Need help troubleshooting a noise? Grinding/Squeal

[xBa380]

Hey guys,

Took one of the family vehicles today for a drive and it is making the most disturbing noises... While driving, more noticeably at lower speeds, when you turn the wheel there is this grinding sound, and its mixed with a squeaky belt type of noise all mixed in one. It sounds HORRIBLE. It makes the noise both moving and in park. It is fairly loud.

The car is a 2002 Grand Prix GT... About 105k miles on it.

They took it in for this and they were told its a bad hub... But would it make that noise while in park like this? It almost feels like the wheel tightens up when it makes this noise. But it's hard to say as I don't drive this car at all to know what is normalish when you turn the wheel (feel wise).

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[robshelton]

A bad hub will only make a grinding noise when the vehicle is moving, so I think you probably have a bad power steering pump. Check the fluid level before doing anything else as there is a chance you are just low on fluid. Good luck!

 

[Kestas]

I too vote for a bad power steering pump. It may be a bad bearing in the pump. Certainly not a bad wheel bearing.

Has the car seen any significant storage (non-use) recently?

 

[xBa380]

Looks like that was the problem! No fluid... Bought some and topped off and noise has went away! Thanks guys!

 

[mechtech2]

Low on fluid?
"They took it in for this and they were told that it's a bad hub."

What lame-oids looked at the car? No excuses are possible!
Lower than morons!

 

[xBa380]

Maybe a bad case of "out of sight, out of mind", due to the power steering fluid dipstick basically being hidden behind the engine, quite a ways down. Either way, it was really stupid of them to say that. Considering, it was replaced last year I believe!

 

[Tosh]

Never, ever, ever go back there!

 

[xBa380]

Ill be sure to pass that on... Was not me who took it to the shop! (Don't even know where my brother took it, as it is his winter vehicle!).

 

[Tosh]

And take away your brother's Man Card for not checking the fluids before taking it in.