My Ford crown vic's steering squeaks really loudly when turning. My father-in-law said his thunderbird did that, and after pouring brake fluid into the power steering fluid reservoir, the squeaks stopped, plugging any leaks. Ever heard of this trick or tried it yourself?

4/11/2008 12:27:40 PM

Power steering fluid is just a variant of a hydraulic fluid, some say to use auto trans fluid as well since it works well too. Personally I wouldnt use brake fluid since that shit is pretty dam corrosive, drop some on your paint and see what happens in a few days/weeks. Have you checked that your serp belt isn't glazed and needs replacement? Sometimes heavier loading on a worn belt i.e. power steering when turning or the a/c compressor can cause slippage and squealing.


[Edited on April 11, 2008 at 1:22 PM. Reason : afsdk]

4/11/2008 1:16:56 PM

If it were the serpentine belt I think it would squeal all the time; my car makes a grinding, squeaking noise only when making a turn, usually at really slow speeds, like pulling in and out of parking spaces.

4/11/2008 1:34:54 PM

^^ what he said

4/11/2008 2:11:42 PM

not trying to hijack your thread, but I have a 2001 Kia Optima with a power steering fluid leak. The leak isn't the problem because I know where that's coming from (a hose), but the drive belt below it (I'm assuming the drive belt that controls the power steering) isn't turning like it should. When you turn the wheel it slows down until it almost stops and starts smoking. The belt has had some power steering fluid leak on it, so did the belt just get glazed with the fluid and so it's not catching like it should on the pulleys?

Also, anyone who could tell me how easy that belt would be to change and maybe how to do it would be helpful too.

4/11/2008 3:40:22 PM

^ depending on the wear on the belt you might be able to just tighten it... dont think that model kia has an auto tensioner... if it does, or if the belt is badly worn or stretched then replacement and proper tensioning will be required- rather straightforward job- a couple of bolts on the pump along with an adjusting bolt- of course if its an inboard belt, the others will have to be removed to replace the p/s belt.

as for the OP's crown vic- dont dump brake fluid in there! lucas makes a power steering stop leak/squeal reducer that i've had good luck with- but is the trouble for sure in the power steering? The lower ball joints are a common failure item on those cars- can make a loud, coarse squeak when you turn the wheel sharply, which fits your description

4/11/2008 10:18:00 PM

brake fluid will perform okay, but i still wouldn't use it because it's so corrosive/caustic. it's definitely not a magic cure if that's what you're asking. however, never ever put power steering fluid or atf in brakes. swell the seals/lines, and otherwise wreaks havoc on the rubber parts.

just flush the thing and put some fresh atf in. if it doesn't stop and you're sure it's not from a high pressure hose or fitting, try some stop leak additive.

as for the belt squeaking, it's not common at all for it to only do it when you turn. that's when the pump pully is building the most resistance against the belt, and it's slipping. with the wheel in a fixed position, the pump spins freely.

4/12/2008 3:14:10 AM

Quote :

"My Ford crown vic's steering squeaks really loudly when turning."

Quote :

"Ford"

Quote :

"power steering"

just deal with the noise like everyone else that drives one, the problem has been around since '88

4/14/2008 11:49:19 AM

I replaced the serp belt and it still squeals just as badly. I guess I'll inspect the lower ball joints when I get a chance.

4/14/2008 7:25:26 PM

Look at the ball joints, but also be prepared to accept the noise as a fact of life. Crown Victorias in particular are notorious for noisy power steering once the car starts to get older. If high mileage is also part of the equation, you may just need to live with it.

4/15/2008 1:52:45 AM

why'd you replace the serpentine belt instead of the power steering?

If it's not your ball joints, then I say your pump is dying. I've had to replace 2 pumps on my car and their deaths started with an unfixable squealing like that. Belt was tightened to spec and fluid levels good.. Eventually it would lock up squeal loudly during turning just like the guy in the Kia's (yeah his is dying too I say); it's the sound of the belt being forced around the locked pulley.

Good thing is, I'm sure you can find your power steering pump for cheap

4/15/2008 7:11:49 AM

Quote :

"why'd you replace the serpentine belt instead of the power steering?"

lol

4/15/2008 7:30:00 AM

well some cars have a serpentine belt and one smaller belt driving one accessory

4/15/2008 7:49:57 AM

haha

ford power steering sound.

isnt that a factory additive? dont they tell you about that when you buy the car.

4/15/2008 8:49:21 AM

My next suspicion is the power steering pump. The fluid level is right at the minimum fill line, so I don't suspect a leak (should I?). I'll have to wait until I can get someone to turn the steering wheel while I look at the PS pulley to see if it locks up. Lord I hope it's not the lower ball joints - the Hanes manual claims they have to be replaced at a service shop with specialized tools and that the entire control arm has to be replaced, not just the ball joint. I priced control arms and they're like $180 each.

^^this model has a single serp belt for all the pulleys.

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 9:15 AM. Reason : fluid]

4/15/2008 9:11:27 AM

there is a huge damn difference between the balljoint squeaking and the power steering pump squealing

[Edited on April 15, 2008 at 10:34 AM. Reason : ]

4/15/2008 10:34:08 AM

Like a difference in how it sounds? Explain.

4/15/2008 12:24:22 PM

if you turn it to full lock, then give it hell so the wheels don't move but the power steering pump is at full load and it squeals, its definately the pump, you would hear the balljoints creaking and popping over bumps in a straight line too

4/15/2008 8:26:41 PM