Sure, you can turn up the stereo and ignore that noise. But your car should not sound like a broken shopping cart every time you pull into a driveway. A squeak over bumps, a clunk when turning, or a tire wearing unevenly can all point to a steering or suspension problem. Before you buy parts or book an alignment, a few checks at home can help you narrow down the cause.

What Causes Suspension Squeaks and Clunks?

Worn bushings, sway bar links, ball joints, tie rods, and strut mounts can all cause squeaks or clunks. 

The sound alone rarely identifies the culprit. A better clue is when it happens. Does your car clunk over bumps, when you turn the wheel, or as you shift between drive and reverse? Does it squeak only when the suspension moves? Find a safe, quiet place to reproduce the symptom, then write down what you notice. “One clunk from the front passenger side over small bumps” gives you a better starting point than “car makes noise.”

Start with the easy checks while the vehicle is parked. Push down on each corner of the car and listen as the suspension moves and rebounds. You might reproduce a squeak or clunk, though a quiet bounce test does not rule out a problem. Look around the wheels for leaking shocks or struts, cracked bushings, torn rubber boots, or anything visibly loose. Rubber components help absorb movement and vibration, but they can wear and crack over time.

If you need to raise the vehicle for a closer look, park on level ground, chock the wheels, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for lifting and supporting it. Never get under a vehicle held up only by a jack. The correct way to inspect a ball joint or other suspension component varies by vehicle, so check the procedure in ALLDATAdiy before you start prying on parts. You can also search your vehicle’s repair information for its specified lifting and support points.

Why Does My Car Squeak When I Turn?

A squeak while turning could come from a steering or suspension joint, bushing, or strut mount. 

Notice whether it happens while the car is parked, while it is moving, or both. Then listen for the corner where it seems loudest, keeping in mind that sounds have an annoying talent for traveling through a vehicle.

Look for damaged boots around the tie rods and ball joints. A torn boot can let grease out and dirt in, but the first cracked piece of rubber you find isn't necessarily the source of the squeak. Use the steering and suspension information in ALLDATAdiy to identify your vehicle's components, then match what you see to the symptom and the manufacturer’s inspection procedure.

What Does Uneven Tire Wear Tell You?

You might not be keeping a record of your tire pressure, but your tires sure hold a grudge. Check the pressure in all four tires while they are cold, then compare the tread across each tire. Is the middle wearing faster than the edges? Is one side nearly bald while the other still has plenty of tread? The pattern can help point you in the right direction.

• Both outer edges worn: The tire may have spent too much time underinflated. Check its pressure with a gauge rather than trusting how it looks.
• Center worn faster than the edges: Chronic overinflation may be concentrating wear in the middle of the tread.
• One edge worn faster than the other: Alignment may be off, though worn steering or suspension parts could be contributing.
• Scalloped or cupped patches: A series of dips around the tread can point to a worn shock or strut, a wheel balance issue, or another problem that needs a closer look.
• Feathering: Run your hand lightly across the tread. If the tread blocks feel smoother in one direction and sharper in the other, an alignment issue may be causing the tire to scrub against the road.

These patterns are clues, not diagnoses. Start by inflating the tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification, usually listed on the driver’s doorjamb placard. Do not use the maximum pressure molded into the tire’s sidewall as your target. Check for visible damage and compare the wear on the other tires, too.

If the car pulls, the steering feels loose, or the uneven wear keeps returning, have the steering and suspension checked before paying for an alignment. An alignment cannot tighten a worn tie rod, no matter how politely you ask.

When Should You Stop Driving and Get Help?

If the steering suddenly feels loose, the vehicle becomes difficult to control, or you find significant movement or damage in a steering component, stop driving and have it inspected. A clunk may be annoying, but a failing steering or suspension part can affect your ability to control the car.

For less urgent symptoms, note when the noise happens and where it seems to come from. Then pull up your vehicle in ALLDATAdiy and follow the steering and suspension inspection procedures to narrow down the cause. Confirm the failed part before replacing it. You can drown out a clunk with the radio, but it will still be there when the song ends.