I drive a '98 Altima with about 92,000 miles on it. for awhile now whenever I am driving it around the cars makes a squeak/chirp (metal on metal) sound at random times, not when I am braking, and the whole car jerks a little, as if i had tapped the breaks. the sound in general comes more often than before but sometimes the sound will come just once or twice in a drive or will come every 30 seconds, only when i am moving though. recently a longer grind is heard when i am just starting from a stop. or everyonce in a while the chirp will also be a longer grind.

The car is a manual with the tranny rebuilt about a year ago. no other major repairs done recently.

I don't really like my regular mechanic anymore, long story, but when i did take it to him, the sound didnt happen a single time when we drove around and he didnt have space to put it on a lift. i was hoping someone here could diagnose it for me, before i took it to him again.

What do you guys think it could be?

Thanks,
mpagri

edit - it sounds like its coming from the passenger side of the car

 

is the sound more intense when you turn your steering?

 

i think so, when i mentioned how the grind is longer when starting from stop that may also be every time i am steering out of a parking spot. but i dont notice it any more whie turning however.

 

it could've been the tie-rod end... if you hardlypush down on your suspension (from outside obviously)do you hear a grinding sound?