Wheel Bearing vs. Steering Rack Symptoms?
 

I've found lots of posts regarding a grinding/buzzing noise that occurs while turning sharply at a rate that corresponds to the speed of wheel rotation. I now have this trouble with my car when making hard right turns; the noise is coming from the front left wheel. However, after reading all the posts I haven't been able to determine whether this is symptomatic of a bad wheel bearing, if it is a steering issue (rack, pump, reservoir), or if the problem is something different altogether.

My power steering pump belt has good tension and after bleeding and replacing the ATF oil, the grinding seemed slightly better, but the car still made the noise when making hard right turns. After checking the fluid about a week later it has turned dark grey again. Could it be that the car needs a new rack/fluid reservoir AND a new front left wheel bearing? What are the different symptoms between wheel bearing failure and power steering trouble?

My car has power steering issues. I don't have any grinding or noise when turning the wheel in either direction. Even if I'm hitting the turn stops...

However, my power steering fluid res. is leaking. It was a slow leak that is starting to leak more/faster. If I drain the fluid and put clean fluid back in it will also change color within a week or two. The fix for this is to replace the resevoir, and the two houses going into and out of the resevoir. I'm hoping this will stop my leak, and keep the fluid from getting so grungy. So the noise you are hearing may not be because of the power steering, but the fact that your fluid is getting dirty is a problem.

I'd replace the lines and the resevoir before I would put in a new rack. Ultimately you may need the new rack, but even if you do the new rack you would probably want new hoses and reservoir if they have never been replaced before. The parts were 82$ from autohausaz.

hmm, was it $82 for both hoses and the reservoir? Bavarian Auto just quoted like $130 for just the high pressure hose.. heh

I think that is the third hose. My leak is not coming from that hose. It is dripping down from the reservoir. So right now I'm not changing the hose between the pump and the rack. I'm only doing the two hoses that connect into the resevoir.

$130 for that hose is cheap though. I saw the price listed at between 130 and 180.

My P/S pump has been whining on tight turns so I bought a used pump from Panzer and all new hoses and a reservoir. Also will be putting on new front wheel bearings when I do my front brakes soon. Hopefully problem solved :)