I'd suspect a wheel bearing, or a CV/axle. But don't guess - take it to a
Saturn retailer's garage. They're the experts and the diagnostic fee is
worth every cent if it saves you from replacing one part that the car didn't
need.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
---
Visit my Saturn Car Audio and Performance Page at http://www.evilplastic.com


> wrote in message
oups.com...
>I purchased a 1998 Saturn SC1 today with 135,000 miles on it. The car
> drives great, the engine is strong, no leaks. It is a 5 speed and it
> shifts perfectly. One thing happened after I got it home and started
> driving it around town for a few errands.
>
> Basically, when I turn hard to the left whether for a U-turn or just a
> really sharp left turn (More than 90 degrees), I hear a loud clunk or
> clanking noise. It does not do this with an extreme turn to the right.
> Only an extreme turn to the left. I noticed it can be exacerbated over
> bumpy roads or uneven gravel drives.
>
> I went to a junk yard to pickup a part, and when I had to leave I
> backed up and then made a hard left before making a hard right out of
> the parking lot. It made the loud noise when I was in the parking lot
> turning left, but not right. What was realy strange is when I pulled up
> to the stop light about a mile down the road, I caught a yellow light
> and had to brake harder than normal. It made a "light" clank as if
> whatever was goofy in the steering was shaken a bit by the hard stop.
> While waiting for the light to change I decided to turn the wheels to
> the left and it made a louder "Pop" or clank than what it did when I
> stopped. I then made a left turn at the light and had no problems. As a
> matter of fact I made two more lefts on the way home, but they were
> "moderate" lefts and so there was no Clank or Pop.
>
> My dad and I changed the Drive Belt, so while I had it up on the jacks
> I cranked the car and turne the wheels both ways and there was no
> noise. My dad did a basic inspection of the steering and axle and saw
> nothing unusual. So obviously the weight of the car is playing a role
> in the popping noise.
>
> We did a basic look at the strut mount and with the car sitting still
> bounced the car up and down on the right side (Audibly where the noise
> seems to come from when I am turning hard to the left). The strut is
> good and the strut mount appears to be solid. It is definitely not
> torn.
>
> The CV Boots on the car appear to be good.
>
> Is this something in the Rack and Pinion steering system? I am worried
> to death that I bought a great running car with a great transmission
> and I am going to have to replace the whole steering system!! I am
> probably just over exagerating, but I get really paranoid when a car
> makes loud noises, especially under stress. It makes me think I am
> going to pull a U-Turn and the whole front axle is just going to come
> off in the middle of the street!!!!
>
> Any info would be great!!!
>