As your vehicle gets older (or you drive on a lot of unmaintained roads), your suspension system will have some wear and tear. This could be as simple as loose nuts or more complicated like shrunken rubber bushing or leaking shocks or struts.

If you can recreate the sound by rocking the tire, you can confirm the general location of the noise. This makes it easier to explain the issue when you bring your car back into the shop.

Standard bolt lengths chart

When the bearings become warped or otherwise start to fail, the friction in your wheel hub begins to increase, resulting in this rotational noise, hum, or other vibration. If left unchecked, a bad bearing will cause the wheel to wobble and can cause the axle to seize and lock. While a failing bearing can be extremely dangerous it is also not an expensive repair. If you’re concerned about a potentially failing bearing, please don’t hesitate to bring it into the shop.

A typical ball bearing reduces friction in the wheel hub with small metal balls that roll between two smooth rings of metals. Note: the two most common types of wheel bearings are ball bearings and roller bearings, both of which work with the same process.

Grip lengthof bolt formula

Once again, your vehicle shouldn’t be making any unusual noises when you’re driving. If you’re in Edmonton and hearing some alarming sounds from your car, give the shop a call and we’ll get to the bottom of things.

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Boltgrip lengthChart

But, as we discussed in our last article about diagnosing car not starting noises, not all noises mean the same thing. Even though we’re talking specifically about noises that cars make while turning, the pitch, movement, and frequency of the noise can point to completely different causes.

The bolt grip length charts linked below are especially handy when replacing non-AN bolts. Measure the total thickness of the parts being bolted together (not including washers, nut, or female threads). Locate the bolt diameter and grip length (total thickness) in the table to find the required dash size.

If you’re hearing any more mechanical noises like clunking or rattling noises in the car, you might be dealing with suspension system issues. Your vehicle suspension system is the buffer between your car frame and the pavement. The point of the suspension system is to maximize the friction between your tires and the road. This creates stability while steering absorbs bumps/shock, and makes you and your passengers more comfortable.

Grip lengthcalculator

When your fluid is running low or needs to be changed, you might also notice that you need more force when trying to turn the wheel. Generally power steering fluid needs to be changed every five years, if you’re low on fluid, it may indicate a leak in the vehicle.

Grip lengthbolt

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Boltlengthcalculator

The most important part of identifying where the noise is coming from is to remember that turning side doesn’t mean location. Just because a noise happens when you turn in a direction, doesn’t mean that the source of the problem is on that specific side of your vehicle.

A creaking noise around corners is often a signal of a worn ball joint or upper strut mount. This could also be accompanied by a knocking noise when you go over bumps. Also, the car can make a knocking sound when turning, if a tie rod is loose or failing.

* Note: A popular misconception is that the dash number gives the shank length in full inches plus eighths of an inch (-15 would mean 1 5/8" shank length). The numbering sequence seems to back this up -- the dash numbers skip right from -7 to -10 (i.e., -8, -9, -18, -19, etc. are not used). This would be convenient, but in reality it is not the case. Each dash number specifies a different length for different bolt diameters. You must refer to a size chart or AN bolt gauge to find the correct dash number.

Grip lengthin inches

Thread Length is constant for each bolt diameter. It is calculated to be enough for one AN960 flat washer under the head, a full-height AN365 or AN310 nut, and one AN960 flat washer under the nut. Grip lengths are in 1/8" increments. AN960 washers are 1/16" thick (1/32" thick for the L version). If your application falls between two grip lengths, you can add one or two more washers to a bolt with the next longer grip.

This is because turning your vehicle changes the position of the load: if you’re turning left, your right tire/wheel/CV joint is also turning left. The load is shifting and therefore reveals if any of your supports are starting to fail.

If you think the noise is only coming from one specific area of the vehicle, you can do a few physical checks to confirm. For instance, if you swear you only hear the noise from the front passenger side tire, you can try to recreate the noise by rocking your tire back and forth.

If you are met with an alarming squealing noise when turning the steering wheel, this could be a symptom of low power-steering fluid. Power-steering fluid is an important part of your power steering system. It is the lubricant that keeps the link between your steering wheel and front wheel running smoothly. It also extends the life of the moving parts in your steering system by preventing corrosion or abrasion.

Rotational Noises If your vehicle is making a noise that sounds like a playing card in bicycle spokes, this could be a sign that your wheel bearings are starting to wear out. Your wheel bearings are the small metal balls (or rollers) within small rings designed to reduce friction and allow vehicle wheels to spin freely. They are located in the wheel hub, which is the part responsible for connecting the wheel to each axle.

Grip lengthchart

That being said, harmonics are a huge factor. A noise can sound completely different or have a different location depending on whether or not you’re testing on the road or in a garage, so do keep that in mind.

In the second of our ‘diagnosing noises with your vehicle’ series, we’re going to be focusing on a big one: noises that cars make when turning. When it comes to noises while turning, pinpointing the source of the issue can depend on a lot of factors. To arm yourself: it’s best to record (and know how to look for) various symptoms to explain the issue to your mechanic better.

Grip refers to the unthreaded portion of the shank. This is the portion of the bolt that should bear against the inside of the hole. The threaded portion is not as strong as the shank in shear and does not present a good bearing surface for the parts being bolted together. Under vibration or movement, the threads can damage the hole.

Another thing to watch out for is car belts making noises like squeaking or squealing when accelerating. Numerous factors can contribute to noises during acceleration. Typically presenting as squeaking or squealing, especially at the onset of acceleration or when turning, it often indicates wear or looseness in the belt. Additionally, a failing pulley can disrupt the smooth movement of the belt and can result in the car making noise when accelerating.