cause grinding or churning noise.
When you start to hear a noise as you turn right, it most likely means that the wheel bearing has gone bad or worn out and needs to be replaced.
2. A Broken Steering Rack and Pinion
This is one of the major reasons why your car makes noise when turning right but not left. The steering rack and pinion are an integral part of a steering system, and although they are strong and durable, they have several moving parts that aid the flexibility and movement of the steering.
For that reason, these moving parts experience wear, causing them to malfunction and produce the grinding noise from turning right.
3. Shocks or Struts
These are the suspension components of a vehicle, and they experience loosening and wear and tear as well. When your shocks and struts go bad, they can be responsible for the noise you experience when you try to turn right.
4. CV Joints
CV joints are responsible for transmitting power at a steady and constant rotation level through the drive shaft. When the CV joints are faulty, there is a churning noise that comes out of your vehicle when you try to turn right.
CV joints are useful at the front wheels of your vehicle, and whenever you want to turn right, the front wheels are engaged, this is why any fault in the CV joints will lead to loud noises coming out from your car when you want to turn right.
5. Power Steering System
Noise coming from your car when you try to turn right could also be the fault of the steering system itself. There could be a loose nut or a damaged part, or it could also be that some part of the power steering system has suffered wear.
Either way, if there is something wrong with your power steering system, it can lead to disturbing noise when you want to turn right.
6. Bad Tie Rods
The tie rods are also a major part of the power steering system, and they can cause issues with turning left and not right.
You know that the tie rods are bad when you are experiencing grunting noises when you try to turn right, or when you’re slowing down.
How to Fix Car Makes Noise When Turning Right But Not Left
When your car is making noise as you turn right but doesn’t make noise when you’re negotiating a left turn, there are several possible fixes to this problem. Here are a few:
- When the issue is with the tie rods, you should inspect them by lifting your vehicle using a jack and checking what has gone awry. It could be that there’s been corrosion of the metal surrounding it, or in another way, it has broken.
- The inner tie rod should not also be ignored as you inspect the outer one. If they are completely irredeemable, then you must replace them.
- If the issue, after checking, is the suspension shocks or struts, you would have to change them. The struts and shocks take on a lot of responsibility, and for this reason, the chances that they are the cause of the noise your vehicle is making as you turn right are high.
- The fix you can introduce to a vehicle that is making noise when turning to the right because of a worn-out wheel bearing would be to, first of all, check the wheel bearing under the vehicle by using a jack to lift the vehicle.
- After checking the wheel bearing and the tie rods to confirm what could be causing the issue and you find out it is the wheel bearing that has worn out, you will need to find and fix a replacement sooner rather than later.
- Another thing that could have gone bad, as earlier said, is the power steering. When the power steering system itself is faulty, then it needs to be fixed.
- Usually, it is not advisable to do the fixing of this part of the vehicle or any other part that also has a link to the brake system by yourself. Take your vehicle to the nearest mechanic to have the power steering fixed.
- For bad CV joints that are producing a clicking sound, you have to either clean out all the debris that must have accumulated in the CV joints, properly maintain it and if it can’t be helped, you must replace the CV joints to make sure your driving don’t become increasingly dangerous.
Final Thoughts
Your car can make noises when you drive right and be completely silent when you drive left. If you are experiencing this phenomenon, it could be a result of a bad wheel bearing, suspension shocks, faulty power steering system, or constant-velocity (CV) joints.
When you discover what the problem is, you must do relative care. If you have to clean out the dirt, clean it. If you have to replace the whole part, do it as a little bad tick might cause your vehicle to be unhealthy overall.
