When driving on rough roads, if there's a "thud" sound beneath the steering wheel, it might likely be due to a malfunction in the steering column's dust cover. The noise arises from the dry friction when the dust cover lacks lubrication. To rectify this, apply some grease inside the dust cover to eliminate the noise. Other potential causes for noises from the steering wheel can be the friction sound of the horn electrode, noise from the universal joint of the steering column, or friction noise from the steering column rubbing against the foot mat.
The friction noise from the horn electrode is commonly found in vehicles without airbags, particularly in those where only a horn button is present on the steering wheel. As the steering wheel turns, the horn switch moves with it. However, the wiring beneath it remains stationary. If the horn switch is connected by electrical wires, these wires might break after frequent steering operations.
To address this issue, car manufacturers fixed the electrode contacts and installed a circular metal electrode on the steering wheel to interact with the stationary contacts. This allows the transfer of electrical signals regardless of the steering wheel's movement. To minimize friction, lubrication is applied to these electrodes. Over time, these electrode contacts wear out and enlarge the contact surface, causing noises. To eliminate this, the stationary electrode needs to be removed, and its contact surface should be smoothed out.
Noise from the universal joint of the steering column, or the steering column rubbing against the foot mat, is another common issue. The front end of the steering column usually has a universal joint. If this joint lacks lubrication, a creaking noise may emerge, requiring lubrication for the joint. Additionally, if the edge of the foot mat contacts the steering column, it can produce noise when steering. To check for this issue, simply observe whether the foot mat is touching the steering column. If it is, adjust the foot mat's position accordingly.
Lastly, the "click" sound when the steering wheel returns to its position is a normal design feature and not a malfunction. Almost every car model has an automatic turn signal reset feature. When you use the turn signal and steer, the turn signal will automatically reset, producing the "click" sound as the steering column touches the reset lever. This is intended by design and isn't indicative of a fault.
