Rear wheel droning noise after changing pads

Jono8

Jono8

Jono8

Caporegime
Joined
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Surrey
My girlfriend had her car MOT'd and serviced last Friday, and all it needed were two new rear pads. All was well(it drove back form the garage ok), but then on Monday, when driving it started making a horrible droning noise from the rear right wheel. The droning completely stops when pressing the brake and seems to get quieter when turning left (when compared with straight on or right).

Now, my first thought is something isn't right with the brake pad fitting as it never made any such noise before they were done on Friday. However, I have done some reading and it sounds like it could be a wheel bearing and it is just a coincidence that it started a few days after the mot/service and rear pad change.

Also, it has started to make a more high pitched squeal from the left front wheel as well but I don't know whether that is related.

Would a bad wheel bearing make a very loud drone/rumbling that could be heard very loudly in the car, and would the noise also stop completely when you step on the brakes (if it was the bearing).

Any insight would be much appreciated.
 
First thing I'd try is some moderate stops from 70mph 2 or 3 times.

If that doesn't work take it back to whoever fitted the pads and make it their problem
 
Probably just crud on the pads/discs

I'd do a few high speed stops (safely) and see if it gets rid of it.

You often get issues like this with generic 3rd party pads.
 
If it is a bearing it will come and go as you turn (load/unload the wheel)
Try some very light swerves... or find a windy road :)
I'd suggest bedding the pads in a little first though as it's likely that the pad face just isn't quite square to the disc face...
 
NoNameNoNumber said:
If it is a bearing it will come and go as you turn (load/unload the wheel)
Try some very light swerves... or find a windy road :)
I'd suggest bedding the pads in a little first though as it's likely that the pad face just isn't quite square to the disc face...
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Would the noise immediately stop when pressing on the brakes if it was the bearing though?
 

Ok so that is the noise^

We took it back to the place we had the rear pads/mot/service done and they think it is the wheel bearing :rolleyes:

I am convinced it is not the wheel bearing. The noise level does not correlate with speed at all. Sometimes its loudest just rolling at like 5mph. As soon as the brake is pressed the noise goes. If you pull the handbrake up lightly whilst going along the noise increases. In fact the noise level increases as you start to apply the brake pedal, then disappears as you apply it fully.

Something is rubbing/on to tight or sticking in the caliper in my opinion. What do you guys think?
 
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Sticking caliper. I am sure that's not a wheel bearing. It sounds like when you've left the handbrake on and you drive along. Get them to have a look at the brakes again and refit them or strip them down and regrease/recheck them.

Where did you take it to out of interest?
 
that is the exact same noise my 330ci has been making this week, except it seems to be coming from the front for me. I've had new disks and handbrake shoes in the rear last weekend. I'll let you know what we find.
 
Sounds harmonic, so the disc and pads interacting, a wheel bearing thats worn is a very deep rumble, made much worse by going around a corner that's being affected by the failing bearing (ie ns bearing and turning right).
 
squealing is usually brake pad squeal esp if applying the brake (a dab of grease on the rear of the pads prevents it)

could be warped disc or piston not releasing fully esp with newer thicker pads put in
 
Thanks for all your input guys. I didn't think it was a bearing and due to the gf needing to do a lot of driving next week we had no choice but to take it to kwik fit for a brake inspection.

Lo and behold, the Kwik Fit guy said that whoever fitted the pads did not clip the right rear pad behind the disc on properly, which meant whilst going a long the pad was kind of loose thus causing the noise (and then I guess the sound stopped when the brakes were applied, as that clamped the pad on to the disc and stopped the noise).

Anyway, drove it around for 45 mins+ afterwards at all speeds and the noise is gone.

Even better, Kwik Fit only charge £20 which I think is fair considering they took the brakes off, put them back PROPERLY (unlike the original garage) and road tested it.

Now to right a letter of complaint to the garage that did the pads.
 
Jono8 said:
Thanks for all your input guys. I didn't think it was a bearing and due to the gf needing to do a lot of driving next week we had no choice but to take it to kwik fit for a brake inspection.

Lo and behold, the Kwik Fit guy said that whoever fitted the pads did not clip the right rear pad behind the disc on properly, which meant whilst going a long the pad was kind of loose thus causing the noise (and then I guess the sound stopped when the brakes were applied, as that clamped the pad on to the disc and stopped the noise).

Anyway, drove it around for 45 mins+ afterwards at all speeds and the noise is gone.

Even better, Kwik Fit only charge £20 which I think is fair considering they took the brakes off, put them back PROPERLY (unlike the original garage) and road tested it.

Now to right a letter of complaint to the garage that did the pads.
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I'm glad you have it sorted. Do you mind me asking what the £20 charge was for on your receipt? As brake inspections are completely free of charge, which involves completely stripping down the brakes and measuring them up, followed by a clean-up and re-assembly, there should be no charge for this.
 
andy_mk3 said:
I'm glad you have it sorted. Do you mind me asking what the £20 charge was for on your receipt? As brake inspections are completely free of charge, which involves completely stripping down the brakes and measuring them up, followed by a clean-up and re-assembly, there should be no charge for this.
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A bit cheeky I know but I think it was because we went in there with an actual problem and technically they did fix it. To be honest, it felt a bit mean to have them take apart the brakes, solve the issue, road test it and then just walk off without paying them.

Probably could have walked out without paying but we were grateful to be honest.
 
Jono8 said:
A bit cheeky I know but I think it was because we went in there with an actual problem and technically they did fix it. To be honest, it felt a bit mean to have them take apart the brakes, solve the issue, road test it and then just walk off without paying them.

Probably could have walked out without paying but we were grateful to be honest.
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Fair enough :) I work in a KF and always quite pleased to tell someone their car is fixed FOC for something simple :p
 
andy_mk3 said:
Fair enough :) I work in a KF and always quite pleased to tell someone their car is fixed FOC for something simple :p
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Well it would have been nice! Guy seemed to want to charge us £20 though and to be honest I didn't mind seen as they claimed to have fixed it.

I did take my car to Kwik Fit once to check a tyre as it kept losing air slowly. They checked it and said it was a faulty valve, so replaced the valve and charged me nothing. Problem was solved! I was more than willing to pay for it but the guy insisted that it was FOC.
 
To be honest it's more hassle charging for something so small, there's so much paperwork to be filled in, all your details etc. It's not worth charging for something like a valve :p
 
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