Hey all,

Just started experiencing a new sound while turning at low speeds today, kind of freaked me out. I was pulling in to my local Advance Auto Parts and was turning into a parking space when I heard a repetitive crackling noise. I later just went in on adjacent empty lot and did a couple of low speed hard turns just to see if I could replicate the sound. It happend while turning both left and right. I had my axle replace a few years ago because I was hearing knocking while making turns at low speeds but this sound is different. Not so much a knocking as it is almost like a metallic tearing sound or somthing like cutting plastic ribbon with a jagged knife or something. I got the car on ramps and checked the axle and cv joints and there was no sign of anything peculiar. I've seen busted cv joints on my previous car so I made sure to check those but they were fine. Anyone give any pointers? I'm thinking of driving to my dealership tomorrow morning and having it checked out.

 

get front wheels off ground and geab at 12 and 6 and push pull as if to pry wheel off and see if you feel movement . if so it's maybe hub bearings

 

Could be the universal joint (don't know the the actual name) under the dash.
I had this problem and the dealer fixed it by replacing the universal joint.

 

I had a right hub bearing go bad a while ago, but it exhibited no play and only made noise when turning left at first and later on a bit when going straight. Turning right, there was no noise.

 

I believe i am experiencing the same sounds as the OP. they are faint however annoying. car drives fine but makes noises that are not normal.

 

I eventually did have it checked out the next day. The tech drove around with me and heard it and we scheduled an appointment two weeks later(MINI of Sterling is always slammed) since it didn't seem to be a safety issue. Strangely enough, by the time I brought it in, the noise had disappeared. The techs looked over it for a whole day and tried to replicate the sound, they couldn't. I haven't heard it since. Must've been those gremlins.

 

damn I was hooping for you to find the problem. mine does it all the time. it is about as consistent as consistent gets. it isnt a horrible sound just a groaning. do you happen to have an LSD in your car?

 

ok rather than start a new thread I am hoping that someone can help me in this one. I have an 06 MCS just bought and am getting this groaning upon turning. steering seems to be tight and this seems to happen at low speeds. any help?

 

I don't have LSD and I wouldn't say the sound was a groaning sound, it was more of like a crackling sound. It's gone now though.

 

took it to the local mini dealer. they said it was the runflats. a little far fetched but i guess it makes sense. i had noticed it before but oh well