Scraping Sound When Turning: What’s Causing It and How to Fix It?

Common culprits for Scraping Sound include 

• worn brakes, 
• a damaged water pump, 
• worn alternators, 
• air conditioning compressors, 
• a worn clutch, 
• wheel misalignment, 
• and compromised wheel bearings. 

To ensure an accurate identification of the scraping noise’s origin, seeking the expertise of a qualified mechanic is recommended.

There is a lot to know when you face a scraping sound when turning your car. So you can read this article to have more understanding of this issue and its fixes.

Table of Contents

• What is causing the scraping noise when I turn the car?
  • Something in the Wheel:
  • Brakes need to be Replaced:
  • Car is out of Alignment:
  • Power steering fluid is low:
  • The shocks are Worn Out:
  • The CV Joint is Damaged:
• How Do I Fix the Scraping Noise When I Turn the Car?
• Scraping Sound When Turning Right at Low Speed
• Scraping Noise When Driving Slowly
• Why Does it Sound like Grinding when I Turn?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
  • What is the rubbing sound when I turn?
  • Why does my car make a scraping noise when I brake?
  • Why is my car making a metal scraping noise?
• Conclusion

What is causing the scraping noise when I turn the car?

A few things could be causing your car to make a scraping noise when you turn.

Something in the Wheel:

The most common reason for a scraping noise when turning is something caught in the wheel. It could be a small rock or piece of gravel that’s become lodged between the tire and the wheel well.

Brakes need to be Replaced:

Another possible reason for a scraping noise when turning is that the brake pads need to be replaced. When the brake pads wear down, they can start to make a metal-on-metal scraping sound.

Measure the brake pad thickness to see if it needs to be replaced.

Car is out of Alignment:

If the scraping noise happens when you turn one way only and not the other, it could be that the car is out of alignment. When the wheels are out of alignment, they can start to rub against each other as you turn, causing a scraping noise.

Power steering fluid is low:

If you notice that the scraping noise happens when you turn the steering wheel to one side but not the other, it could be that the power steering fluid is low or the car is losing the power steering fluid. When the fluid level is low, it can cause the steering to feel heavy and make a scraping noise.

The shocks are Worn Out:

Another possible reason for a scraping noise when turning is that the shocks are worn out. When the shocks are worn out, they can’t dampen the movement of the suspension well, which can cause the tires to rub against the wheel wells as you turn.

The CV Joint is Damaged:

The CV joint is a component that connects the transmission to the wheels. It’s responsible for transmitting power from the engine to the wheels and can become damaged over time.

If you notice that the scraping noise happens when you turn the steering wheel to one side but not the other, it could be that the power steering fluid is low. When the fluid level is low, it can cause the steering to feel heavy and make a scraping noise.

How Do I Fix the Scraping Noise When I Turn the Car?

If you’re hearing a scraping noise when you turn your car, it’s likely due to something we discussed above.

To fix this scraping noise issue:

1. Check your power steering fluid level and add more if it’s low.
2. Inspect the power steering belt for cracks or fraying and replace it if necessary.
3. Flush the power steering system and add new fluid.
4. Check the clutch release fork and throw-out bearing if you have a manual transmission.

If you’re still having trouble pinpointing the source of the noise, take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out.

Scraping Sound When Turning Right at Low Speed

When you hear a scraping noise when turning right at a low speed, it’s essential to have it checked out as soon as possible.

This noise is usually caused by something rubbing against the brake rotor and can damage the rotor over time.

The brake rotor will need to be resurfaced or replaced to fix this issue.

Scraping Noise When Driving Slowly

A range of factors can contribute to the scraping noise observed while driving at low speeds. Common causes encompass worn brakes, a damaged water pump, worn alternators. Furthermore, the noise might originate from foreign objects lodged in the brake shield, worn brake pads, loose OEM lug nuts, or a loose or bent dust shield. 

If you’re hearing a scraping noise when you drive slowly, your brake pads likely need to be replaced. Brake pads eventually wear down and cause the metal to scrape against the rotors – which can lead to decreased braking power and even damage to the rotors themselves.

So if you’re hearing a noise, take your car in for a check-up as soon as possible to avoid any further damage.

Why Does it Sound like Grinding when I Turn?

Scraping While Turning? How to Inspect Your Car or Truck Brakes!

The grinding noise is caused by metal-on-metal contact. When two surfaces are in touch, and one or both are moving (as in a turning shaft), the resulting friction produces heat.

If the heat gets high enough, the metal will melt and weld together. This is known as “cold welding,” and it can be a real problem in machinery.

There are a few things that can cause this kind of metal-on-metal contact:

• Worn or damaged bearings: If the bearings that support a shaft are worn out, they may not be able to keep the shaft from moving sideways. This can cause the shaft to rub against other machinery parts, causing a grinding noise.
• Misaligned shaft: If the shaft is not aligned correctly, it may rub against other machinery parts. This can also cause a grinding noise.
• Dirty or damaged gears: If they are dirty or damaged, they may not mesh properly. This can cause the gears to slip and grind against each other.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is the rubbing sound when I turn?

That’s the sound of the bearings. The grease inside them acts as a lubricant and keeps them cool. When you first start the car, there is no grease on the paths, so they will make a noise until the oil gets warmed up and starts to work.

Why does my car make a scraping noise when I brake?

Maybe there is something caught in between the brake pad and the brake rotor, such as rock or metal shavings or even a tiny pebble. Another possibility is that the brake pads are worn down and need to be replaced. If the noise is coming from the front of the car, it could also be a problem with the CV joint.

Why is my car making a metal scraping noise?

The sound could be coming from the brakes. Brakes work by interacting with thin pieces of metal called brake pads that clamp onto an assembly of stationary wire-reinforced shoes to press them fully against the brake drums.

Conclusion

Now you know what to do if scraping sound appears when turning the car.

Before attempting to address scraping noises in your car, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the essentials related to the issue. However, you can quickly diagnose most of these problems on your own. But It’s always better to have a professional mechanic to fix these problems.