Loud metal on metal grinding noise, not pretty.

[BaronVonChickenPants]

Coming home from work last night (approx 25km @ 100km/h) got about 200m from home and a hidous and loud metal on metal grounding noise came from the car under a bit of load up a hill, sounded like it was from the drivers front wheel arear but the drivers window was the only one open so could be a bit misleading.

The last stretch before home is a short flat section thats being resurfaced so I was taking it easy, dawdling in 2nd, got to the hill and put the power down, thats when the squealing started, went for about 15-20 seconds, while I tried to figure out what to do, changed to 3rd and the noise went away but there seemed to be some resistance ie: less power than normal, another 10-20 seconds and I was parked in my driveway, got out of the car and there was a burnt rubber smell.

I popped the bonnet had a quick look there, underneath and around the wheel bearing, cv sort of areas and didn't see anything obvious.

I've had an intermitent quiet "squeak, squeak, squeak" come from the front end somewhere for about a week.

My guess was wheel bearings but muddy said it sounded more like a clutch/thrust bearing issue.

Has anybody had something similar happen any idea where I should be looking?

Thanks,
Jordan.

[subgiraffe]

sounds like a slipping belt from seized bearings in alternator, a/c, p/s pump etc...

[BaronVonChickenPants]

Thanks I think it was the alternator, the old one had some play in it and felt crunchy to spin, also got quite hot, never figured out why, the new one has no play and spins smoothly, took it for a drive and the resistance is gone, no noise either, still a burnt rubber smell coming from the driver front wheel area though, theres a hole in the plastic gaurd liner where it looks like the tyre has been rubbing, pulled the guard out (I got reversed into in a car park) hopefully that solves it.

Thanks again,
Jordan.