Honda Car Forum

Hello:

I should start by saying that I know nothing about cars. Nothing.
Seriously. I apologize in advance.

Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there’s a very
nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left. It sounds like it’s
coming from the wheel, or very close by. It’s a metal-on-metal
grating sound, and it follows the speed of the car - that is, the
faster the car is going, the more often the sound is heard, almost
like it’s attached to a certain point on the wheel.

A quick inspection of the wheel didn’t notice anything out of the
ordinary, but again, I don’t know what to look for, and it was dark at
the time.

I didn’t drive it, because it truly sounds like an evil noise. So I
guess I’m wondering:
- What could it be?
- How serious might it be?
- Will I be able to drive myself to a dealer if necessary?

Many thanks in advance!

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Dilligas wrote:
>
> Hello:
>
> I should start by saying that I know nothing about cars. Nothing.
> Seriously. I apologize in advance.
>
> Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there’s a very
> nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left. It sounds like it’s
> coming from the wheel, or very close by. It’s a metal-on-metal
> grating sound, and it follows the speed of the car - that is, the
> faster the car is going, the more often the sound is heard, almost
> like it’s attached to a certain point on the wheel.
>
> A quick inspection of the wheel didn’t notice anything out of the
> ordinary, but again, I don’t know what to look for, and it was dark at
> the time.
>
> I didn’t drive it, because it truly sounds like an evil noise. So I
> guess I’m wondering:
> - What could it be?
> - How serious might it be?
> - Will I be able to drive myself to a dealer if necessary?
>

It might help if you describe the noise a bit better. Is it a high pitch
squealing noise?

Eric

My bet it is brakes. That is what it was on mine.

"Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message news:4215C3FC.BF4F39FC@spam.now...
> Dilligas wrote:
>>
>> Hello:
>>
>> I should start by saying that I know nothing about cars. Nothing.
>> Seriously. I apologize in advance.
>>
>> Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there's a very
>> nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left. It sounds like it's
>> coming from the wheel, or very close by. It's a metal-on-metal
>> grating sound, and it follows the speed of the car - that is, the
>> faster the car is going, the more often the sound is heard, almost
>> like it's attached to a certain point on the wheel.
>>
>> A quick inspection of the wheel didn't notice anything out of the
>> ordinary, but again, I don't know what to look for, and it was dark at
>> the time.
>>
>> I didn't drive it, because it truly sounds like an evil noise. So I
>> guess I'm wondering:
>> - What could it be?
>> - How serious might it be?
>> - Will I be able to drive myself to a dealer if necessary?
>>
>
> It might help if you describe the noise a bit better. Is it a high pitch
> squealing noise?
>
> Eric

I'm with Eric - probably brakes. If it turns to a constant heavy metal
grinding sound when you apply the brakes, you can be sure that is it. The
intermittent thing you describe is from the worn-out pad grazing the surface
of the disc as it rotates, and some areas of the disk are just a little
thicker than other areas.

In any event, don't put off having that looked at - the next place you drive
it should be to where you expect it to be repaired. Wheel noises are always
something to be concerned about, and if it is brakes your brakes aren't
working right at this point.

Mike

"Dilligas" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:4215a3fb$1_4@alt.athenanews.com...
> Hello:
>
> I should start by saying that I know nothing about cars. Nothing.
> Seriously. I apologize in advance.
>
> Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there's a very
> nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left. It sounds like it's
> coming from the wheel, or very close by. It's a metal-on-metal
> grating sound, and it follows the speed of the car - that is, the
> faster the car is going, the more often the sound is heard, almost
> like it's attached to a certain point on the wheel.
>
> A quick inspection of the wheel didn't notice anything out of the
> ordinary, but again, I don't know what to look for, and it was dark at
> the time.
>
> I didn't drive it, because it truly sounds like an evil noise. So I
> guess I'm wondering:
> - What could it be?
> - How serious might it be?
> - Will I be able to drive myself to a dealer if necessary?
>
> Many thanks in advance!
>
> --
> Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/Honda-97-C...ict103849.html
> Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=481672

"Dilligas" wrote

> Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there's a very
> nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left.

Call the dealer and ask. I had the same car, and once developed a constant
high pitched grating sound... it started all of a sudden as I made a U turn.
It could be a pebble stuck somewhere. Jack up the car and remove the wheel.
Twist the wheel's hub (where the four lug bolts are sticking out) and rotate
it by hand. Does the sound occur? Mine did. Behind the hub and wheel
assembly (and attached to it) is a thin metal plate. You can feel for it.
Bend it backwards a little in the direction of the engine. Once I did that,
the noise disappeared. It is safe to bend back that plate.

Of course, the cause of your noise may be entirely different, such as a
brake caliper assembly having fallen off and is dragging. (Whether that's
even possible, I have no idea! But you seem to indicate this is relatively
intermittent, and that the faster you go, the more times per second you hear
the sound, so.... something may be stuck in one particular spot.)

