Need help diagnosing steering wheel noise.......

[miss_ky]

Hi,

I have a 2003 Infiniti fx35 with 78k miles and I have had no probs up til this point. I discovered a hissing noise coming from the steering while sitting in the car even with the steering wheel straight and no tension applied. When I apply tension and turn the wheels the noise is gone. But once the steering wheel is released again (no matter what direction the wheels are in) the hissing noise is present. We hear nothing under the hood but when we turn the front wheels to the right and look/observe under the car behind the driver wheel you can hear the noise clearly. I have read reviews online of people saying they have had similar probs and had to change the rack..How can I know if its the rack for sure??? Those things aren't cheap and I would want to know for sure thats what it is before investing the money...My car is out of warranty by now so everything will come out of pocket.....any suggestions will be greaty appreciated......miss_ky

[SteveTheTech]

Hi there and Welcome to NICO!

Sorry for the delayed response. We usually try to get to queries quicker than this.

It may be the rack, but as you stated it is a pricey part and should only be replaced if it is definitely the cause of the noise. I am not sure exactly what the hissing noise is with out being able to look at it. In my experiences the racks that require replacement usually have a clunking or clicking noise and they leak.

You can use a long screwdriver placed against the rack and put up to your ear to transfer the vibrations to your ear and see if they match. The Impromptu stethoscope works well.

If you have narrowed it down as coming from the rack you may want to look at the color of the brake fluid. A flush might help, but it's no guarantee.