What could be happening in the rear wheel well?
 

Hi, I'm planning on getting this problem looked at by a mechanic asap but wondering if anyone on the forum might have ideas to judge whether I can drive my RX7 or not in the meantime.

So driving the other day with a heavy-set passenger in the car and suddenly I start hearing a intermittent high-pitched screeching and feeling like a tire had gone flat whenever I slightly adjusted the steering wheel to the left. When we got out to look at the car, the rear driver wheel well was extremely hot.

The passenger did not get back in the car, and I drove another 30 minutes, During this drive I did not hear the sound and there was no heat emanating from the wheel well when I stopped.

Any thoughts on what it could be?

May be a coincidence with the passenger in car and not cause of it. What yr/model do you have. Symptoms could be indicative of axle bearing problem. If rear drum brakes,possibly a return spring has rusted and broken off and laying in bottom of brake drum &intermittently getting between brake shoe and drum causing screech. If rear disc brake car,stuck caliper,overheated pads,pads worn down to metal,brake rotor possibly blue from heat? Did you feel the wheel for heat? If can drive car any distance,drive for a bit and pull over and get out and feel the wheel in area of lug nuts/bolts. Warm ok,hot no,compare to other side. Driver side warmer/hotter than passenger side,would pull wheel and investigate brakes,axle bearing...

My apologies I forgot to mention that I drive an 84GSL so disc brakes. The noise would only appear when accelerating not braking though.(and turning the wheel slightly to the left).

Probably an axle bearing if I had to guess...