Ok guys, first off lemme start out by saying this is not "R" related, but every time i've had a problem in the past with my R, people from this forum have been the most help.

Talking to my girlfriend tonight, she mentioned that she had a problem or two with her car that she didnt know how to fix. The car is a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am sedan v6, and she says that whenever she turns the steering wheel... the car makes a wierd noise, "like her car is about to take off" (whatever that means), and then its extremely hard to turn her wheel. I checked her power steering fluid and it was a mucky brown color. I asked her about that and she said that she had the fluid drained and replaced a little while ago, and that it was brown again now. I am not quite sure what the problem is here, and want to help her fix it as inexpensively as possible.

Also the other problem is that when she presses on the brakes, randomly, the car will not feel as if it is braking for a minute, then she will hear a thud, and the entire car will "jolt" and begin to break.

Again i know this is in the wrong forum, but every time in the past when i had a question, the people in this forum have been the most help, so i would appreciate no one flaming me for this. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again in advance.

 

Rack sounds like it's going bad.
as for the brakes, take wheel off and inspect evereything.