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ok, I noticed this once before and ignored it.

then it happened again today and I was able to replicate it a few more times.

when I turn RIGHT at lowish speeds (ie: under 40kph) and do it hard enough to transfer weight to the front left wheel I hear an unusual noise.

the only way I can describe it is similar to the noise a large car's power steering makes when turning (that groaning noise) but slightly more metallic sounding.

it does not happen whel turning Left, and does not happen at speed (I took a highway on-ramp at speed and the noise wasnt there)

any ideas?

I looked around the wheel and nothing looks awry, all the suspension arms look in good order, the spring looks fine, I could not see any oil near the strut (and it doesnt ride oddly it still feels fine)

my only idea is two things:
Power steering - maybe it's the PS groaning under load? but why not when turning left?
Wheel Bearing - a guess, but wouldnt this be noisy all the time?

any ideas?

car is a 1999/2000 NB8A completely stock.

wheel bearing for mine, & no, they usually only protest when put under lateral load to begin with, as it gets worse it'll make noise all the time, but by then it's ready to fall apart.

power steering pumps usually squeal like a stuck pig when they're on the way out & will do it whether you turn or not, as it usually froths up the fluid when you load the revs on it..

to check your wheel bearing, jack the wheel off the ground & try "wobble" it (push & pull with hands on either side of the tyre) if you can detect any movement at all, you'r wheel bearing is fuxored...............& try BOTH front wheels, sometimes noises transfer depending on where you sit in the car...........& if it IS a wheel bearing, replace BOTH of them, coz if one goes, the other one isn't far behind it.

hmm, about $130 each for fronts by the looks of it (according to MX5Centre website)

all I can say is sh*t, I really dont want this damnit!!!!

I'll have a look at it on the dodgy day on Sunday.


is it easy to DIY replace a wheel bearing?

Check your roll bar mounts, they are known to crack and become noisy ... and worse!

Pretty sure it turned out that he was just low on power steering fluid

yep, as Jeo said, I was low on PS fluid.

I had a look and it appears that both the pipes from the reservoir are on the Driver's side of it.
when I turned right, the low level of fluid was causing the fluid to slosh to the opposite side and the pipes would suck air.

when going straight, or turning left, the fluid was still on the pipes so there was no noise.



so Indeed, I shall be keeping an eye on my PS fluid level to make sure there's no leak anywhere.