"Strike" wrote:
> My bet it is brakes. That is what it was on mine.
>
> "Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message
> news:4215C3FC.BF4F39FC@spam.now...
> > Dilligas wrote:
> &nbsp;>>
> &nbsp;>> Hello:
> &nbsp;>>
> &nbsp;>> I should start by saying that I know nothing about
> cars. Nothing.
> &nbsp;>> Seriously. I apologize in advance.
> &nbsp;>>
> &nbsp;>> Tonight, I pulled out of my parking spot and there's
> a very
> &nbsp;>> nasty-sounding noise coming from my front-left. It
> sounds like it's
> &nbsp;>> coming from the wheel, or very close by. It's a
> metal-on-metal
> &nbsp;>> grating sound, and it follows the speed of the car -
> that is, the
> &nbsp;>> faster the car is going, the more often the sound is
> heard, almost
> &nbsp;>> like it's attached to a certain point on the wheel.
> &nbsp;>>
> &nbsp;>> A quick inspection of the wheel didn't notice
> anything out of the
> &nbsp;>> ordinary, but again, I don't know what to look for,
> and it was dark at
> &nbsp;>> the time.
> &nbsp;>>
> &nbsp;>> I didn't drive it, because it truly sounds like an
> evil noise. So I
> &nbsp;>> guess I'm wondering:
> &nbsp;>> - What could it be?
> &nbsp;>> - How serious might it be?
> &nbsp;>> - Will I be able to drive myself to a dealer if
> necessary?
> &nbsp;>>
> >
> > It might help if you describe the noise a bit better. Is it
> a high pitch
> > squealing noise?
> >
> > Eric

Hey, thanks guys.

I haven’t gotten a chance to take a look at it yet, but I’ll probably
just call up the dealer today and have them take a look at it.

As for a better description of the sound:
- It’s not constant, but it’s consistent. That is, whenever I’m
going forward, it happens.
- The faster the car goes, the more often and higher pitch the sound
is, like how you can tell the difference whether you rub a balloon
slowly or quickly.
- It’s most definitely a metal-on-metal sound, and it’s not exactly
quiet, but it’s not thunderously loud either.

I really can’t say much more than that, as I only drove it one lap
around the parking lot before getting freaked out and stopping. I
didn’t notice any odd behavior when braking, but again, I wasn’t going
fast or braking hard at all.

But you think it’s safe to drive to a dealer?

Once again, many thanks

--
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Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
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Strike wrote:
>
> My bet it is brakes. That is what it was on mine.

Yes, I was thinking that it might be the wear indicators found on OE pads
contacting the brake rotors. It's probably time for the original poster to
get the brakes inspected.

Eric

"Dilligas" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:42164311$1_2@alt.athenanews.com...
> Hey, thanks guys.
>
> I haven't gotten a chance to take a look at it yet, but I'll probably
> just call up the dealer today and have them take a look at it.
>
> As for a better description of the sound:
> - It's not constant, but it's consistent. That is, whenever I'm
> going forward, it happens.
> - The faster the car goes, the more often and higher pitch the sound
> is, like how you can tell the difference whether you rub a balloon
> slowly or quickly.
> - It's most definitely a metal-on-metal sound, and it's not exactly
> quiet, but it's not thunderously loud either.
>
> I really can't say much more than that, as I only drove it one lap
> around the parking lot before getting freaked out and stopping. I
> didn't notice any odd behavior when braking, but again, I wasn't going
> fast or braking hard at all.
>
> But you think it's safe to drive to a dealer?
>
> Once again, many thanks
>
Well, if it's the brakes it isn't really "safe" to drive anywhere... but any
driver with a year or more experience can usually figure out how to drive a
car with iffy brakes to the dealer. You should be fine if you keep in mind
your brakes are probably weak. (If you ask the dealer, you will be told
"definitely not" because of their liability if they say anything else and
something happens.) You really want to avoid doing that on wet or snowy
roads, though, because the uneven braking can cause that wheel to lock up
when you apply the brakes, even gently.

If brakes are the problem, the brake rotor is already history (moderately
expensive - probably between $50 and $100 apiece - but the Haynes indicates
it comes off without a lot of labor) so it isn't going to be made any worse
driving carefully a few miles.

Mike

"Dilligas" wrote:
> Hey, thanks guys.
>
> I haven't gotten a chance to take a look at it yet, but I'll
> probably just call up the dealer today and have them take a
> look at it.
>
> As for a better description of the sound:
> - It's not constant, but it's consistent. That is, whenever
> I'm going forward, it happens.
> - The faster the car goes, the more often and higher pitch
> the sound is, like how you can tell the difference whether you
> rub a balloon slowly or quickly.
> - It's most definitely a metal-on-metal sound, and it's not
> exactly quiet, but it's not thunderously loud either.
>
> I really can't say much more than that, as I only drove it one
> lap around the parking lot before getting freaked out and
> stopping. I didn't notice any odd behavior when braking, but
> again, I wasn't going fast or braking hard at all.
>
> But you think it's safe to drive to a dealer?
>
> Once again, many thanks

I had a similar problem after I changed my brake pads, turned out the
new pads I bought had a slight manufacture defect in the wear
indicator(a little metal tab used to let you know when it is time to
replace your pads). That could be scraping causing the noise or it
could be rubbing on your rim as with mine. I simply bent it away from
my rim slightly and all was well.

"coastie33" wrote:
> I had a similar problem after I changed my brake pads, turned
> out the new pads I bought had a slight manufacture defect in
> the wear indicator(a little metal tab used to let you know
> when it is time to replace your pads). That could be scraping
> causing the noise or it could be rubbing on your rim as with
> mine. I simply bent it away from my rim slightly and all was
> well.

Yeah, it turned out to be that metal plate a couple of you mentioned
that just got bent a little bit and was scraping. They bent it back,
no harm and no foul, and when you can get out of a dealership for 30
bucks, that’s gotta be a victory.

Once again, many thanks! It’s great to find a bunch of knowledgeable
people