Slight vibration in steering, squeaking noise coming from wheels, thud when braking

[thinkinboutit]

Hi,

I have a 2002 PT Cruiser. I have problems. 94k, second owner, no accidents.
Went to the shop, got the rear shocks replaced, timing belt and water pump, front brakes and rotors. Got the car back, and am having the following problems:

1) "Back and forth" vibration in steering wheel (goes to the left a little and the right a little when I'm driving.

2) High-pitched "squeak" each time the wheel does one revolution.

3) Loud "THUMP THUMP THUMP" each time the brake is applied until it stops.

I, unfortunately, know nothing about cars and am unsure of what this could be. I have to be out of here, back east, about a week ago (literally). I need this car fixed. I plan on taking it back to the mechanic tomorrow and having him redo something. What could the problem be? Is it safe to drive? Am I worrying over nothing? Very concerned, please help.

[SCBluePT]

My wife had a Grand Am that went "thump thump thump" when the brakes were applied.It turned out to be warped rear brake drums.We replaced the drums and never had another problem.

[thinkinboutit]

Just got the front ones done and that's when the problems started... wouldn't put it past my awesome shadetree mechanic not to set the rotors right. Wonderful.

[SCBluePT]

I've read your other posts about all the problems you have had.It sounds like you need to find a new mechanic.

[CREWZIN]

I've read the other posts also. He'd rather blame Chrysler.

[thinkinboutit]

LOL yeah, that mechanic did suck. He moved to a different state and there's no way in hell I'd go back to him (took him FIVE days to replace a wheel bearing... sheesh...). The mechanic I'm using now, he's an old man, him and his sons have a shop, and they've been working on cars FOREVER. Definitely something wrong with these brakes they put in, or the rotors, or something.... I didn't have this problem going into the shop.

Haha, they also unplugged my compressor on my A/C and 'forgot' to plug it back in... I found out, took it back to the shop, and he wanted to dig into it and keep it over the weekend (he'd had it for FIVE days to do a timing belt, shocks, and brakes... there's no way I'm being without it again)... but it's pretty much the same as being without, seeing as it's parked in my driveway and I can't get it on the road until that issue's fixed.

Learned my lesson - I'm going to like, Sears, or driving to upstate NY to get the work done next time. I really hate my lifeeeeee, anyone wanna buy my car?

[Freezinghot]

This is a reason that i wish my tax money went to teaching a basic mechanics class to kids. People are getting cheated out of so much money because they haven't had any experience with simple things.
Most kids i talk to dont even know how to make a simple circuit board