OK, I've had a quick search and most front suspension noise that people here have experienced seems to be a "popping" or "clicking" type noise. What I am hearing is neither - it's more of a screeching, almost like metal grinding on metal, like some seriously worn brake pads but scratchier. It only happens when turning right, not left, and it's come completely out of the blue. Never heard it untill today, and it's really quite loud.

Because it's bed time here in Perth, I thought I might throw this one out there for you all. Any thoughts/ideas? Gonna catch the bus to work tomorrow and jack the car up when I get home to have a look around. If anyone has any tips as to what I might look for or techniques to use to chase down particular front suspension/steering issues, that would be greatly appreciated

 

Some brake pads have "wear-indicators" that scrape on the rotor when the pads become mostly worn. These sound like a screech, and might occur turning in one direction. Could that be it?

 

Hmmm I thought of that just after I posted.

The front brake pads were rated 60% worn (guestimated by my mechanics) on the 26th of November last year. Of course being a guestimate, it could be innacurate.

Now that I think about it - that's probably not it, because I don't get any noise when braking.

 

Still could be it - the pad position in relation to the rotor is different turning than during braking.

 

does it sound like its the tire rubbing against something or what? where is the sound coming from? roll your windows down and try to pinpoint it with a passenger. the fd's internal acoustics are such that sometimes you think the sound is coming from the left when its really from the right. Helps when you have a passenger. I suspect that it might be your power steering system. Either the rack or the pump, but we really need more information. Do you feel anything on the steering wheel when you hear the noise? Does the squeal change at different speeds or is it the same sound? What size tires are you running? When did you first notice it?

-hrach

 

OK then I won't discount the brake pad theory just yet then

I first noticed it tonight, driving with the sun roof open. Drove it home from my gf's place, only about 5km. Had both windows down and sunroof open. It sounds deadset like it's coming from the right hand side, just in behind the wheel.

I got home and did two circles turning left, wheel hard over, no noise that I could hear (was going very slow). Doing similar to the right I coud hear the noise, loud, and it happened before I locked the wheel all the way across to the right. I couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary through the steering wheel, and the steering didn't feel heavier than usual.

I'm running stock rims with stock size tyres, and it sounds like metal on metal, not the tyre rubbing on anything. Doesn't seem to sound different at differing speeds, from my limited testing so far.

Cheers for help so far guys

 

The warning scrapers are like tuning forks - same sound frequency no matter the input, so it wouldn't change pitch with speed.

 

hmm...doesn't sound like power steering issue any more.

I would replace the brakes first or at least have them inspected before doing anything else. Brakes are cheap!! cross your fingers

-hrach

 

Wheel Bearings

 

Sounds like a CV joint thats going bad.

 

Bad wheel bearings usually rumble, CV joints usually "snap, crackle & pop," plus last time I checked there are no CV jounts in the front suspension on an FD...

 

1. Check to make sure the tire isn't rubbing against the fender well.

2. Check wheel bearings by jacking the car up, pull on the bottom inside edge of the tire while pushing against the top outer edge. If there is any play....time to replace the wheel bearing.....or tighten the lugs.

Hope this helps

David

 

I think I'm leaning towards Dave's brake explanation.

I've got the front of the car up, and I can't feel any play in the wheel bearings. Wheels rotate happily. I do get some tyre rubbing on the fender wall of the right wheel, but it's when turning left, not right (which is when I hear the noise).

Everything looks happy under there. I've heard brake pad indicators screeching before, when braking, but never when turning! Never mind, their on their way out anyway so I'll get a new set in and see if that fixes the problem.

 

To close this thread:

After pulling off the wheels, having a play and a feel, touch and a tickle, and not finding anything out of the ordinary, I put the wheels back on and went for a spin. The noise has gone now!

I'm thinking it was either the lug nuts weren't tight enough (that was the first thing I checked) or the shield behind the disc rubbing on the disc. Don't know how that would happen when turning, as it's all part of the one assembly, but hey. If I start hearing it again then I'll get it checked properly.