Front Wheel SQUEEEEEAL

[nomov8sho]

No, not tire-smoking burnouts...

My '97 has developed a loud squeal / screech noise that does not SEEM to be brakes. Here are the symptoms:

-Loud sustained noise
-Happens when making a right-hand turn
-Definitely coming from the left front (driver side) wheel
-Started a couple days ago, only when car was cold, now happens every right turn
-Seems to get a bit louder when I hit the gas more
-does NOT change with application of brakes
-Front wheel seems to have some play (more than pass side), but lugs are tight

My first thought is bad wheel bearing but I've never heard one squeal like that. No "clickety-clickety" noise while driving, no "clunk" going around corners.

That entire hub / bearing assembly was replaced and new brakes put on all around about 4 months ago by a shop, after an accident.

Any other theories to look at before I tear somebody a new one for shoddy product / workmanship? Any ideas are appreciated...

Thanks,
-Josh

 

[Izzmo]

Yes, it's your front wheel bearing. My car used to do that as well and as soon as I changed it, good as new (and quiet).

 

[nomov8sho]

Thanks for the reply. That's what I was afraid of. I've just never heard a bad bearing squeal like that before. I'll have to call the insurance company back and try to get them to cover it. Wonder what went wrong?

Man, my vehicles are are conspiring against me- my '94 SHO daily driver developed problems with the back brakes and my truck has low compression one one cylinder AND blew up the power steering pump all within the past few weeks.

-Josh

 

[j.bsho]

"...by a shop, after an accident."

EXACTLY the same thing happened to a front wheel bearing 8 or 9 yrs ago. By a dealer, no less.

 

[nomov8sho]

Garage that did the work said the description sounds like a CV joint, which was NOT replaced after the accident since they said it "looked OK". Of now they tell me "those CV joints go bad a lot more often than wheel bearings".

What do you guys think- sound like a CV joint?

-Josh

 

[Bob Gervais]

It definitely does not sound like a cv joint. If the pads have wear indicators (metal tabs that contact the rotor before the pad wears down), it could be that, though the noise usually goes away when you apply the brakes. Not all pads have that tab....

Wheel bearing is a possibility. If it's loose, it'll allow the rotor to move a little, and contact the caliper bracket, and make the noise you're describing.

 

[stephen newberg]

I agree with Bob, not a CV joint in all likelihood. I think wheel bearings, but it could be those tabs on the brake pads Bob mentions.

pax, smn

 

[nomov8sho]

Good news- Took it over to the shop that did the work originally, and they had called before I even got back home and said it was definitely the hub / bearing and they would fully cover it under warranty.

Really refreshing to have somebody take responsibility without instinctively trying to turn a buck. I will be taking more of my cars there in the future.

-Josh