hi all, i have noticed that when my car is in park and i have my foot on the brake, when i turn the steering wheel either left or right i hear this noise of cracking metal from underneath the steering wheel. this is not the sound of the tires rubbing on the road. just wondering if anyone else came across this issue. thanks!

 

Wheel bearing.

 

What kind of noises are you hearing when you drive the car? It's definitely a bearing if you hear a noise that sounds like a propeller plane increasing with speed, especially above 40 MPH. It's practically impossible to tell if the wheel bearing is bad when you're just sitting still doing nothing but turning the wheel. Another test you can do is turn the wheel to the extreme left or right and go in reverse. If you hear clicking in the front end you've got some bad CV joints. Time to take stuff apart and check the steering rack and all other front end components.

 

i actually don't hear anything when the car is in motion and i make a turn. it's when the car is parked i hear the sound. i had wheel bearings replaced in the car 6 months ago. are you referring to the same thing or are there bearings or something in the steering wheel too?

 

Did you ever get a diagnosis on your noise? My Clubman is doing the same thing, on high friction surfaces at slow speed I get a creaking noise when turning. Other than the noise it is tight as a drum, handles great.

 

I'm sorry but I can't help asking...why are you turning the steering when your car is in park and your foot is on the brake?

 

Well my best guess would be your struts, strut tower bearing, or lower control arm bushings or ball joints are worn out. Or some part of the steering linkage are wearing.

 

That really sounds (no pun intended) like it could be the strut tower bearing.

Part number 1:
http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...77&hg=31&fg=10

That part provides the swivel point for strut when you turn the steering. And it has the entire front end weight of the car on it.

 

That looks like a PIA to get out, any chance I could get some lube in there at least to see if it's the right part?

 

Yeah try to spray a bit of TriFlow with the little plastic tube way up at the top of strut tower about where it bolts to the car. Don't use WD40.

 

You could also try spraying some on the lower control arm ball joints as well.