'00 Civic VP - grinding noise that stops when braking, loud groan/whine while in reverse?
 

Hi all,

I have a 2000 Honda Civic VP with about 75,000 miles on it.
Recently, I've noticed a high-pitched grinding noise coming from what
sounds like the front end wheel wells -- mostly the right, but
occasionally the left as well. It seems to be random/intermittent...
I'd say it happens maybe 50% of the time I drive, and it can happen at
any speed. Occasionally it happens when I make a sharp turn, but most
times it doesn't. The noise will always stop completely if I so much
as tap my brakes. There's no vibration and it doesn't affect my
driving or deceleration in any way.
I know that a grinding noise that only happens when you brake means
you should replace the pads, but does a noise that *stops* when you
brake mean the same thing? Could it be my wheel bearings or something
that needs a little grease?

Also, unrelatedly (I think), there's a really loud groaning sort of
noise that happens when I'm driving in reverse. It almost sounds like
a cat meowing/whining, but REALLY loud. Happens about 80% of the time
I'm in reverse, and it goes away once I'm in drive. It has no effect
on driving, as far as I can tell, but it sounds kinda scary. Totally
clueless on that one.

Any advice you could provide would be very much appreciated. I've
been overcharged/misled at repair shops more than a few times (as a
single girl in her 20s -- I still get mechanics who tell me to "just
get your parents to pay" for car repair work!) so I'd love to go in
with a rough idea of what it could be, just so I don't have to wade
through a bunch of offers for stuff I don't need, and this seemed like
a good place to go to start gathering info.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers,
Stephanie