[Duckman]

My car now has 140k miles and something is worn out. What is it and how do I fix it?



It's not a knock or a rattle and it's not a whine. It is an intermittent groan coming from somewhere near the front end of the car. It doesn't have anything to do with the engine or drive train but it does occur only in motion. It does not appear to be speed sensitive, as the pitch does not change with speed. In fact, it seems more common at slower speeds.



It is somehow connected to the front suspension or steering parts, because when it groans I can feel it in the steering wheel. I know it's weird but I can. Before somebody suggests it, the power steering unit is not low on oil. Of course I checked that first.



OK, so what is it? Could it be worn bushings in the tie rods or worn ball joints? Could it be in the steering rack? Could it be the power steering pump or something connected to it?



HELP! Anybody had this happen? Anybody got any great ideas?



...............and Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, and New Year, too. I still probably offended somebody.

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[josephsc]

I would disconnect the PS belt -- which is fairly easy to do, just take off the adjusting strut -- in order to rule out PS system as the source.

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