During normal driving last month, the steering began to have a loud squeaking noise (somewhat like a very bad door hinge). It is so bad that it can be heard from the outside of the vehicle and people stare at me when entering church or other parking lots. I've tried several things suggested by mechanics I know, like WD-40 on all the rubber grommets associated with my steering parts. The hotter the weather...the more the noise. After several weeks of this noise it has now progressed to being constant - not just when turning the steering wheel. Finally, today I took it to my Ford Dealer where I bought it. They investigated and found it to be a defective right front strut bearing assembly. Interestingly enough...I just had new Gabriel struts installed less than five months ago...but no one suggested to also replace the strut bearing. So now, here I am having to pay an additional $300 for the bearings because the entire strut assembly has to be removed in order to put in the bearing. For crying out loud, FORD or Auto Zone...can't you folks be a bit more proactive when selling a customer (especially a long time customer) a part. It's very annoying to have to buy a part...let alone learn a few weeks or months later that an associated part needs to be replaced along with what you are replacing.