Steering Wheel Grinding after bad starter

Okay so long story short—- my dad gave me his 2002 4Runner SR5 sports edition 2WD. It had a major leak that drenched the majority of the parts below one being the starter.
The car wasn’t starting. It was giving me the one click when I turned the key. I figured it was the starter. I clean the connection and boom the car started without problems.
2 years later, the same problem again. One click when I turned the key. Sometimes it starts sometimes it didn’t. However, something else began to happen. When it did turn on, there was a different sound. When I turn my steering wheel slightly, there’s this grinding sound. Almost like the some type of belt is grinding. I don’t know. But here’s the curious part—-sometimes when it did start, after some attempts, the steering worked perfectly.
A few weeks later, I have time to lift my car to get to the starter to clean it. I do and the car starts without a problem but now the steering wheel grinds everyone I start it. As soon as I start the car, the noise begins.

I’d love some help figuring what’s the issue so I can fix it. Any thoughts?

 

Power steering pump didn't get wet as well?

 

I don’t think so. If it did, I would assume it would’ve given me problems a long time ago.

 

Not the case stuff doesn't necessarily go bag right away just because of water. Its only a pump and it is exposed.

 

Check the Power Steering Fluid level.

If it's not low, flush it out, drain the rack. Refill.

It's a very simple setup. There is only the pump and the rack that would make any noise.