My 2000 TJ Executive Sedan is starting to make strange noises coming from the wheel arches.

When driving along at city speed making a right hand turn the power steering sounds like its under load, and when turning left there is a slight rubbing sound from the left hand wheel arch.

Im thinking the power steering has a problem but it still is at the full level.

Has anyone else had similar problems or know what may be wrong?

Any major bums/accidents recently? Even minor gutter bumps can upset things in this area. Any recent wheel alignments or work in this area? Have a closer look under the car and at the steering rack and rack ends etc. I had a mate with a Falcon have a ball joint "fall out" after the wheel alignment guys forgot to put it back together properly.

Outside of that, check nothing has fallen down in that area, maybe a nut or bolt. Something like that. Maybe even just a bit of crap from the road.

I did just get new tyres and a wheel alignment so that may be the issue.

Ill have a look tomorrow and call up the tyre place.

funny when you get a service for something and you get it back in a more worse condition than when you first drove it into their store...

Is it only heard when the car is moving and your turning or does this noise happen when turning when stationary also?

Does this noise happen when reversing and turning also?

Is this also heard when turning full steering lock (when you have the wheels turned as far as they can go)

Let us know as to help determine if this is power steering or CV joint or otherwise related.

I know you checked the power steering levels, but when I used to turn the wheel nearly full lock, or have to hold the wheel a certain way around, it would make that grinding/rubbing noise and it was loud. It turned out to be the power steering fluid being low. Maybe re check it.

Thanks for the advice all.

Ill go for a drvie this afternoon and check out the stationary/ reverse and post up

I just took it out and this is what I found;

When driving forward - No sound turning right unless at full lock then the power steering sounded slightly under load.
- When turning left no sound until half a rotation of the wheel then the weird rubbing sound

When stationary - No sound other than the power steering working when turning in either direction

When in reverse - No sound at all

If you take the wheels off can you see anything hanging out, splash guards etc, or anything that looks like its been rubbed? Or get some green chalk, or other colour that would be easy to spot, pull the front wheels off and colour the tyre tread and sidewalls on both sides with the chalk, put them back on and go for a drive down the street and back, with full lock left and right at some point, take them off and look for anywhere inside the wheel arches that has chalk smeared on it.