Unknown Squeaking noise coming from front driver's side
Unknown Squeaking noise coming from front driver's side
I have this unknown squeaking noise coming from my front driver's side. I had it checked out two different times from two different shops. The first shop told me it was due to a "Rusty Dust Shield." So i figured I'd take a look, and indeed it was rusty, but to the same degree as the passenger side, only the noise was coming from just my front left side. A little background before I go any further, I own a 2008 Pontiac Vibe with Moon and Tunes, it has just a little over 98K miles, and I've owned her since July 2016, great car all around, just a couple minor fixes, but this squeaking noise has been increasingly getting noisier and more bothersome to me and my ears. It sounds like a high pitch dog's whimper whenever i turn the steering wheel to make a left turn, or when I am stopping. Back to where I left off, i took my tire off also cleaned my rotor up a little (just put new rotors and brake pads on in September 2016) so the rotor is practically brand new. Anyway it had a little surface rust so i cleaned it up with some brake clean. I inspected the dust shield and like i said it was rusty. So i decided to grind some of the surface rust off with a wire brush wheel I attached to my drill, and i painted over it with Chassis saver (basically POR 15 but better) I grinded a lot of rust away to show clean metal again then painted over the remaining rusted areas. I replaced everything, thinking I got rid of the problem, and for a day or two the noise subsided. Then it was back! So I was confused? So I talked to one of the shops I deliver parts to, and they said they'll be happy to check it out. After all is said and done they turned the rotor (which was still fairly new) but it still makes a squeaking noise!! So I'm asking anybody who knows more about Vibes, or cars in general what can this noise be? My only other theory is a worn Output Shaft Bearing. I'm leaning toward this because when I first bought the vehicle, the first work it needed was a new Output Shaft Seal, because it was leaking slightly on the driver's side front. It cost quite a bit of money to replace it, but I'm wondering could this have anything to do with the noise? Please help, this noise is driving me nuts, and I love my Vibe, this is the only problem I'm currently having with it, everything else is awesome. Any input or a steer in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!
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j42.snyder
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:14 am
- Location: St. Catharines, ON
Re: Unknown Squeaking noise coming from front driver's side
Are you very sure the dust shield isn't contacting anything? I had a similar noise on another vehicle in the family that drove me nuts until I found it. On that one, there was a very small shield in front of the ball joint that perhaps I had grabbed accidentally when pulling the rotor off and bent slightly towards the rotor.. It would just lightly touch at times - but made a horrible noise when it did.
On my 2009 Vibe, I had some noise start in the same place as you - so I pulled the rotor off and could see where contact had been made with the dust shield at the inner edge. In my case, a lip of rust had formed on the inner edge of the rotor, and expanded enough to make contact. Knocking that off with a ball peen hammer fixed the issue in that case. Since your rotors are new, I'm sure that's not the cause - but it takes just the tiniest bit of contact to make a noise - that's why the wear indicators are as effective as they are once the pads are worn down to that level. I never let mine get there (still original with plenty of wear left on mine at 187,000km) - but I hear many go by on the street with them screeching away.
The fact that it went away after you painted it makes me think that perhaps it's still touching somewhere. The coating you put on probably made it quieter until it wore through - back to metal on metal.
Without hearing it - that's my best guess. I wouldn't expect an output shaft bearing to make different noises based on turning or braking - most likely something at the wheel end. I'd expect more of a howl or moan from a bearing that varies in pitch with speed - typically not a squeak.
I've seen one case where one of the shims that support the pads in the caliper bracket was bent and making contact with the rotor. That made an awful noise too - but also left obvious marks on the surface of the rotor.
John
On my 2009 Vibe, I had some noise start in the same place as you - so I pulled the rotor off and could see where contact had been made with the dust shield at the inner edge. In my case, a lip of rust had formed on the inner edge of the rotor, and expanded enough to make contact. Knocking that off with a ball peen hammer fixed the issue in that case. Since your rotors are new, I'm sure that's not the cause - but it takes just the tiniest bit of contact to make a noise - that's why the wear indicators are as effective as they are once the pads are worn down to that level. I never let mine get there (still original with plenty of wear left on mine at 187,000km) - but I hear many go by on the street with them screeching away.
The fact that it went away after you painted it makes me think that perhaps it's still touching somewhere. The coating you put on probably made it quieter until it wore through - back to metal on metal.
Without hearing it - that's my best guess. I wouldn't expect an output shaft bearing to make different noises based on turning or braking - most likely something at the wheel end. I'd expect more of a howl or moan from a bearing that varies in pitch with speed - typically not a squeak.
I've seen one case where one of the shims that support the pads in the caliper bracket was bent and making contact with the rotor. That made an awful noise too - but also left obvious marks on the surface of the rotor.
John