About two months ago I purchesed a 2002 Volvo V70XC and i love the car. Today while driving a sudden grinding noise occured in the steering wheel and frount tires. It was so alarming i turned around and went home. After a little research I think it could possibly be the axil bearings but i dont know for sure. What is the best plan of action?

 

The most common source of grinding is worn out brake pads grinding on the rotors. Jack up the front wheels and remove the tires to get a good look at the rotors and pads. If you must replace them, do both sides.

Wheel bearings generally have a long wearing out-to-worn out cycle, and typically make more of a roaring sound that is more pronounced when going around corners. The diagnosis for bad wheel bearings is play in the front wheel in both left-right and top-bottom wiggling. Jack the car up for this, but leave the lug nuts tight. Try to wiggle the tire toe-in and toe-out. Then try to wiggle the tire camber-in and camber-out. The play can be very subtle but should be the same for both wiggles.

I hope this helps. Pat yourself on the back already for not driving the car further and doing more damage. I recently bought an XC70 where the PO wore the rotors through the face and into the fins! He had to replace pads, rotors, AND calipers!