High Pitched Whiny Metal Sound from Front Right Tire

[mr.Hand]

Hi,

I'm getting this very high pitched whiny metal sound from my front right tire. I can hear it come from that direction while I am driving. It starts to happen at approximately 20mph. I don't think it is brake related. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[geozukigti]

Actually, it probably is brake related. The caliper guide pins are probably siezed, and the pad is dragging.

[stamar]

well, it is also possibly the pads are starting to wear out.

buit into the pad is a small peice of metal down near the bottom of it. It makes a very high pitched noise when the pad wears down to a certain level, to tell you to change your brake pads before you wear the rivets into the rotor.

If this is the case you probably have like 50 miles before you start damaging your car.

[mr.Hand]

Thanks for the replies.

I'll take it in to the shop and let them check the brakes/calipers out.

So it will still make that sound even if brake pressure is not applied?

Thanks again.

[stamar]

Originally Posted by mr.Hand

Thanks for the replies.

I'll take it in to the shop and let them check the brakes/calipers out.

So it will still make that sound even if brake pressure is not applied?

Thanks again.

oh um.... yes and no. as the pad gets very low it stays on the caliper more.

So no in theory not but often it does. Sticks and makes the whiny noise but then also stops. the main noise would be when the brake is pressed though.

[mr.Hand]

I called up the shop, they said it might also be the wheel bearing.

Is that possible?

[geozukigti]

Wheel bearings usually make a really nasty grinding crunching sound. I've never heard a metallic sound from a wheel bearing. It could also just be a bent rock shield rubbing against the rotor. I've seen that once or twice from people getting stuck in mud, or just a big rock slamming the rock guard.

[mr.Hand]

Well, it certainly is not a grinding, crunching sound, it is just very high pitched and metallic.

Last summer, I got the brakes inspected and the guy said that the front pads each had about 25% of the padding still left. So a year later, I guess it is time now to replace them. Does that sound right?

It is pretty annoying because I have no A/C and must drive with the windows down in the summer.

[stamar]

well it would certainly be my first thought because the pads are designed to make a distinctive high pitched noise, not like grinding.

like a whistle.

[mr.Hand]

Well, I would really like to try and change out the brake pads myself.

It doesn't seem that hard to do.

[stamar]

Originally Posted by mr.Hand

Well, I would really like to try and change out the brake pads myself.

It doesn't seem that hard to do.

I havent done it on a metro.

In general it is not very hard at all.

I mean for you, its time to raise your car up and spin that wheel around. no use talking to weirdos on the internet about it anymore. Time to check that out. wheel bearing will be easy to tell

Changing the shoes is closer to medium difficulty. I hate brake shoes. when ever I finally get a car that has no rear drums will be a happy day. They definitely seem to last longer though.

[mr.Hand]

So, I'll jack it up, and if the bearing is shot, I should notice a lot of play when I try and tug the tire at the 3 and 9 and 6 and 12 oclock positions?

I'm gonna call up advance auto and see if they have the pads in stock that will fit the calipers.

[stamar]

no if the wheel bearing is shot you will spin it around and it will stop.

[Crvett69]

if the wheel bearing is bad it will have play in it and make noise, not stop. can't spin it around very fast because the axle is in the center. if your carefull you can jack both sides up and block them then start car and let the clutch out and see if you can hear anything that way while they are turning. but if you check it first and one has play its probably bad. takes special tools and a press to replace front bearings so if its bad just let a shop do it

[rdonohoe1]

My "squeal tabs" on the brake pads would only start making noise after they heated up (the brakes - not the motor). I'm talking about 10 min of driving. If you look at the pads and that tab is shiny where it dead-ends into the rotor, then that's it. They didn't make any appreciable groove or mark on the rotor, so you do need to remove the pads to see it...