Very Scary Sound.

[NLAlston]

Saturday afternoon, I was driving our youngest daughter to a Scholar's event at the St. Bonaventure College, in St. Bonaventure, NY (about 1-1/2hrs away from where we live. About two thirds of the way, there, we were descending a mountain road and, just as we were leveling out to meet a stop-signed "T" section, there came an intermittent scraping type of sound, which appeared to come from the driver's side, front tire well. I was about to pull over, after making the right turn, as it sounded almost like a tire was going flat. However, I found that the 'feel' of a flattened tire really wasn't there. The sound, then, began to lessen, and was soon gone, altogether.

I DID check within the wheel well, to see if I could spot something out of the ordinary, but nothing seemed visually amiss. I have NO CLUE what that noise could have been, and am STILL bothered by it.

I wonder if it could have been transmission related, and that I had just thought it might've been associated with the tire.

[SvenCruiser]

If it was damage on your shocks or axle it will be visible.

Could be your powersteering,its a sing that your fluid might need changing,or the pump is bad,or there is a leak somewhere.I used to get some scraping/screeching sounds out of it,similar to dragging a couch on a wooden floor,and what I found out is my ps fluid was never changed since the car got out of the factory.

When I got it out it looked like piss.After replacing everything was fine,+ the steering felt much much better.

[Vlefaive]

Wheel bearings possible too, I did mine recently after experiencing similar symptoms

[chuzz]

How many miles do you have on your brakes? You could be getting into the brake wear indicator on the inboard pad. I'd look at the brakes. ASAP

[LionPT]

Pull the tire off & check your drivers front brake pads.

[wb2kki]

If the noise stopped could have been a rock caught between the vacuum plate and rotor.

If it still happens see if the noise changes with speed of the car or engine or trans.

Jack the car up and spin the wheels and see if anything is loose or binding.

Mike

[JoeX]

Here in Western PA we have some long down hill grades and one in particular
causes my PT Cruiser to make an odd noise for the tires or bearings. The grade is a long curving to the right then left at less of and angle and the noise completely disappears. Thats the only place the noise happens. Both PT Cruiser's I have do the same on the same hill.