Metallic noise that goes away with braking

**kind153** · 03-03-2010

--->> Listen..
I tried to reduce a noise,, but didn't help much. I will try to record it with better equipment later.

It's heard when I drive, cold or warm, with steering wheel right from center.
It varies with speed.

It doesn't sound when:
1. brake is pressed
2. steering is, even slightly, turned left. (or it's heard but quieter,, i don't know)

I'm pretty sure that it's coming from front left.

I have front brake rotor and pad replaced in June 2009, rear pads Feb 2010.
I've searched,, couldn't find much.
Someone wrote to check if nuts are torqued right(?) I don't know.

Need help! Not only it's annoying, I am worried.

------------
3/22/2010
UPDATE: I notice the pitch changes (goes higher) as brake pedal is pressed. It finally goes away when brake seems to slow it down.
UPDATE2: after relatively heavy snow (southeast kansas here), it seems to be gone(??)

The noise might be gone, but my curiosity still remains.......... What is(was?) going on?!

**Deimos** · 03-03-2010

Sounds like a wheel bearing or a pad lost it bonding (second one not likely). Jack it up and check the fornt end.

**CTKGP09** · 03-03-2010

wheel bering or a flex plate is rubbing

**kind153** · 03-03-2010

in either cases you mentioned, should it go away when brake is pressed?

**CTKGP09** · 03-03-2010

hmm you feel the the brake pedal when the bearing is bad. my flex plate started rubbing but it was along time ago and i dnt remember if it went away when the brakes were depressed. its an easy fix tho, just bend it into place

**kind153** · 03-04-2010

Originally Posted by CTKGP09

hmm you feel the the brake pedal when the bearing is bad. my flex plate started rubbing but it was along time ago and i dnt remember if it went away when the brakes were depressed. its an easy fix tho, just bend it into place

I don't feel anything when braking. The noise very quiet, though. Hard to listen in traffic. I recorded in the night, in residential area;

In any event, can you tell me how to 'bend it into place' in more detail??

**kind153** · 03-04-2010

Originally Posted by Deimos

Sounds like a wheel bearing or a pad lost it bonding (second one not likely). Jack it up and check the fornt end.

I really hate to find out my bearing(s) is gone. How do I check for a pad that's lost?

**Deimos** · 03-04-2010

Flexplate would not go away when brakes are depressed. The brakes absorb the noise when they are depressed similar to what happens when your brakes are at the squeelers.

**kind153** · 03-04-2010

Originally Posted by Deimos

Flexplate would not go away when brakes are depressed. The brakes absorb the noise when they are depressed similar to what happens when your brakes are at the squeelers.

So,, what can be wrong then?

**Timmi** · 03-04-2010

I say either wheel bearing!!! mine went bad on the drivers side and it was a vibration that we heard on the passangers side.... on my truck it would make a really nice grinding like noise when the wheel bearing went out on it (they went out often, Had a snow plow on the front).... also just one other thing to check... take wheel off and see if there isn't any debri stuck in one of your brake pads.... with my truck I would often get rocks and other debri stuck in the pads and that would make a nasty noise too, most the time that stuff would come out on its own... but, not always.

**checkinpox** · 03-04-2010

change your front pads and rotors. pretty much guarantee that will fix it. could possibly be a wheel bearing. they are easy to change as well. especially if you have your brakes apart already. flew plate grinding would not go away when braking. they aren't even close to related.

**kind153** · 03-04-2010

Originally Posted by Timmi

I say either wheel bearing!!! mine went bad on the drivers side and it was a vibration that we heard on the passangers side.... on my truck it would make a really nice grinding like noise when the wheel bearing went out on it (they went out often, Had a snow plow on the front).... also just one other thing to check... take wheel off and see if there isn't any debri stuck in one of your brake pads.... with my truck I would often get rocks and other debri stuck in the pads and that would make a nasty noise too, most the time that stuff would come out on its own... but, not always.

I really hope that'd be my case -- anyway to do without taking the wheel off?

