Why is my Car Squealing When I Turn

the car squeals when turning due to bad brake pads, faulty power steering, slipping serpentine belt and misalignment

A bad brake pad is the most common cause of your car squealing when turning. However, a loose or faulty wheel bearing also commonly causes this problem. These are components directly connected to the wheel, and if they’re faulty or worn, they’ll make it more evident when the vehicle is turning. The noise can also come from faulty or loose suspension components or even a misaligned serpentine belt under the hood.

The brake pads are the most common reason due to their design, which purposefully makes a squealing sound when they’re worn out. Since the brake pads are friction on the brake discs in the wheels, they can receive more pressure when the vehicle turns, squealing louder.

Watch out: The squealing noise can mean serious brake, wheel, or suspension issues. Therefore, scheduling a maintenance service and an inspection can prevent the issue from developing and causing more damage or, in the worst cases, an accident.

The squealing noise when turning means something isn’t tolerating the pressure from the wheels during the vehicle’s movement. Here are some of the main risks possibly related to it:

Serpentine problems: The serpentine belt could be misaligned or out of place. This means the belt is either loose or banging against other components. Since the belt is vital for many of the vehicle’s systems, this could lead to various problems beyond the AC squealing noise. Moreover, a loose serpentine belt can damage nearby components.
Suspension issues: The suspension is vital to keep the vehicle from taking a bad impact from the terrain or road it’s driving on. If the vehicle’s suspension is faulty and making squealing noises, it means there’s a problem. In this case, the vehicle might start suffering excessively from road and terrain impact, risking a loss of control or further damage.
Brake and wheel issues: The brakes and wheels have the evident job of helping you control the car. If they’re making squealing noises, they’re probably under some sort of damage. This means they’ll lose efficiency, leading to control loss, braking malfunction, dislocated wheels, etc.

The most common causes for a car squealing when turning

Here are the most common issues causing your car to squeal when turning:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can bad alignment cause a squealing sound?

Yes, bad alignment can cause a squealing sound in a car. Misalignment can put extra stress on various components, including the tires, steering gear, steering wheel housing, suspension, and steering wheel belt, leading to abnormal wear or strain. This stress can sometimes cause squealing noises, especially if it affects the power steering system or causes the tires to wear unevenly.

Q: Should I drive if my car is squealing?

Driving a squealing car can be risky, as the noise often indicates a potential issue with components like the serpentine belt, power steering system, or other crucial parts. While it may not always lead to immediate failure, continuing to drive without addressing the problem can worsen the issue and potentially lead to more significant damage or even a breakdown.

Q: What are the symptoms of low power steering fluid?

Symptoms of low power steering fluid include a heavy or difficult-to-turn steering wheel, which can become more pronounced at low speeds or while parking. You might also hear a whining or squealing noise when turning the wheel, experience vibrations or unusual sensations in the steering, or notice grinding sounds from the power steering pump. Additionally, the steering may feel stiff or erratic. Note that these symptoms also happen if you have contaminated power steering fluid. So, if the power steering fluid level seems fine, contamination might be the case, which can require further power steering repair.

Typical fixes to address the cause(s)

These are typical processes and repair services that fix a burning rubber issue

Serpentine Belt Replacement
Wheel bearing Replacement
Brake pad Replacement
Vehicle Alignment
Power steering fluid exchange
Test Suspension

The most common cause: Bad brake pads

The most common reason for a car making squealing noises when turning is because of bad brake pads. The pads are designed to make a squealing noise when they’re worn out. The wheel movement when turning the vehicle can apply more pressure on the pads, making the squealing noise more noticeable.

Origin of the sound: Wheels
Symptoms it causes: Apart from the squealing noise you might notice poor braking performance, rough steering, and light squealing sounds when driving straight.
High risk of priority: The brake pad is part of the braking system and is essential for the vehicle to stop safely. To properly control your car and have it safe to drive, always replace worn brake pads.

What exactly is a brake pad?

A brake pad is a little pad-shaped component inside the vehicle’s wheels that, when pushed against the discs under it — the brake discs —, creates friction. This friction tries to ‘hold the wheels in place,’ broadly speaking, and forces the vehicle to stop.

Key function: The key function of the brake pad is ensuring the vehicle stops evenly and effectively. Therefore, it’s essential to keep the pads in good condition on all wheels to prevent the vehicle from pulling to one side or losing the braking ability.

Go safe: Ask for a mechanic to inspect your vehicle to track the squealing sound’s location and how it affects other components. Many shops do transparent vehicle inspections and lay out your options after investigating your vehicle’s conditions.

What’s a vehicle inspection? It’s “detective work” on your vehicle, checking its systems to find if anything is preventing the car from working as expected. In this case, mechanics examine different parts of your vehicle to track where the squealing noise is coming from and what’s causing it. They’ll also check the condition of components during their inspection, noting which are causing the problem and which got affected by it, recommending to replace them in order of priority.

Transparency example in a brake pad service

Let’s see how a vehicle inspection helps car owners make informed decisions based on a brake pad issue.

In this example, the technician investigated the vehicle’s wheels and found that the front brake pads were worn out. The brake pad was making a soft squeal when braking the vehicle while driving straight, but the sound was louder when making a turn.

The mechanic investigated the wheels and suspension systems and confirmed that the issue was only about the worn brake pads. The expert explained to the customer that brake pads commonly cause squealing sounds on purpose to alarm the car owner.

If the brake pads are not replaced, the squealing noise can become louder and more frequent. As the pad deteriorates, it’ll lose efficiency until the brakes malfunction. The risk of the pads damaging the brake discs and other related components also increases over time.

The image below shows the worn brake pad in comparison to the new ones that got in place.

Brake Pads Bad and Good