grinding noise under front left

[DannyboyDS]

ok so lately when moving backwards, whether in reverse or in neutral, on a hill or the flat when applying the brakes there is a grinding noise, the brakes seem to work fine but the noise is damn annoying, should I try at a slightly higher speed then 5 kmh to see if the brakes really are affected?

no problems if moving forwards but its starting to eff me off.

I did a search and the closest I could come up with was to do with the handbrake which would be the rear, but as of yet no problems there.

Any suggestions?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The first step would be to take a wheel off and have a look. It sounds like the pads have worn down to the metal backing plate and are grinding on the rotor. It may have only just started because it is only happening in reverse.

[NVE_069]

i just changed my pads BRAKES and i get this noise from the front not sure why but yeh its from the front

[DannyboyDS]

pads changed like two months ago, I have visually inspected the area with the car jacked up, shamefully I have not takent he wheel off and looked at the pads, I didn't think that they where the cause, i'll have a look tommorow arvo.

it couldnt be the ABS sensor starting to stuff up in one direction only could it?

[hako]

The pads could be chattering and making a grinding sound - this is usually fixed by applying some of that stop squeal stuff for brakes that goes between the pad backing and the piston.
The pads may also move slightly in the caliper when in reverse making the pad rub against a part of the disc that is not polished - I had this in my VS and fixed it by angle grinding the outer edge of the disc so that it was smooth. (drastic but it worked)
The disc surface may also be glazed.
I'd doubt it would be the ABS sensor.

[DannyboyDS]

ahh glazed from high temp/overheating border line warping them?

could have happened when I had that debarcle with the left hand hub assembly that was for an IRS car which forced my abs to fire on and do all sorts of wierd stuff to the brakes untill the ABS just shutdown (That is all resolved now)

i'll have to pop the wheel off and have a better look, I was origionally thinking it couldnt be the actual brakes because they have only just been done a few months ago without incident until recently, I was thinking more that the hub assembly (which has been on its way out for a while) may have actually started to collapse?

[hako]

What makes you think the hub assembly is on its way out? Reason I ask is that I replaced both my front hubs trying to fix a grinding problem which ended up being my cheap Chinese tyres.

[DannyboyDS]

it sounds like a family of guinie pigs are living under the front fendor, hours of inspection and bouncing etc etc have revelaed no other faults, when no load is on the hub (no wheel car jacked up) it spins reasonably well but sounds dry if you know what I mean.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Strut bearings. This came up a while ago for another member and the strut bearings were the problem.

[hako]

it sounds like a family of guinie pigs are living under the front fendor, hours of inspection and bouncing etc etc have revelaed no other faults, when no load is on the hub (no wheel car jacked up) it spins reasonably well but sounds dry if you know what I mean.

The dry sound is probably from the pads brushing against the disc - you really need to remove the pads or push them away from the disc and then see if it sounds dry...I think the proper way to test them is to measure the side-play but at $300+ you need to make sure!
What brand tyre are you using?

[Avi8or]

Have a quick check that the shield on the brake disc isn't rubbing on the disc itself. I had that problem a few weeks ago and it made a terrible noise, had to take the wheel off and pull it away.

[AttaBoy]

Maybe a case of sticky brake piston.

[DannyboyDS]

The dry sound is probably from the pads brushing against the disc - you really need to remove the pads or push them away from the disc and then see if it sounds dry...I think the proper way to test them is to measure the side-play but at $300+ you need to make sure!
What brand tyre are you using?

I did remove the caliper and yeah it has a little bit of play if I push on them, but not a huge deal, no more then I would say is acceptable.

what else could be making these noises? maybe i'll just fork out some cash and say to a profesional "Fix it" tbh i'm sick of the damn noise.

[hako]

Before I went to a professional I'd try to track the problem down - first I'd remove the pads and give the rubbing surface a good sand so that there is no gloss left. I'd try the car straight after to eliminate the pads. Next I'd check the piston on the caliper as suggested by AttaBoy....try pushing it back into the bore and see if it retracts smoothly....then test again. (maybe do the piston and pad test at the one time).
Front wheel bearing noise should only be evident when cornering.
Good Luck.

