Weird sound from the steering wheel in a Maruti Suzuki Dzire

It is amplified if the steering is turn towards one side and I cross a speed breaker. The sound does not comes while going over a pothole or speed breaker with a straight steering.

BHPian Sounak04 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a Maruti Dzire ZDI AMT (bought in March 2018). The car has clocked around 51000 km till date.

Recently, I have started noticing this khat khat sound coming from the steering wheel when turning the wheel towards left or right. It is amplified if the steering is turn towards one side and I cross a speed breaker. The sound does not comes while going over a pothole or speed breaker with a straight steering.

I did find any changes in the weight or feel of the steering. It might be due to that fact that the Dzire has a very bad steering which does not weigh up properly.

I feel that the sound is coming from the Steering Rack, though I might be wrong.

I just wanted to know if anyone can tell me what the issue is. Also, my car is under Extended Warranty and if its the Steering Rack, will the same be covered under EW. I have 3.5k km more to cover before servicing. So is it advisable to drive for 3,500 km more or should I immediately go to the Service Center?

Here's what BHPian Agarwal_Aayush had to say on the matter:

To me, this looks like the driveshafts have gone bad on your car. To check these, a mechanic in my car once turned the steering completely to left or right and started moving the car at some speed, if you hear the "kat kat" noise, that is mostly the driveshaft. If its steering rack, that should be replaced under extended warranty, driveshaft I don't think will be covered under this, still there is no harm is asking for it. Do get the same checked at the MASS at the earliest.

Here's what BHPian Indian2003 had to say on the matter:

This is a typical noise with worn outer driveshaft CV-joints. Noise at left turn means the right CV-joint is worn. If the noise comes at a right turn, the left joint is worn.

Looks like both of yours are worn but they should not wear at 51,000 km. Have a look at the rubber boot for damage.

My driveshafts are still going strong at 405,000 km.

Here's what BHPian Jaggu had to say on the matter:

If it is a continuous khat khat synchronised with wheel speed, then it is a CV joint like others have mentioned. If it is sound coming from up and down movement like a bad road, then you need to check the suspension links and bushes. But most likely it is the former.

Get it attended, you don't want to be stranded in these Covid times with a broken car.

Here's what BHPian asit.kulkarni93 had to say on the matter:

Marutis are notorious for steering rack & caliper pin related issues. Please get both these things checked in addition to the stabilizer Link. If you get this sound on full turn then its your axle or the boot. Best to get it checked with a FNG first and the approach Maruti Suzuki SVC. Incase they don't honour the warranty, you can get it replaced outside.

Here's what BHPian paragsachania had to say on the matter:

You will be able to isolate between the rack, CV axle/shaft, caliper pins or suspension by following the below steps.

If it is a clicking noise, intensity of which is proportionate to the rate of change of your vehicle speed AND more prominent when you are taking turns (steering wheel in left or right position), it will be your drive shaft/CV axle.

You may also park your car on a flat (and smooth) surface, turn off the ignition and turn the steering fully to the left and right and notice any noise. A bad steering rack will be noisy and you will be easily able to notice this.

I would also suggest to first take the car to a pressure washing center, lock the wheels by turning steering on both sides, spray water on the suspension outer springs generously and then carry out the steering rack test mentioned above. At times, the outer springs of the suspension strut when they get twisted as your turn the steering also makes such noise.

Finding out if it is caliper noise is very easy. Make a fist and hit the sidewalls and a dry caliper housing will result in you being able to distinctly hear metallic clinks indicating calipers are dry with no grease and are hitting the caliper housing resulting in that noise.

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