Help with a strange squeak.

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
Posts
11,421
Location
Derbyshire
Hey all.
My car (1992 Eunos) made no strange noises prior to the weekend, but I have noticed an annoying squeak at from the front left wheel area at low speeds.
I have recently changed the belts (not cambelt) so it could be one of those slipping, but the noise does not go away when I put my foot on the clutch so I doubt it is that. Also if I rev it in neutral the noise is not present. The squeak frequency reduces as I slow down and is not there when I am stopped.

Last weekend I got new tyres on the Friday and an alignment on the Saturday. They also aligned my steering wheel. I noticed the noise as I was driving home just after the alignment was completed, and the mechanic gave it a small test drive before to check all was OK before he let me drive the car away. I doubt any bolts were left loose from the alignment as the car handles well and there is no steering wheel vibration. I get the squeak when driving in a straight line so it isn't cornering or speed bump related.

I jacked the front up and span each front wheel independently and they did not spin for long before they stopped. Neither squeak.

I am somewhat confident that the noise is coming from the front left wheel - What could it be? Could it be some grit stuck in the brakes? A knackered bush? A knackered bearing that just doesn't like the new suspension setup?
 
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Maccy said:
CV boot joint??
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I am not sure. The previous owner claimed to change the pads just 2000 miles ago so doubt it is those. I had a google at CV joints and those sound like a clunk rather than a squ.eal
It is more of a squeal that a squeak that has a frequency directly related to the speed of the wheel.to the speed of the wheel.
 
The noise does not go away with the clutch down. I have a strong feeling that it is from the front right wheel area.
Could the alignment have disturbed some old bushes?

I will test the brakes tomorrow. Should I touch the brake pedal lightly and see what happens? I tried stamping on them but tbh I am crapping myself thinking they will lock up on ice.

The squeak/squeal is related to speed of the vehicle, not the engine speed.
 
The squeak tends to appear after driving for 10-15 mins (well after the engine has warmed up). If I put the car in neutral and roll down a hill I can hear the squeak, as I apply the brakes the squeak gets slower until it stops when I stop.

Would it be the bearing on the wheel? The front ones are supposedly very easy to replace.
 
-westy- said:
Lift the front of the car and spin the front wheels fairly quickly - touch the spring, if there's vibration through it it's likely the wheel bearing. You might just have a brake pad very slightly loose in the carrier - in that case there's nothing to worry about.
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If it is the brake pad, is there a way to stop it making the noise? It really is not loud but as the car is a soft top the noise can be heard and is quite annoying!
 
ManLoveRulesOK said:
Any vibrations through the steering wheel? If not then warped disc is unlikely.
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None at all.
I think the problem must be to do with the wheels as the symptoms are nothing to do with suspension movement of any kind.
A bearing giving a squeak sounds strange as afaik they tend to grind or make a wob-wob noise. Could be something stuck in the brakes, but it just seems wierd that the issue began right after the alignment was done.

I will lightly hold the wheel and brake hard next time I drive it to check if there is any movement at all :).
 
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