For the longest time I've noticed tension in my steering wheel (as opposed to other cars I've driven) and all sorts of sounds coming from somewhere up front. I can't really pinpoint where. It sounds like an electric car when I'm accelerating sometimes and at idle it sounds like some sort of metallic shivering sound.

I searched around and the closest thing I can find is that my power steering fluid is low so I might be seeing if I can fill it up tomorrow. The noisy sound goes away if I turn the steering wheel or take my foot off the brake and put the E-brake on at idle.

Any other ideas I might check out? I'm hoping it's not the power steering pump itself.

 

Sounds like the rack getting bad. Does your fluid feel gritty or smell burnt?