Horrible screeching

[punishercb]

Out of nowhere my car is starting to screech. The sound seems to be coming from the driver wheel but I'm not sure. It's happening when I turn left really sharp or hard. It sounds like there's a damn pop can stuck there. I checked around the brake from under the car and didn't see any odd marks or scratches. Any ideas??

 

[c5chris]

Your pads are very close to being all used up. You are hearing the clips in your pads which purpose is to warn you that you need a brake job.

 

[ddavisaf]

OR there's a cat stuck in your wheel well.

 

[l3LacK Tsi]

so thats where fluffy went!!!!!! id check the pads like chris suggested. and if they are really low might wanna go ahead and do rotors while your at it

 

[ddavisaf]

!
Yup

 

[punishercb]

I guess that could be it. But it's also doing it when I'm NOT braking. Would the brakes still squeel if I'm not using them?

 

[l3LacK Tsi]

yes they would. when the pad linings get low they get noisy and since the caliper isnt as far away as with new pads the metal tabs will rub on the rotor

 

[Defiant]

In case your ears are backward, also check your harmonic balancer.

 

[punishercb]

I apologize for my inexperience, but what is a harmonic balancer Defiant? Also, would the balancer screech like that only when turning?

Thanks

 

[punishercb]

By the way, thanks for the help guys. It sounds like you guys know what you're talking about. I'll be able to take my tire off tomorrow and check.

 

[oldman]

but what is a harmonic balancer

Harmonic balancer = crank pulley

 

[punishercb]

Okey dokey, yup. Didn't work. I took off my pads and they still look brand new. I honestly don't think it's the brake pads. The car makles a really loud screeching noise when I'm turning while accelerating or braking. Like I said before, it sounds like a torn pop can is stuck in the wheel and catching on a rotating part of the wheel. I'm confused and I HAVE to find a fix! I'm driving to Hot Import night in Chicago this weekend and I don't wanna have a loud ass screeching noise!

 

[ddavisaf]

Check your Crank Pully like they said. If you don't find your fix then, then check your power steering and every other pully down there. Check your belts also.

 

[blueberry_dsm]

chances are this is a bad wheel bearing. it might be rusted out. this happened to mine a while ago. btw good luck @ HIN. hope u see my team there, Team GMCI Racing!!!!

 

[punishercb]

You know, that's exactly what my buddy at work said too. If that is the problem, how hard will it be to replace?

By the way blueberry_dsm, you have some hella nice stuff man. You were over in the corner to the left when you first walk in right? Some really clean cars man.

 

[Rick4g63]

Check the CS pulley and the harmonic balancer...

Goog luck

 

[Tsi_User]

chances are this is a bad wheel bearing

tha's what I put my money on. Does it sound like it's a belt screeching or is it coming from a certain side of the car?

 

[punishercb]

tha's what I put my money on. Does it sound like it's a belt screeching or is it coming from a certain side of the car?

It doesn't really sound like a belt screeching. Alot more like metal scraping metal. It sounds like it's coming from the driver's side.

 

[oldman]

It doesn't really sound like a belt screeching. Alot more like metal scraping metal. It sounds like it's coming from the driver's side.

Have you check the dust cover?

 

[punishercb]

Have you check the dust cover?

That's the first thing I checked. It does sound like the disc brake is rubbing that. I pulled the dust cover back and gave it as much space as possible.

How can I check and see if the wheel bearing is bad?

 

[oldman]

How can I check and see if the wheel bearing is bad?

Jack up the car, grab the top and bottom of the wheel and check for play, do the same with front and back. If you have play, get under the car while a friend (that you trust ! )wiggle the wheel and see if it's the ball joint, tie rod or the wheel that moves. If it's the wheel, it would indicate that it's the wheel bearing.

 

[blueberry_dsm]

^^^correct. to install the wheel bearing isnt the easiest thing in the world, because you have to: disassemble the brakes, ball joint, tie rod, and the knuckle itself from the strut assembly. then you have to take the knuckle to a bench, and remove the inner grease seal. then get something the same size in diameter as the wheel bearing, and you will also need a big hammer. now for the fun part. bang away until it comes out. alot of times this wont work, so u will have to take it to a shop or to a friends house that has a press and press it out. its alot faster and easier that way. then make sure the area is cleaned out, pack the bearing with grease, and then get back to the press. press it in, make sure its even, and install the grease seal. (seal is less than $10) make sure everything is installed on knuckle again, and then reinstall the knuckle back on the car. make sure everything is tight, and then road test vehicle.

shane

 

[punishercb]

Hmm, so it definately doesn't sound like a walk in the park. But can this job be done with normal garage tools. I do have a large supply of tools, but will I need any special ones?

 

[blueberry_dsm]

you are goin to need a press. the one i used was a 12,000 lbs. max power press, a few seconds later, pow, it was out. then a few seconds, slip, its in. either find a friend thats got one, or bring your knuckle and wheel bearing to a shop, and they can pop it out and slide it in for you, then they can give it back to you and you can reinstall it yourself.

shane

 

[l3LacK Tsi]

just curious to see if you found the cause of your noise and fixed it yet.