I thoght so, too. Ahem.

Logic went like this. The wheel when going straight ahead is roughly in equilibrium. The steering pivot point is about at the center of the tread. slightly ahead of the axle centerline. Even if the bearing is loose, it wants to self center because of the caster. The whirr is the bad bearing sound. When cornering, you upset the balance, the wheel cocks on the bearing, and it grinds. When braking, the drag of the braking force makes the wheel flop outward some on the loose spindle, and it pulls to that side...

Not real sure about the steering effort increasing...