rubbing noise
 

Hey guys. If you've followed my Paseo's build thread I mentioned I was having some brake drag problems. So, I just got done replacing the pads and rotors on the car. However, I still seem to be having some noise up front. It sounds like noisy brakes. It also changes pitch and gets louder as I turn right. It also seems to be comming from the front passenger side. Any ideas?

Is your CV joint sad?

Don't CV joints click when worn out?

I could see it making a grinding noise that might be like a rubbing, but I don't know, it's just the first thing that pops into my head for old cars.

it might be that. Did you properly "set in" the brakes? (do the braking maneuvers to mate the pads to the rotors?)

You betcha.

then it probably is a suspension problem. Jack it up, put some long lumber under the axle and take off the tire (I don't trust jackstands, really easy to tip and have the car roll back off the jackstands and crush you and your new brakes. I put wide, long and thick wood to keep it up. the car will have to slide 3 feet back/forward off the wood to fall off, and slide past the brake discs to fall off left/right). Once you have the tire off, check all the suspension parts, anything unusual that could rub against the tire or wheel well while turning right.

I have nothing against using jackstands, I just don't trust a top-heavy vehicle like mine up on jackstands. If no lumber is available I'll use jackstands over just-a-jack anyday.

Sounds like a wheel bearing to me, based on the sound changing as you load up that wheel in a turn.

Guess #2 is simply the brake backing sheild touching the rotor. EDIT: but I can't see that changing pitch so much when you turn.

EDIT2: if it were a wheel bearing going, that could also seem like a sticking brake when rolling the car. The reason I'm familiar with wheel bearing problems is because the ForkenSwift has had a noisy front right bearing since we got the car. It'll get fixed sometime in May.

^^X2 ,bad wheel bearing.

Yeah, the bearing was kind of what I was thinking... I'll have to wait until the weekend to take it apart again though.

Well, I jacked the car up tonight to see if there was any plan or noise just rotating the wheels by hand. The passenger side one rotated freely, slight brake noise which I'm assuming is normal, and there wasn't any play in it. The driver's side was the same except that it didn't roll quite as freely. Still no noise from either with them jacked in the air.

I didn't take the tires off, but I know the suspension parts were all tight as I looked at that while I was doing the brake job. Theres nothing protruding out that would rub either.

Also, to clarify, I do get noise just going straight. The noise increases with speed and also when I turn to the right.

Just got back from a ride with the wife driving. Its definitly the front passenger side. Slow movement (coasting down the driveway) you can hear it a little, but its once you get up to 20-30 that it really gets loud.

does it sound like rubbing of tires on plastic? metal on metal? I'm trying to get the sound in my head.

Wheel bearings that are going sometimes get described as a grumbling or a propeller sound. Suggests a lower tone.

jack the front end up again. Leave the tires on, and wiggle the tires back and forth. put your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock position, and give it a shake, that's what mechanics do to check for play. if it moves more then a hair, there is play. Then move your hands to 3 and 9 o'clock, if there some play, then it's usually tie rods.
If you don't see or feel where it is rubbing inside the wheel well, then chances are for wheel bearings.

Thats exactly what I did Meemooer. There wasn't any noticable play in it. I also checked the steering linkage and drive shaft. Everything was tight. Annoying stuff I tell ya!

The noise sounds like metal on metal, but not really as harsh. Its definitly not a hum. Its almost as if your brakes are down to metal on metal, but its not as loud as that. It is constant (doesn't pulse) and increase in volume as speed increases and during right turns.

I'm still thinking its probably a bearing. I'll have to get my dial indicator out this weekend and measure the runout of the hub.

I think it has been said, but check the Heat sheild on the inside of the brake rotor.

Wheel bearings TYPICALLY get much worse when in HARD turns. I've heard them described as a washing machine full of marbles, but they sound more like bad bearings to me.

Does it pull to one side or another?

Sometimes noises get transmitted through the car in all sorts of WEIRD ways. For example one time I could have SWORN that a rear end was shot, but come to find out it was a roof rack.

Don't rule out your tires either, sometimes the best way to check that is to swap front to back.

Good luck!

It does seem to take a good turn to make it much louder, especially at low speeds. At higher speeds it doesn't take as much of a hard turn to get noise. This makes sense since the noise is proportional to the load on the bearing. It does not pull one side at all. I haven't checked the heat shields. I'll definitly check that out. I'll try the tire thing too before tearing the hub apart. Thanks for the info.

I know that the 608 bearings on my skateboard would make a metal-on-metal sound from lack of lubrication or just dirty lubrication. have you tried cleaning and re-greasing the bearing?

Nope. We'll see how the weather cooperates this weekend. Its supposed to rain almost the entire time... :(

Same here... friggen midwest!!! :D