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Hi everyone, just got a few technical questions that i want some assistance with:

1) My car has recently started making this squeeling sound when i turn the steering wheel. This only happens for the first 5mins or so until the car has warmed up. What's wrong?

2) My tyres need to be changed by the end of March but I've recently got a wheel alignment done at Stu in Jan. Do I need to get the alignment done again after getting the new tyres and should I get it balanced at Stu as well? (or is it something pretty basic that local tyre stores can't get it wrong?)

3) I'm going to upgrade my (anti)Sway Bars soon. Should I do this BEFORE I get the wheel alignment? (if needed). So the order will be New sway bars > New tyres > Wheel alignment?

4) A new set of suspension will definitely be on the agenda this year as I can feel that the rears are not doing as good a job as it did 50,000kms ago over pot holes. Should I / Do I need to change the bushes as well? (factor in the fact that it'll probably be cheaper on labour to do them altogether?) My car's a NB8A with 93kkms. Mechanically stock.

Cheers,
Vic

1) Power steering belt might be slipping. Check belt tension and condition.

2) New tyres always need balancing. Wheel alignment is an independent job. If the alignment's already right then it won't need doing again.

3) Sway bars are independent of both tyres and alignment.

4) Changing springs or shocks doesn't affect alignment unless you make significant changes to ride height as well. Changing the front suspension means undoing the upper control arms. So there's a small time saving in doing bushes and springs/shocks together.

Changing lower control arm bushes totally screws alignment because you need to remove the alignment adjusting bolts to remove the old bushes.

You also need to disconnect the sway bars to change either bushes or suspension, so that might be a good time to change the sway bars too.