**kind153** · 03-04-2010

Originally Posted by checkinpox

change your front pads and rotors. pretty much guarantee that will fix it. could possibly be a wheel bearing. they are easy to change as well. especially if you have your brakes apart already. flew plate grinding would not go away when braking. they aren't even close to related.

Replaced them not so long ago; no money!

Why do wheel bearings go out anyway? I've seen my friend making a metal grinding noise (ended up replacing wheel bearing),, didn't think i'd be one;

**Timmi** · 03-04-2010

wheel bearings go out because on these new age cars its a sealed bearing. cant access it.. eventually the grease wears out and doesn't keep them lubricated... on older cars like my 69 chevy I can access the bearings and repack them like every summer sometime this way keeping the bearings in fresh grease. but, eventually the bearings will wear and will need replaced.... metal on metal even with good lubrication will still have some wear... (this is were someone puts in some sexual comment or thought).

fyi, taking wheel off isn't that bad:
take jack and lightly lift the car taking some pressure off wheel, then loosen lugs,
next lift wheel off ground, then take lugs completely off,
slip wheel off,
check things...
put wheel back on...
put lugs on to hand snugg... then tighten in a star pattern to wrench snugg..
then if you have a torque wrench tighten to tork... or do as i do, and just get them on tight. always in a star pattern!
also before you loosen lugs, lift wheel completely off ground.... then wiggle (technical term) the wheel see if it feels like theres a lot of play (movement) in it... (moving the wheel by pushing top and bottom of wheel in and out of wheel well) if there does seem to be some play in the wheel then its most definantly wheel bearings unless you have loose lugs.

**kind153** · 03-08-2010

I notice some play on both front wheels............................................ .... :sad:
play about 1/4 inch both ways, on both wheels. is it normal? yes, normal.. right?

How much do I have until it goes really really bad?;

**Timmi** · 03-08-2010

hmm... this is tricky... I would say not normal and most likely wheel bearing... when my wheel bearing went out on my grand prix, you wouldn't notice it till you were doing 45+ mph... your issue you said varies with speed which is a symptom of wheel bearings going bad... also depending on if the steering wheel is straight or if your going around a curve can change the sound or even make it go away is also a big symptom of a wheel bearing... I am putting money on wheel bearing. sorry bought your luck... makes ya feel better I changed wheel bearing drivers window motor tie rod ends and thermostat all at the same time in september.

**matt5112** · 03-08-2010

bearings are up down, left to right.

left right = tie rods, up down = ball joints.

for the most part...

**Timmi** · 03-08-2010

na... this is a metallic noise when driving that he is trying to fix.... so doubt its tie rods... they don't move... and ball joints?? I think you mean the CV's... and they wouldn't make a metallic noise.. they would make a thump... specially when turning.

**matt5112** · 03-08-2010

I'm just refering to the standard check that everyone does for those components.

The noise seems most likely to be the bearings if you can move the wheel that much.

**kind153** · 03-08-2010

Originally Posted by Timmi

hmm... this is tricky... I would say not normal and most likely wheel bearing... when my wheel bearing went out on my grand prix, you wouldn't notice it till you were doing 45+ mph... your issue you said varies with speed which is a symptom of wheel bearings going bad... also depending on if the steering wheel is straight or if your going around a curve can change the sound or even make it go away is also a big symptom of a wheel bearing... I am putting money on wheel bearing. sorry bought your luck... makes ya feel better I changed wheel bearing drivers window motor tie rod ends and thermostat all at the same time in september.

Sad it is.. what's slightly different is that I wouldn't notice anything no matter if I go over 45 or not. It's just the chirp, which I wouldn't notice over 45 due to road noise, that is heard while driving on a smooth road in the night or near a wall.

Any possibilities that it'd be brake-related??

btw, it don't think it makes the noise if I turn right, it does when the steering is slightly right from straight.. it's gone when I start to make a turn.

AHH I don't want it to be wheel bearing!!