Rubbing sound -driver side wheel well
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
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Rubbing sound -driver side wheel well
I tried searching the forums for this issue but did not have any luck.
When I drive the car, I am hearing a rubbing noise coming from the back driver side wheel well. It sounds like metal on metal scraping. I can only hear it when I have the windows down. It is a relatively new noise. It has started within the last month. I havent driven the car much but I am starting to worry about it.
The e brake line was removed from the back wheels due to a previous issue, so it is not the ebrake sticking. The brake pads are in good shape on all the wheels. Any ideas for me to troubleshoot this issue?
When I drive the car, I am hearing a rubbing noise coming from the back driver side wheel well. It sounds like metal on metal scraping. I can only hear it when I have the windows down. It is a relatively new noise. It has started within the last month. I havent driven the car much but I am starting to worry about it.
The e brake line was removed from the back wheels due to a previous issue, so it is not the ebrake sticking. The brake pads are in good shape on all the wheels. Any ideas for me to troubleshoot this issue?
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
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I pushed on the dust shield and it seems to have helped somewhat. I can still hear a rubbing noise when i am driving through the alley behind my home when the close proximity to the walls reflect the sound. any other ideas?
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
Ideas:
1. Brake caliper is hanging up internally. Disconnected e brake (not a good idea beyond very short term to diagnose) is a possible further hint brakes may be jamming mechanically. If rotor is warmer than expected/other side with just modest driving, that's a clue about a caliper problem..
2. Failing wheel bearing starting to announce itself.
2. Failing wheel bearing starting to announce itself.
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
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update
I do not drive very often as I take public trans to work everyday but when I was driving yesterday with a friend, he told me that without a doubt the noise is the rotor grinding up against either the caliper or break pad. I checked the pad thickness and it is still a good pad. Any suggestions on how to diagnose this issue? Is it easy to take a caliper off of a wheel to check for problems?
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I would jack the wheel you suspect and spin it by hand. See if you can hear the noise then. You may be able to pinpoint it more this way also.
Once you have done that, I would remove the wheel and spin just the rotors - you may be able to see something binding, or it may not spin at all.
Sometimes the inner pads where and there is plenty left on the outter pads.
Sometimes the wheel bearings are going and will cause this noise, or will cause the rotor to not sit flush with the hub and it will rub the caliper at certain points as it spins. Sometimes the caliper is seizing.
Checking the rotation of the wheel should be easy, and removing calipers, break pads, etc. is not much more difficult than removing your wheel. 2 bolts will release the caliper, 2 more will release the caliper bracket, and then the rotor will just pop off...
Once you have done that, I would remove the wheel and spin just the rotors - you may be able to see something binding, or it may not spin at all.
Sometimes the inner pads where and there is plenty left on the outter pads.
Sometimes the wheel bearings are going and will cause this noise, or will cause the rotor to not sit flush with the hub and it will rub the caliper at certain points as it spins. Sometimes the caliper is seizing.
Checking the rotation of the wheel should be easy, and removing calipers, break pads, etc. is not much more difficult than removing your wheel. 2 bolts will release the caliper, 2 more will release the caliper bracket, and then the rotor will just pop off...