96 4 cyl making noise turning left

[alotech]

96 contour making noise while making left turn. Starts off as a rubbing noise, but turns into a grinding noise as you accelerate. It doesn’t make noise if you are coasting in a left turn, just while accelerating. No noise on right turns. Any ideas will be appreciated.

[beyondloadedSE]

Does it sound like a humming noise but then a metal on metal noise when you cut the wheel hard? Does the noise get louder at higher speeds?

Jack up the front of the car and try moving the right (passenger) side wheel up and down. If there is any movement, youve got a bad wheel bearing.

[alotech]

Yes it does get louder as you accelerate. The noise seems to be coming from the left side, but stupid me didn't investigate enough. It's my girlfriends car and my test drive was a couple of times around the block.

[jsweeter]

If when you jack up the car and you can move the wheel up and down that is bad ball joints. If when the car is on the ground and you grab the tire and try to move it across the car (if on passanger side push top of tire towards the driver side and towards you) if you hear a clunk, this is bad wheel bearings.

[alotech]

Got the contour fixed today. The mechanic put it up on the rack and noticed a plastic piece out from where it should be. Popped it back in place and the problem fixed. I wasn't there so I don't know for sure what the part, but the way my girl friend describes it I am thinking that its the bottom cowling. It was pushed back probably from hitting the curb while parking. I didn't see it because it was behind the wheel well cover. Time on rack, 5 minutes. 0 $ Mechanics make good friends. Thanks for the help.