This is driving me nuts.

I did my front brakes a couple weeks back... rotors, bearings, new calipers and pads.

Now, sometimes when I'm driving, I hear this high-pitched squeal coming from the front end. It only does it sometimes, and there is no "control" for it... i.e. it's not when I'm turning left or going over bumps or in reverse or whatever, it's totally random.

I didn't even really notice it until yesterday.

Ugh. What is the problem NOW? Anyone have any suggestions of where to start?

 

does it happen when you are lightly applying the brakes and go away when stopping normally? did you install your anti squeal shims?

 

It does go away when I am stopping normally. I didn't notice it when I was lightly applying the brakes, but I'll keep an ear out on my way to work.

It does do it at random when I'm not at all on the brakes.

 

Take the wheels back off and inspect your work.

Possible causes-
Bent one of the backing plates and it is rubbing.
Installed one of the securing clips for the pads incorrectly.

 

could also be contaminated pads. how, may i ask, did you clean the rotors before installing them? contaminated pads are the #1 cause of brake noise.

 

I think I have it figured out... I think one of the wheel bearings has seated incorrectly.

Today after my drive home from work, I got out and wiggled the front driver's side wheel (where I think the noise is coming from) and it seems like it might have a little play. I need to get the car in the air so I can inspect.

This is NOT brake noise. Let me be clear, it's not the sound of brakes squealing. It's more like a rubber-on-metal squeak. Imagine having a metal rod and twisting it inside a rubber bushing, unlubricated. That sound.

Ugh I wish I had time and tools to pull it all apart today. But I have neither at my disposal. It will have to wait until Wednesday.

 

Did you follow the FSM when tightening the wheel bearings? I dont remember the exact procedure, but they're a lot tighter than you would think necessary.

 

I don't have an FSM... I did the old "tight then back 1/4".

I'll have to bust out the Chilton...

My girlfriend will be bringing my jack over tomorrow (it's at my dad's, across town in my other car), I can get a better look then.

 

i'd jack the car up and take the front wheels off and look for any signs of rubbing or abnormal wear. can you get pics?

 

Cell phone pics... but they're kinda garbage. I don't have a digital camera.

I really think it's the bearings. I don't have any tools here, so I'm just going to jack it up and wiggle the wheel to see if there really is some play or if it's my imagination. If there is play, then I'll know to get the car to my dad's shop and tear it back apart.

 

that sounds good. keep us posted.

 

The procedure in the Hayne's manual is to tighten while spinning the hub until it binds, then muscle it into a spin again and it should get easier as the bearings seat, then you tighten until it gets hard to spin again, then you rotate it as it gets easier and easier, then tighten, etc. Eventually once you have tightened it after the bearings are fully seated, the hub will be hard to turn by hand and you want to put one of the bolts on, and use a spring scale to try and rotate the hub. when the scale reads 5lbs, it should start to rotate the hub. Once you've done this, rotate the hub by hand a few times, then redo the spring scale test. If it is still 5 lbs, the bearing has seated fully and the hub is on as it should be.

 

I made you a pretty picture illustrating what I am talknig about above. The blue thing is the spring scale.

 

Huh. Now, where can I get a spring scale lol...

 

If they dont have one at your local napa/autozone or sears, try a fishing shop. Lots of guys I know that fish have so they can weigh they're catch before they release it.

 

So I pulled whe wheel off, and there's no play. I spun the bare hub a few times, and lo-and-behold, it made a little "scratch" sound sometimes if I went back-and-forth. It still spins freely. I think my culprit is one of the anti-rattle clips. Oh well, I'm not ripping the caliper back off just to mess with a little transient clip.