Rubbing/Grinding Noise from front end

:banghead: Hello all! I am new to this, but here is my problem....I have a 2002 Pontiac Grandam with about 42.000 miles on it. Shortly after I purchased the car, I noticed a rubbing or grinding noise coming from the front end. It seemed to get worse comming to a stop and turning corners. I took it back to the dealer and they checked the brakes...brand new, no wear on them. I left and the noise seemed to get worse. To the point that when I would turn into a parking spot people would look at me. I took the car back. They felt it sounded like a wheel bearing, so they replaced the front driver's side wheel bearing. Noise still didn't go away. They then replaced the front passenger side wheel bearing. Noise still didn't go away. They then told me they couldn't figure it out. I took it back again a couple of days ago and they said something about a brake pad needed to be adjusted. The sound was better for a while, but during the ride home the noise came back just as bad as before. So here I am, 4 trips to the dealer behind me and i still don't have a clue what is wrong with my car. Do any of you have any suggestions?

Need Help!!!!

Well I had a similar thing happen - but it wasn't brake related. I raced a guy with my 2001 GT1, and afterwords I noticed this weird rubbing / grinding sound coming from front passenger side, and it was louder when I slowed down. However, I turned my car off and back on, and it went away. I had infact partially thrown my serpentine belt, and when I reset the car, the tensioner re-tightened and pulled the belt back into the proper position. You may way to check your belt, it could possibly be off far enough that it can't fix itself, but not far off enough to be thrown yet. Just a possiblity.

I had two grand am GT's and both had this exact same grinding noise. I traded in one of the GT's for a minivan and while the dealership had the car they changed the tires. This fixed the problem. See, the problem is that the tires have many many little stubs that rub against the rim and is especially noticeable at lower speeds. I have put new tires on my other grand am GT to and now it is fixed. Try these tires
Cooper ZEON 2XS - 7693571 225/50ZR16 at http://www.tiresavings.com

I highly recommend this online tire store.

Thanks so much for the input. I have actually been reading up alot on the rubbing and grinding noise, and I have found that ALOT of people have the same problem caused by the Eagle tires. I have another appointment on Thursday with another GM dealership, so I guess I will wait to see what they tell me.

Thanks again for your help!

On my car I have the same prob. but it is simply a bent strut.

Hopefully if it is something like a bent strut they will be able to find it today. I am still waiting to hear from the dealership as to what they have or have not found.

Well, they have found the cause of my noise. It's the tires! Hopefully I will get the tires replaced and it will take care of the problem. It's hard to believe that the terrible noise I was hearing was coming from the tires. They say there is a bulletin from GM and Goodyear about the Eagle tires on my car, but GM and Goodyear are doing nothing about it. I just bought the car, now I need to invest at least $400 for new tires. How crazy!!!

In my opinion it is probably due to the scrub radius on the front end of the car. If this is the case you will never eliminate the "rubbing/grinding" noise, but only make it more quite depending on the brand of tire chosen. This would explain why so many people have this complaint, even my '01 GA has this problem got louder when I put new tires on it.

You're a lucky one if the dealer finally figured it out... it took me several trips back then a trip to another dealer to find out what that noise was... hopefully my new tires won't make noise like the last ones.... i'll find out in a few days!

I had the exact same problem - grinding noise from the front end, especially when I turn left. Well, I read online that LOTS of Pontiac owners have had this exact same problem. There were number of different solutions - new tires, new brakes, CLEAN brakes, new ABS sensors, etc.

I simply found the solution for me by buying a $1.99 bottle of power-steering oil/fluid. Yep, I never bothered to open the little reservoir next to the engine and when I finally did - it was empty. I filled it up with some PS oil and the grinding noise is no longer there. Give it a try!

I had the exact same problem - grinding noise from the front end, especially when I turn left. Well, I read online that LOTS of Pontiac owners have had this exact same problem. There were number of different solutions - new tires, new brakes, CLEAN brakes, new ABS sensors, etc.

I simply found the solution for me by buying a $1.99 bottle of power-steering oil/fluid. Yep, I never bothered to open the little reservoir next to the engine and when I finally did - it was empty. I filled it up with some PS oil and the grinding noise is no longer there. Give it a try!
what reservoir you talking about I have the same noise.?????

what reservoir you talking about I have the same noise.?????

There is a small black cap right next to the engine. On top, it says "Power Steering Fluid. Do Not Overfill"

My car is '99 Grand Am, so if yours is different, the power steering fluid reservoir might be situated elsewhere (if you have power steering at all).

There is a small black cap right next to the engine. On top, it says "Power Steering Fluid. Do Not Overfill"

My car is '99 Grand Am, so if yours is different, the power steering fluid reservoir might be situated elsewhere (if you have power steering at all).
Sorry didnt know you were talking about the power steering pump. My BAD

If your Grand am has the 16 inch wheels with Goodyear Eagle RSA p225/50r16 then it is absolutely the tires. I lived with that noise for two years after it started at about 35,000 miles, finally couldnt stand it anymore and bought a set of Falkan tires. Problem solved!! Dont think I'll be buying any Goodyears any time soon.

i had this happen to my friend but ended up that the rack-pinion snaped on one of the brackets thats something to check into

But I still have a problem. I have a 92 grand prix and that darn thing has been rubbing when I reverse and turn or make a hard left for a year now. All my fluids are full and I have new brakes. I'll make sure I have someone look at the front end to make sure it isn't just the ABS, but it still doesn't make sense. I had the tires changed as well and they didn't see anything out of the ordinary up there. (Except for some BS about my rotors being warped... sometimes I hate being a woman, they think we're ignorant)

warped rotors are probably the reason, I recently replaced the ones for my car and the 2 front rotors costed me like $30

warped rotors are probably the reason, I recently replaced the ones for my car and the 2 front rotors costed me like $30

I thought about that as well, but not the case. Rotors are doing well... fairly new too, so I'm almost wondering if it isn't something more sinister... she just doesn't sound happy.