Horrible, constant squealing noise

[dreadpiratesteve]

Hi,

As it states. The second my wheels start moving, I get this metal-on-metal terrible squealing noise. My car is terrifying to drive as a result. I got a new job and I'm finally getting paid this friday, so I will have money to fix it, i would rather not take it to a shop though, because I'd like to keep costs down. What I know is wrong with it right now is that the passenger wheel bearing needs replacing, along with the passenger side CV axle(boot is broken open). Those problems have been around for awhile, but the squealing started only like 2 months ago. It hasn't gotten any worse, it's just really bad some days, and not loud at all other days. My dad insists there's a rock stuck in my brakes, but I feel like it would have been ground to dust by now. Sometimes it's louder when you turn the wheel to the left, even slightly. The brake pads are worn, but not in dire need of replacing, yet. I can brake just fine and the car doesn't feel bogged down when I hit the gas. I honestly can't figure out which direction it's coming from. Front or back, left or right. Sometimes I swear it's coming from the left, other days I'm 100% sure I can hear it from the right. Anyway, any ideas you guys have would be great. As much as I want to avoid taking it to a shop, I'm completely stumped here.

[Grimm]

I think it's the brakes. Mine started doing something similar a year ago. I knew the rears needed to be done, but thought I had a little time. They would squeal as soon as I started moving, but once I got up a little in speed I really couldn't hear it. I think it was the wear indicator or something. I was a bit worried figuring it was a stuck caliper, but once they replaced the pads and rotors, all was good.

[dreadpiratesteve]

Yeah haha, I was starting to worry that it was a stuck caliper too. Looks like I've got some pads to replace. May as well, they're old. Is there supposed to be some kind of return spring on the pads, by the way? When I took the wheel and caliper off a few weeks ago to remove the wheel hub, I was surprised to see there wasn't anything pushing the pads off the rotor.

[bc21]

I would take a look at the dust shield that is behind the rotor on each tire sounds like that could be bent and rubbing against the rotor. I would jack up each tire and spin the tires in the air to see if you can hear which one is squealing.

[01bonneSC]

No there is no spring to pull the pads away from the rotors. They just release when you let off the brakes. I bet its the squealers that are riding on the rotors. Make sure you clean(usually with a wire wheel) the slide pins really good and use a generous amount of brake lube when you replace your pads. Might as well replace the rotors too.

You can also bend the squealers back to buy ya some more miles to save up cash if ya need to.

[dreadpiratesteve]

I got it!

I went and bought a full set of pads, and while I was replacing the front passenger side, I noticed something funny: the caliper mount was shaking around! The bolts were seized too, it took alot of PB blaster and elbow grease to un-seize them. After re-tightening the noise is gone :D it also fixed another issue I had that I thought was unrelated, where there would be some extra bump noises while I was driving, coming from that wheel. Good stuff!!!

Also, I found replacing the rear brakes to be almost impossible. I always have some trouble with the front ones, but the new pads were pushed together by the rear caliper, completely impossible to separate them enough to put the caliper back on the rotor. What am I doing wrong? I don't know much about brakes, I figured if I used a clamp or something to compress the caliper piston, it would just decompress the second I tried to let go so I could put the pads on. I'm guessing there's some trick to this.

[harofreak00]

The rear calipers need to have their piston SPUN in, not compressed. You need this brake tool, or you could try a pair of needle nose to spin it.

This tool connects to your ratchet and allows you to spin the piston. It shouldn't be more than $10 at any parts store.

[dreadpiratesteve]

Good to know, I'll pick one of those up.

I did some reading online. So I need to take the cap off of the brake fluid reservoir so the piston stays down?

[harofreak00]

The piston won't move by itself, no need to take the cap off.

[Archon]

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 41&t=16783

[dreadpiratesteve]

Alright! Got it done!

Well, there is definitely a 1000% improvement in the noise level. However, there is still noise. Sometimes, especially while driving through parking lots and the like at low speeds and turning the wheel to the left, it makes the occasional squeak.

I thought I heard a scraping noise a few months back and it turned into the squealing, but now that the squealing is fixed, there's definitely a scraping noise left. Any ideas what this one could be? Maybe the wheel bearing? Or perhaps the axle?