Hello, I was hoping someone could give some feedback on my issue. I just purchased a 95 Lincoln Continental. 94k miles. I notice that when I turn the wheel left, it makes a grinding or growling noise. The noise stops when I stop turning the wheel. I looked under the front and noticed CV boot ripped and grease everywhere on drivers side. So I brought it in to a shop. They said I need a "Half Shaft & CV Assy" and a sway bar link. BUT I am afraid to spend the money if my problem is something else. I always thought CV joints made a clicking noise. And my noise happens when.. 1) I drive for approx 20 min, the noise is NOT present when I first drive it. 2) when I turn the wheel EVEN when stopped. So my question is could the CV joint be causing my main concern of the grind, or growl, when I'm turning the wheel and not even moving? Also note, power steering fluid is full. To better explain the noise, it sounds like when you are in a repair garage that has that rubberized coating on the floor and turn your wheel. Like when I used to detail cars at a Ford dealer, they had that rubber coated garage floor, and when I would drive cars in and turn the wheel the floor would growl against the rubber tire treads. I hope that gives detail to my description. Thanks!

That broken sway bar link, I believe is causing the noise when stopped. The power steering is moving the wheels, but there is no "stiffness in the suspension".

It would be helpful to know if the car has rack and pinion or gearbox steering. I suspect rack and pinion.

Thanks for your quick reply. Im not sure what kind of steering it has. I never thought of the sway bar link as the culprit. I thought that was just causing my bad handling. Maybe your right because when the noise happens, the steering isn't as smooth to turn. I said when I first drove the car that "This steering should be smoother for a Lincoln". My 99 sable had smoother steering. Thanks again!

Definitely the sway bar end links are bad and making the noise. Easy to replace. Usually, they require an 18 mm box-end wrench, plus an 8 mm box-end to keep the stud from rotating. New Cardone Select half-axles go for around $50. Shop for lifetime warranties on both products--you may need it on the end links, especially.

Thanks for the input. I had the sway bar links replaced, but the noise is still present. The noise I hear isn't there when I first drive. It starts about 30 min after driving and gets louder as I continue driving. And it sounds like 2 pieces of dry/hard rubber slowly rubbing together. It happens when I'm either not moving or moving. Power steering fluid is full and not burnt or dark color. It almost sounds like something is too tight. It sounds like when your on a leather couch and move around slowly, that farting sound, that's what it sounds like. Im just trying to be very descriptive of the sound to get more accurate advice.. Thanks.

See if you think the rubber sound is coming from the top strut bearing assembly. If it's coming from the strut bearing, you would only hear it while turning the steering wheel. Consider installing Monroe Quick Struts, if you think this explains the problem.

Power steering pumps can make grinding or growling sounds, especially after they warm up. Get a battery squeeze bulb and suck out as much fluid as you can--$3 at Advance Auto Parts. Refill it with Mobil 1 Synthetic Multi-Vehicle ATF. In a week or so, do this again.

Ok. Thanks. I was actually thinking of doing that with a turkey baster or something, but figured it wouldn't work since it doesn't remove all the existing power steering fliud. Only what's in the bottle. Also, the strut bearing thought I think doesn't apply to my 95 Lincoln, I have those airbag suspension. That means no strut bearing I think.. but not sure. Do the airbag suspension have bearings?

Sorry, I'm not familiar enough with that suspension system.