[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

I recently had to have a new rear wheel bearing installed (under warranty) and the new one had a slight alignment problem, that caused a rubbing noise when I turned the car. At first, I thought that it might be that one of the brake shoes was misaligned and was rubbing, but today I took off the wheel and had a look.

It was actually the drum hitting part of the backing plate -- both parts were nice and shiny, and the gap was wide in the front and rubbing in the back... Also the adjuster on the brake was a bit too tight. So I loosened the adjuster, and I "persuaded" the back plate to move about 1/32" away from the drum with a stout screw driver and a 22oz framing hammer.

Now my wheel spins freely and makes no noise -- oh yeah!

So, check your parking brakes to be sure they fully disengage, or if there is excessive brake warp, and that the bearings are not worn an well lubricated -- and when you have a corner jacked up, try spinning the wheel to see that they are doing their fundamental job as well as possible!

[Edit: I probably should have a 4-wheel alignment done, I think? If the one rear wheel is toed out a bit more than it was, then it might be worth checking and fixing?]