Squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel on an Opel Corsa E
Natural English version
I have an Opel Corsa E (french version), first registered in December 2017 and bought second-hand in 2021 with only 16,000 km on it. It now has almost 50,000 km. I don't drive it very much, mainly around town, with only one or two long trips a year.
For the past few years, I've noticed a squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel, particularly at low speeds. It's quite difficult to describe, but it sounds a bit like a rubber joint or a spring is rubbing against or catching on something somewhere as I turn the wheel.
At first, I didn't really pay much attention to it. However, I recently took the car to a garage for an unrelated issue, and I mentioned the noise to the mechanic. He told me it was probably a problem with what he called a "steering flange."
I told him I wasn't familiar with that term. He then explained that it was apparently some kind of electronic component which isn't particularly expensive itself, but that replacing it would involve a huge amount of labour. According to him, the repair could cost almost half the value of the car. He even advised me that if the noise started getting worse, I should consider selling the car sooner rather than later.
I'm not entirely convinced by this diagnosis, especially given the potential cost of the repair, so I'd like to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar on a Corsa E.
Just to be clear, the noise has nothing to do with City mode, which makes the power steering lighter. The squeaking is clearly noticeable at low speeds, especially when I have to turn the steering wheel quite far.
Has anyone experienced this before? If so, what did it turn out to be, and what repair was needed?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!