Steering Making Grinding/cracking Noises When Turning Or Braking

[skyline_chick]

So i've noticed the last few days my steering has started making a grinding/cracking (best way I can describe) noise when I am turning, or more to the point when I am straightening the wheels from a turn.

I had some repairs done after a heavy kerb hit, I had bent the front and rear steering control arms (yes I know i've probably got the terminology wrong, but bear with me as I learn...) long story short, it was all fixed replacement parts sourced, alignment done, etc and was driving fine up until a couple of days ago.

Best way I can describe the noise is a crackling/clanking noise as I straighten up, and happens when I brake to slow down to a stop as well.

I haven't hit anything since, and I slow right down for potholes and bumps, always. The only time I can think of when it may have happened was chucking a u-turn the other night, I heard a popping sound and I think it has been like that since then. It is not pulling to the left, but def coming more from the left side.

Any ideas?

What have I done now.....????

(apologises for all my girl speak... I am learning slowly, but suspension/steering is something I have fairly limited knowledge of)

Any suggestions as to what this may be, how severe and what probably needs repairing would be muchly appreciated.

[GTR-N1]

So is it making a clackety-clack noise as you come out of a right hand turn and then start to accelerate till the wheels straighten up?

Your U-turn would have been a right-hander as well.

I'm thinking "Drive Shaft" at the moment on the left hand side.

[DaGr81]

There was a tutorial on this very problem not so long ago in the DIY section.

[skyline_chick]

So is it making a clackety-clack noise as you come out of a right hand turn and then start to accelerate till the wheels straighten up?

Your U-turn would have been a right-hander as well.

I'm thinking "Drive Shaft" at the moment on the left hand side.

Hey Terry,

Yeah happens only when turning to the right, fine when turning left, as I am turning it cracks quite a few times (crack crack crack, close together), then as the wheels are straightening back up. Kind've sounds like it's catching as it straightens, though it's turning freely enough. The U-turn was a right hander, though not a tight turn by any means.....

There was a tutorial on this very problem not so long ago in the DIY section.

Any suggested link to this? I had a look but had trouble finding not knowing quite what I was looking for... That and I get distracted with the piles of interesting DIY's in there....

Thanks guys....