Why Is My Car Clicking When Turning?
- Tyler Ellis
- Nov 6, 2025
- 5 min read
A clicking sound when you turn the steering wheel can go from “weird but manageable” to “oh no” pretty quickly. If you’re asking “Why Is My Car Clicking When Turning?”, the most common cause is a worn CV axle joint — but it’s not the only one. Steering and suspension parts, brake hardware, even loose wheels can all create clicks that only show up when turning or when the suspension loads and unloads.
At Round Rock Auto Center, we track down the exact source of the clicking (not just guess) and fix it before it turns into a breakdown or a bigger repair.
What the Clicking Sound Usually Means
A “click” in a turn is almost always a load-related noise. Turning shifts weight to one side of the car and changes the angle of rotating parts. That’s why you might hear it only:
In parking lots at full lock
When turning one direction more than the other
When accelerating through a turn
When you hit bumps while turning
Those details matter, because different failures have very different patterns.
Clicking Noise When Turning: What Causes This Problem?
Here are the most common real-world causes we see when someone comes in asking why is my car clicking when turning.
Worn CV Axle Joint (Most Common)
Front-wheel-drive and many AWD vehicles use CV (constant velocity) axles to deliver power while the wheels turn. The outer CV joint is famous for clicking.
Typical signs:
Clicking gets louder when turning sharply
Often louder on acceleration through a turn
Usually worse turning one direction (often the side with the bad outer joint)
When the boot tears, grease flings out, dirt gets in, and the joint wears fast. If you keep driving, it can eventually bind or fail completely.
Loose or Damaged Brake Hardware
Brake pads sit in hardware clips. If hardware is missing, bent, or installed incorrectly, you can get a click or tick as the pad shifts slightly when you turn or change direction.
Typical signs:
Clicking happens at low speeds
May change when lightly applying the brakes
Sometimes sounds like it’s “from the wheel” even though it’s the brake pad moving
Worn Sway Bar Links or Control Arm Bushings
Sway bar end links and bushings handle side-to-side load. When they wear out, they can click or pop during turns — especially over bumps.
Typical signs:
Clicking/popping over bumps while turning
More noise when entering driveways or uneven pavement
Feels like the noise is “higher up” than a tire noise
Tie Rod or Ball Joint Play
Your steering system relies on tight joints. If an inner/outer tie rod or ball joint has play, it can click as the wheel changes direction.
Typical signs:
Clicking plus steering looseness or wander
Clunk/click when changing directions quickly
Uneven tire wear or a steering wheel that won’t stay centered
Wheel Bearing (Sometimes a “Click,” Often a Growl)
Wheel bearings usually growl or hum, but some can click when they’re developing play and the load shifts in a turn.
Typical signs:
Noise changes when sweeping left vs right
May be louder at speed than in a parking lot
Sometimes accompanied by vibration
Loose Lug Nuts or Wheel Issues (High Priority to Check)
This is rare, but important: a wheel that isn’t properly secured can click, creak, or pop as it shifts.
Typical signs:
Click/creak that comes and goes suddenly
May feel like a “shift” more than a noise
Often worse right after tire work if something wasn’t torqued correctly
If there’s any chance this applies, don’t gamble — get it checked immediately.
How to Fix It?
Quick checks you can do without tools
These aren’t “DIY repairs,” just smart observations that make diagnosis faster and safer:
When does it click most? Tight turn at low speed? Only under acceleration? Only over bumps?
Which direction? Louder turning left vs right can point to the opposite side in some cases (especially bearings).
Does braking change it? If light brake pressure reduces the clicking, brake hardware becomes a top suspect.
Any grease flung inside the wheel? Grease splatter often points to a torn CV boot.
If you’re still thinking “Why Is My Car Clicking When Turning?” after these checks, it’s time for a proper inspection — the fix depends entirely on the source.
What we do at the shop (the real fix path)
At Round Rock Auto Center, we diagnose this in a way that prevents repeat visits:
Road test to reproduce the clickWe confirm the exact condition that triggers it (turn angle, speed, braking, acceleration, bumps).
Lift inspection with hands-on play checksWe check axle joints, wheel bearings, tie rods, ball joints, sway links, and bushings for looseness or binding.
CV boot and axle joint inspectionIf a boot is torn or the joint is clicking under load, we confirm whether it’s the inner or outer joint and recommend the correct axle repair.
Brake hardware and rotor shield inspectionWe inspect pad fitment, hardware clips, caliper slide pins, and dust shields that can contact or shift.
Wheel and lug torque verificationWe confirm the wheel is seated correctly and torqued to spec.
Alignment-related checks (when needed)If wear patterns or looseness suggest geometry problems, we verify alignment angles and steering centering.
Once we identify the cause, the repair becomes straightforward — replace the worn joint/axle, correct the hardware, or repair the steering/suspension component.
Schedule a diagnostic here: Round Rock Auto Center
Why Acting Now Saves Money
Clicking during turns is one of those symptoms that rarely “stays the same.” It typically gets worse because the failing part is being stressed every time you steer.
Here’s what delaying can cause:
CV joint failure → stranded vehicleA worn joint can eventually bind or break, leaving you stuck.
Uneven tire wear → replacing tires earlyLoose steering/suspension parts can ruin tires fast.
Brake wear → rotor and caliper damageIf pads shift or drag due to hardware issues, it can chew up more than just pads.
Safety riskSteering and suspension noises aren’t just annoying — they can be warnings of looseness you don’t want at highway speeds.
If you’re repeatedly asking yourself why is my car clicking when turning, treat it like an early warning system doing its job.
Get the Clicking Diagnosed the Right Way
A clicking noise can come from multiple systems, and the correct fix depends on pinpointing the exact source — not guessing. If you’re dealing with “Why Is My Car Clicking When Turning?”, let our team diagnose it properly and recommend the cleanest solution.
Book an inspection with Round Rock Auto Center and we’ll get you back to quiet, confident turns.
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