[DannyboyDS]

ok so I gave the roters a light sand, replaced the hub assembly with a second hand one I had lying around (The newer one spins twice as freely as the old one and no noise )

I gave everything the 100% inspection, noticed my sway bar has moved about 5 mm off center (not a major issue yet) and thats about it.

[DannyboyDS]

Strut bearings. This came up a while ago for another member and the strut bearings were the problem.

Sorry Abba, I must have missed this particular post, I will investigate the strut bearings asap then, I have pulled everything else apart and all else seems well.

Turns out I have two grinding noises, when reversing on flat and applying the brakes I get one from the front left, a light one, wehn reversing down hill with the car in reverse if I try to stop a loud grinding starts comming out of the auto.

No error codes as of yet, methinks me auto is "censored"

Lucky my mechanic is a good bloke, I think he is gonna look after me on this but I have to wait a few weeks for him to be free.

[DannyboyDS]

ok so that Auto was borked and forked but it wasn't causing that vibrating noise, so far ive replaced drivers side engine mount (Passenger side is ok) , passenger side hub (needed doing anyway) and the tranny mount.

ive had thats ide in pices and back together a few times now, I had a further inspection while the car was running and in reverse and the whole passenger fender is vibrating and the headlight too, I had that fender off nearly a year ago and could never get it to sit perfect again, oh the passenger side of the front bar vibrates too, putting my ear next to it indicates I am close to the source of the noise but maybe not the cause?

anyone know of anything on that side thatc ould be fouling with the chassi somewhere? ive looked and looked but you never know what you can miss, i'll be pulling that fender off tommorow and I will attempt to refit it perfectly this time.

Advise is welcome at this point.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Ummmm...you spell it "advice"...

Jks...obviously something is loose or touching something it shouldn't be.

[DannyboyDS]

ahahah yeah actually I know that one, I wrote it as if to say "who can advise me" im a twit :P

well thats what I figured but thanks for the reply.

[hako]

From the sound of the PS mudguard and headlight vibrating etc it appears your car has had a past major front-ender....maybe that side of the subframe is distorted or locating brackets have not been re-installed when it was fixed. Check that the stays are installed.
Also re the noise - I've seen sway bar and Z bar rubber bushes/insulators which appear to be OK on the outside but inside the bush the rubber is worn so much that its metal to metal....this is most evident when force is applied.
Are the uni joints good?

[DannyboyDS]

nah it never did it untill the new engine went in, it dodn't make these noises in Jecs car so im fairly sure its something with my car or the installation.

i'll be traking that fender off, what are the locating brackets, the radius rod bushes were done about a year ago, I did a HOWTO on em too :P im confident that they are not the cause.

Could the uni's really cause only the front end to vibrate one one side? they arn't making any other noises so i'd say they are fine.

[hako]

Check the opposite side for stays....maybe you need strut braces! How about pass side engine mount - sagged/cracked?

[DannyboyDS]

nah the passenger side engine mount appears fine and gives no movement, what are stays?

i'll be removing that fender later, i'll let everyone know what the results are, who knows someone else might be having a similar problem.

[DannyboyDS]

ok so maybe the passenger mount is gone? I can feel a fair bit of vibration ont hat mount while the engine is running, I also notice if the car is not making the noise, if I push the passenger side of the engine down it will make the noise.

Any Ideas, im replacing the mount this saturday, any tips?

[hako]

ok so maybe the passenger mount is gone? I can feel a fair bit of vibration ont hat mount while the engine is running, I also notice if the car is not making the noise, if I push the passenger side of the engine down it will make the noise.

Any Ideas, im replacing the mount this saturday, any tips?

Not the pass side exhaust manifold or down pipe loose? and re the engine mount I think the hardest bit is undoing the compressor bolts and think you'll need to disconnect extractors if fitted. A hoist helps as does a cold beer at the end of it.