Car squeals when wheel is turned?

Question

My 2009 Toyota Corolla with 7000 miles on it has started making a squealing noise when the wheel is turned slightly. It is very intermittent and seems to occur more frequently on longer trips or when there is more weight in the car. i.e.- If I am in the car by myself it almost never happens, but if my husband is in the car with me it will occur sporadically. If I turn the wheel slightly to go around slight curves one way or the other it will sometimes make this noise but turning the wheel more fully does not seem to cause the noise and seems even to stop the noise. Applying the brakes also seems to cancel out the noise. The breaks do squeak a little sometimes when they are applied but it is an an entirely different noise. We bought this used from a Toyotoa dealer earlier this year. We tend to put 12,000 miles a year on our car, so this will be getting quite a bit of use. There are no manufacturer warranties as the car is four years old. Any ideas?

Update:

Well.... We decided to just take it in to see what is going on. The noise is a frozen caliper on the front driver's side wheel. :-{ It was making more noise as the brake and wheel heated up - aka longer trips. The mechanic said that taking it on longer trips could have resulted in the brake heating up to the point that it caught fire!!! Yikes!!

marine_semperfi_jarhead · Accepted Answer

Check your power steering fluid it could be low. Or the belt needs to be replaced.

Country Boy · Answer

*Stand beside the passengers side front fender with the hood open. *IF you are able to push or pull the serpentine belt on the side of the motor between the *widest two pulleys more than 1/8 inch A Toyota dealer needs to tighten the belt that drives the *power steering pump, alternator, water-pump, and air- conditioner compressor. 

The reason we suggest a Toyota dealer tighten the belt is it has a *mechanical tightening devise down under the motor. Its very easy to misunderstand how to tighten the belt.

Michael S · Answer

Does it make this squeak when you just turn the wheel when standing still. If not, then it is not the belt and I suspect when your car is turning in one direction it makes the noise and in the other direction it doesn't. And I suspect you are starting to have a wheel bearing or CV joint going bad. Can't tell you what side.

beckim · Answer

that's probable a slipping (loose) potential steerage belt. To rule the belt out, spray slightly WD40 on it. If the squeal is going away, it incredibly is the belt. If not, the pulley may well be out of alignment inflicting one component of the belt to rub greater stable on the pulley and inflicting the noise. it incredibly is uncommon yet I fairly have considered it ensue some circumstances.

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Car squeals when wheel is turned?

4 Answers