Noise when turning right

SHIRLXJOHN

MEMBER
BUICK LESABRE

Own 1999 Buick LeSabre (w/ ABS) - 76,000 miles -- always had regular maintenance. Started making a loud noise like a fan blade was hitting metal whenever turned right; sound appeared to come from left front wheel. Had noise checked at both Buick dealer and regular mechanic (we have used both). Neither could pinpoint problem. Mechanic unhooked fan and still made same noise -- thought possible that motor mounts (which appeared to need to be replaced) were bad. Had new factory mounts installed -- did not solve problem. The noise sounds exactly like the noise a fan blade would make hitting metal and only happens when we turn left. They have checked wheels, etc. And cannot find source of noise. This does not affect the driving of the vehicle; just driving us nuts every time we turn right. Also, not knowing if it is something that could be dangerous driving. Any suggestions would really be appreciated.

Thursday, January 4th, 2007 AT 2:49 PM

3 Replies

MATHIASO

MECHANIC
1,209 POSTS

Check any parts that are in movement when turning to your left.
Do you hear the noise when driving or when in park? Or both?
Things like stabilizer links, check also the insulator and spring rubber seat, upper strut mount may result in strut chatter while cornering.

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Wednesday, January 17th, 2007 AT 10:15 AM

BOOTDOG

MECHANIC
665 POSTS

Look into the ball joints too. A lot of times they can make noises while turning also. This happens when the joint gets rusty and dry, and the sound amplifies through the vehicle.

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Wednesday, January 17th, 2007 AT 6:06 PM

SHIRLXJOHN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the suggestions. Just wanted you to know that the cause has been found! Surprisingly enough, our mechanic had finally found the problem when we received the following e-mail from another source:
This may sound right off the wall here but have them pull the starter motor and check whether the starter drive return spring has not broken. This return spring is designed to hold the starter drive gear away from the engine’s flywheel’s ring gear after the engine has been started. When the spring breaks the starter drive can float on the starter armature and bounce off the rotating flywheel making a sound as you described.
The first one that I found drove me crazy looking for it because we could not reproduce it here in the shop. Like you said it would only do it making turns and no there never was any indication of a starter problem. Why only on turns is because the engine is transverse (sitting side ways) and the g-force of the turn forces the drive to slide out.
The second one was on a 99 Jimmy. Again with this spring broken the starter dive was allowed to slide back and hit the spinning flywheel. Jimmy’s are rear or four wheel drive and the engine sits forwards between the wheels.
It'll only take them 10 or 15 minutes to pull the starter back and check this. So if I'm wrong you're not into a big expence.
AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS -- THESE FORUMS ALWAYS AMAZE ME HOW SOMEONE COMES UP WITH THE RIGHT ANSWER.

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Thursday, January 18th, 2007 AT 3:26 PM