Squealing/scratching coming from the rear

[SoilentGreen98]

I've noticed a new sound over the past 2 days coming from my driver side rear tire well. When I'm driving, usually at highway speeds, I'll hear a squealing/scratching sound coming from the rear driver side. It'll be there until I apply the brakes and then when I rev up again it might come back, not every time, but almost. I was thinking brake pads, but it doesn't make sense to me really, especially since the sound goes away when I apply the brakes. I even noticed a loud pop this morning and then the squealing temporaliy went away. I'm a bit worried as to what this might be. Fortunately it's on the rear on a FWD car so it could be worse. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[xcelr8n]

check the dust shields, mine would loosen and rub on the rotor, very annoying, and since youre fwd, you can rule out alot of other possibilities with a awd car....
check the shield, and even if it looks ok remove it, becuase its a pos anyways

 

[jtmcinder]

Jack the car up and yank on the wheel. A grinding squeal that stops when you apply the brakes is often a bad wheel bearing. If the wheel wobbles (relative to the suspension), then I'm correct. Fix it ASAP.

If the wheel does not wobble, continue on to remove the wheel and look at the brakes and dust shields and everyone else, as suggested above.

- Jtoby

 

[SoilentGreen98]

I was also thinking maybe a warped rotor but I'm not too sure at the moment. As I was driving it this morning it made no noise actually. I'll make sure to check about the wobble though.

 

[Defiant]

You'll usually feel a warped rotor in the brake pedal.

 

[bhop]

My brake pads were doing that.. they needed replacing. It's just the built in brake pad warning system. When it gets low, they squeak. If it's not your brakes, i'd be surprised.

 

[removable_emu]

not to steal the thread or anything, but i have a slightly similar problem that just started happening. when i am driving at 30mph or less there is this noticeable pulsing squeal coming from my driver's rear (from the outside it sounds like a squeal, from inside it is more of a grinding sort of noise). and whenever I press on the brakes it grinds like a mofo(most likely a squeal from the outside, but i'm not sure because it is hard to drive and stand outside my car at the same time). the reason i am having problems is because i'm pretty sure it isn't a warped rotor because i can't feel anything in the pedal. and i'm pretty sure that it's not the brake pad warning thingy, because that wouldn't make noise when i am not on the brakes would it? i'll check the bearing tomorrow, even though i'm pretty sure that's not it because my noise gets way worse when i'm on the brakes. so, given that information, can anybody help me? it wouldn't be broken e-brake shoes or anything like that would it? thanks for your time guys, you've helped me fix so many things and save so much money, i don't know what i'd do with out the tuners forum.