Hearing a clicking sound when you turn your steering wheel, especially at low speeds or while parking, can be alarming. Many drivers notice it while pulling into a driveway, making a U-turn, or maneuvering in a parking lot. At first, the car still drives fine, so it’s tempting to ignore the noise and hope it goes away.
Unfortunately, a clicking sound when turning is almost always a sign of a mechanical issue. While some causes are relatively minor, others can affect your vehicle’s safety, steering control, and long-term reliability. Ignoring the noise can allow a small problem to turn into a costly repair, or even a breakdown.
In this blog, we’ll explain the most common causes of a clicking sound when turning, what each one means, how serious it can be, and why early diagnosis is the smartest move.
Why Clicking Noises Happen During Turns
When you turn the steering wheel, multiple systems work together at the same time. These include:
- The steering system
- The suspension
- The drivetrain (especially on front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles)
- Wheel bearings and hubs
Turning places extra stress on these components. If something is worn, loose, or damaged, that stress reveals itself as a clicking, popping, or snapping sound.
The key to proper diagnosis is identifying when the noise happens and where it’s coming from.
1. Worn CV Joints (The Most Common Cause)
The most frequent cause of a clicking sound when turning—especially during acceleration—is a worn constant velocity (CV) joint.
What CV joints do
CV joints transfer power from the transmission to the wheels while allowing them to move up and down and turn left and right. They’re essential on front-wheel-drive and many all-wheel-drive vehicles.
Why they fail
CV joints are protected by rubber boots filled with grease. Over time:
- The boot can crack or tear
- Grease leaks out
- Dirt and moisture get in
Once the joint loses lubrication, metal components wear rapidly.
Typical symptoms
- Clicking or popping sound when turning, especially under acceleration
- Noise gets louder during sharp turns
- Often worse when turning in one direction
- Grease splattered inside the wheel well
Why you shouldn’t ignore it
A failing CV joint will eventually break completely. When that happens, the vehicle may lose the ability to move, leaving you stranded.
2. Failing Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings allow your wheels to spin smoothly with minimal friction. When they wear out, they can produce a variety of noises—including clicking or popping during turns.
How wheel bearings cause clicking
As bearings wear unevenly, turning the vehicle shifts the load from one side to the other, causing the damaged bearing to make noise.
Symptoms
- Clicking, popping, or grinding noises
- Noise may change when turning left vs. right
- Vibration in the steering wheel
- Humming or growling at higher speeds
Why this is serious
A severely worn wheel bearing can overheat or seize, potentially causing wheel instability. This is a safety issue that should be addressed promptly.
3. Worn or Loose Steering Components
Your steering system contains multiple joints and linkages that move every time you turn the wheel.
Common components that can cause clicking include:
- Tie rod ends
- Ball joints
- Steering rack components
How steering wear causes noise
As joints wear, they develop excess play. When you turn, that play results in clicking or popping sounds as components shift under load.
Additional symptoms
- Loose or wandering steering
- Uneven tire wear
- Steering wheel not returning to center smoothly
- Clunking over bumps
Steering issues affect vehicle control and should never be ignored.
4. Worn Ball Joints
Ball joints connect your suspension to the steering knuckle, allowing smooth movement as the wheels turn and travel over bumps.
Why ball joints click
As internal wear increases, the joint may click or pop when the wheel changes direction—especially during turns at low speeds.
Warning signs
- Clicking or popping when turning
- Clunking over bumps
- Uneven tire wear
- Steering instability
Ball joint failure can lead to loss of control if the joint separates, making early detection critical.
5. Strut Mount or Suspension Issues
The strut mount allows the suspension strut to rotate smoothly when steering. When the mount or bearing wears out, it can cause clicking or popping sounds.
Symptoms
- Clicking when turning the steering wheel
- Noise when driving over uneven surfaces
- Steering that feels stiff or jerky
Suspension-related noises often get worse over time and can affect ride comfort and handling.
6. Loose or Damaged Axle Components
In some cases, clicking noises come from loose axle nuts or worn axle splines.
How this happens
If the axle nut isn’t properly torqued or components wear unevenly, slight movement during turns can produce clicking sounds.
This issue is less common but can lead to serious drivetrain damage if ignored.
7. Tire or Wheel Issues
Not all clicking noises come from internal components. Sometimes the source is external.
Possible causes include:
- Loose lug nuts
- Damaged wheel rims
- Foreign objects stuck in the tire tread
- Tire separation or belt damage
While these issues are simpler to fix, they can still affect safety if not addressed.
Why the Noise Often Gets Worse Over Time
Clicking sounds rarely disappear on their own. As components continue to wear:
- Clearances increase
- Metal-on-metal contact worsens
- Heat and stress accelerate damage
What starts as a faint click can turn into:
- Loud popping noises
- Severe vibration
- Steering instability
- Complete component failure
Early diagnosis almost always means a simpler and less expensive repair.
Is It Safe to Drive with a Clicking Sound When Turning?
It depends on the cause—but it’s never a good idea to ignore it.
Risks include:
- Sudden loss of steering control
- Breakdown due to CV joint failure
- Accelerated tire wear
- Damage to other suspension or drivetrain components
Even if the car still drives normally, the noise is a warning sign that something is wearing out.
How Mechanics Diagnose Clicking Noises
At All Around Auto Repair, diagnosing turning-related noises involves a thorough inspection—not guesswork.
Our process includes:
- Test driving the vehicle
- Inspecting CV joints and boots
- Checking wheel bearings
- Inspecting steering and suspension components
- Verifying torque on axle nuts and wheels
- Lifting the vehicle to check for play or looseness
This approach ensures the root cause is identified and fixed correctly.
Why Ignoring the Noise Costs More
Delaying repairs often leads to:
- Additional component damage
- More labor-intensive repairs
- Higher repair costs
- Safety risks
For example, a torn CV boot caught early may only require joint replacement. Left untreated, it can damage the axle, transmission seals, and surrounding components.
How to Prevent Clicking Noises in the Future
While wear is inevitable, proper maintenance helps:
- Regular suspension inspections
- Addressing torn CV boots immediately
- Proper wheel alignments
- Avoiding potholes and curb impacts
- Replacing worn components before failure
Preventive care keeps your steering quiet, smooth, and safe.
Final Thoughts: Clicking Is Your Car Asking for Attention
A clicking sound when you turn is never “just a noise.” It’s your vehicle’s way of telling you that something in the steering, suspension, or drivetrain needs attention.
The sooner the issue is diagnosed, the easier, and cheaper, it is to fix.
If your car clicks, pops, or snaps when turning, let experienced professionals take a closer look.
Schedule a Steering and Suspension Inspection Today
📞 (707) 837-0646
📍 1244 Central Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
🌐 allaroundautorepair.com
All Around Auto Repair — Repair. Maintenance. Service. Since 2001.
Your trusted experts for steering diagnostics, suspension repairs, and drivetrain service.
