1950s 1950 Cadillac whine during left hand (and sometimes right) turns

[Cadillac Jack 82]

So, it appears my 50 has an odd whine noise while turning left, and sometimes right.  It sounds like it's within the Hydramatic as it whines to the spooling up and shifting of gears.  If I'm light on the accelerator it doesn't seem to do it but if I'm going faster, it makes the noise.  The fluid level is fine, and the transmission works as it should.  What could be the cause of this?

[Cadillac Jack 82]

From our description it sounds like the power steering pump is going south.

Open the reservoir and move the wheel back and forth. lock to lock. It will make some noise if held tight against the bypass. If you see bubbles and foaming from aeration assuming the level is correct the pump is very likely the problem.  the problem.

A further check is to take the PS belt off and turn the wheel lock to lock.

You didn't mention darting or stiff movement so the steering gear is probably OK.

50 is manual steering only.  Good guess but its definitely either transmission related or potentially the speedo cable?

[tcom2027]

Arrrg! I forgot 52 was the first year of power steering in Cadillacs. CHrysler Imperials had PS in '51. I have a '53 New Yorker and the PS is scary quick. Two fingers on the wheel nudge the foot feed and lock to lock static, virtually no resistance . Look at where you want to go and the car will respond, for better or worse.

I've only driven a couple of early fifties Cadillacs and I remember they had very powerful PS systems too.

  Noise may be from the front pump in the transmission. 

[Lexi]

My experience is that the Chyslers had far more power assist in their steering than that of Cadillac. Not sure if these would be the results I would get when these cars were new, but as Tony remarked, the Chryslers were "scary" and "quick". The early 60s Caddies I drove were getting close and also very responsive, way better than the '50s era, but I seem to recall that Chrysler came out on tops, based on what I have drove. Clay/Lexi

[Jay Friedman]

I had always heard that when there is a whine when turning it's either the front wheel bearings or the rear axle bearings. 

[gkhashem]

Two neglected items on old car. The need to repack the front bearings, or there usually is old differential fluid in the rear. Suck out old rear diff and refill with fresh oil.  Never had an old car where the rear end oil looked nice upon removal. No matter the mileage it all looked 50-60 years old. Usually thick and black.

[Jay Friedman]

Two neglected items on old car. The need to repack the front bearings, or there usually is old differential fluid in the rear. Suck out old rear diff and refill with fresh oil.  Never had an old car where the rear end oil looked nice upon removal. No matter the mileage it all looked 50-60 years old. Usually thick and black.

I agree.  The 1949 shop manual says to repack the front wheel bearings every 12,000 miles. I think with an old car that isn't driven that often it probably should be done more frequently. 

[Cadillac Jack 82]

The noise almost sounds more like a fan blade rubbing against metal than a bearing noise.  The front end is quiet.

[Michael Petti]

When turning, the motor mounts allow the engine to move ever so slightly in the engine compartment which could allow the fan to contact the transmission cooling lines. It happened on my 60 390. Check for any scratch marks near the fan blades or pulleys. Another possibility is a power steering unit low on fluid, or wearing out.

[Michael Petti]

Not sure if power steering started in 50 or 51.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

No power steering in Cadillac until 52.  I'll check the fan blades for wear.