Squeal/whine when steering wheel is turning - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

motomike · 09-01-2019, 07:46 AM

Hi all,

I’ve had an issue with my BRZ for a while now and I want to find a solution for it. Occasionally you can hear a squeal/whine when turning. This will happen both at low speeds (when reversing in a parking lot) and on the highway. It sounds like the power steering is low on fluid, but from my understanding this car has electric power steering so I’m not sure what it could be.

I attached a video to show the issue. Any help with diagnosing the issue would be greatly appreciated.

ermax · 09-01-2019, 08:19 AM

EPS unit. New they are about 1400 but you can get them used cheap. If you get one used I would replace the coupler before installing it.

gravitylover · 09-01-2019, 08:29 AM

Mine was more of a groan but similar enough I think. Subaru replaced the steering column, steering wheel and EPS unit. It took them several tries over the course of a month before it finally went away but they eventually got it after the column and wheel replacement. They actually blamed me because I'm short and the seat is pretty far forward, they said I was pushing against the wheel too hard getting in and I bent the wheel and upper column. Whatever... It has been about 45k miles since and hasn't come back.

motomike · 09-03-2019, 05:12 PM

Thanks guys!

I’ll take a good look at my steering wheel, but I don’t think that’s the problem. I think I might try to replace the EPS if I can find one locally. Hopefully that will solve it.
I’ll update when I do.

motomike · 10-08-2019, 06:31 AM

Finally figured out the problem. The brake pads were done and somehow a price of rust got stuck On the drivers side between the rotor and the calliper. Hope this helps someone in the future.

09-01-2019, 07:46 AM	#1
motomike Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Sport Tech Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Squeal/whine when steering wheel is turning Hi all, I’ve had an issue with my BRZ for a while now and I want to find a solution for it. Occasionally you can hear a squeal/whine when turning. This will happen both at low speeds (when reversing in a parking lot) and on the highway. It sounds like the power steering is low on fluid, but from my understanding this car has electric power steering so I’m not sure what it could be. I attached a video to show the issue. Any help with diagnosing the issue would be greatly appreciated.

09-01-2019, 08:29 AM	#3
gravitylover Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: 2013 BRZ Premium 6MT White Location: SE NY Posts: 1,503 Thanks: 1,218 Thanked 669 Times in 474 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Mine was more of a groan but similar enough I think. Subaru replaced the steering column, steering wheel and EPS unit. It took them several tries over the course of a month before it finally went away but they eventually got it after the column and wheel replacement. They actually blamed me because I'm short and the seat is pretty far forward, they said I was pushing against the wheel too hard getting in and I bent the wheel and upper column. Whatever... It has been about 45k miles since and hasn't come back. __________________

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09-01-2019, 08:19 AM	#2
ermax Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Drives: 2022 BRZ Limited Silver Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 882 Thanked 2,045 Times in 1,188 Posts Mentioned: 68 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	EPS unit. New they are about 1400 but you can get them used cheap. If you get one used I would replace the coupler before installing it.

09-03-2019, 05:12 PM	#4
motomike Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Sport Tech Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks guys! I’ll take a good look at my steering wheel, but I don’t think that’s the problem. I think I might try to replace the EPS if I can find one locally. Hopefully that will solve it. I’ll update when I do.

10-08-2019, 06:31 AM	#5
motomike Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Drives: 2013 Subaru BRZ Sport Tech Location: Toronto Canada Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Finally figured out the problem. The brake pads were done and somehow a price of rust got stuck On the drivers side between the rotor and the calliper. Hope this helps someone in the future.

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