Trying to get my car back to normal again since it's throwing a hissy fit here as it reaches in on 100,000 miles so bare with me while I try to explain this.

The car makes a grinding sound while making right turns (even at speed). The power steering pump was just replaced to fix steering issues I was having and sometimes following the grinding noise it feels like my steering locks up a little bit and then frees itself back up. I will say I need new brakes pretty badly as I know my rotors are warped and I believe it is time for new brake pads as well (heard the indicator a couple times recently). Could I have a brake locking up on me causing the steering to jam up a little bit on the car as well and then it frees itself up? I'm just wondering what the cause is before I spend a bunch of money to fix something that isn't wrong with the car. Starting a new job tomorrow and money isn't exactly flowing in yet so need to be a little conservative.

Also, I've smelled my Catalytic Converter a couple times here lately while pulling hills so I imagine it is starting to go bad. Thinking about putting a high flow cat in it considering the costs of one and was wondering if these will pass emissions without a problem since PA now has emissions testing in effect?

Thanks for all your help and advice guys, I appreciate it.

Well lets see CV joints usually "click" so we can eliminate that. You dont usually hear ball joints make a grinding sound so thats out. Tie rods you usually get qutie a bit of play and they dont grind so thats out.

You said the steering wheel lock up for a second, then releases.... I dont think it would be the brakes. Usually when calipers go out they go out they dont relase the pads from a stop good, they stick, plus they wouldnt grind. I dont think it is brake related.

It could be a wheel bearing, do you hear the sound driving down the road at all.

Wheel bearings make a loud grinding noise when turned one directions, so if it grinds when turning rigjt, your left one is bad reason being the weight transfe.

Good luck by the way not sure if that helped any.




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

It did help narrow down possibilities so that much is good. I don't hear the sound driving down the road at all. Only when turning right it. It seems to come from the right front of the car or at least that is where I'm percieving the sound is coming from. If my uncle helps me do my brake job he is enough of a mechanic (works on big rigs regularly at least) that he might be able to inspect my wheels for me and see what kind of shape they are in potentially so I'll have to wait a week or two for that. We'll have to see how it plays out I guess, I'm just at loss.

Thanks for the help, always up for suggestions if anyone has anything else.

*sigh* It's the new power steering pump. Back into the garage I go tomorrow - already got the appointment set. Apparently, whatever is wrong it's the power steering pump making the noise but it's death grip tight again even at speed. I'm getting tired of it - severely tired of it, LOL. Excuse me while I go off to pray to the car gods...

flush the oil out of the rest of the system when you change the pump...



"There is no point in looking fast if your not."

you might have gotten some trash in the rack and pinion hydraulics, too. it could be sticking then "letting go"




I would have wrote you a poem, but I couldn't find anything that rhymed with F@#K OFF!

Fixed! $170 later again. Took it back to Meineke and they showed me my exhaust. *gasp* It was up with only ONE bracket near the catalytic converter The grinding sound was a result of the muffler end of the exhaust clanging and groaning on the frame.. if that wouldn't of been there I would've known what the problem was right away for sure! I also had something near the manifold that needed replaced on the exhaust - like a filter type thing, forget exhaust what they called it I'd have to look at my receipt.

They also replaced the new old power steering pump and the power steering pump is working like a champ now. Hopefully one I get my brakes replaced in the next week or two the car will feel like brand new again (may not look like it as long as it drives like it, lol...).