Left front "moan"
 

I know this has been hashed and re-hashed. Under slow speed, fairly hard right turn, I get a noise in the left front.

The whole front suspension was recently off the car for a refurbish, and there was no noise before that. According to a receipt from the PO, wheel bearings are fairly new.

So, I know a hanging brake caliper is possible. They were off the car for about 2 mos. Should have rebuilt them, but time constraints. Would they actually make noise turning, not on the brake? I have to check if the noise stops if I actually step on the brake (it's sporadic, so I didn't catch it).

Next question, would the nut against the thrust washer being either too loose (don't think that's the case) or too tight cause such a noise?

I also hear a similar, very brief noise at times when I just start to apply brake pressure. That similar noise sounds closer to the mater cylinder. Maybe it just sounds that way. Air in the lines maybe?

Thanks!!

Todd

wheel bearings

Make sure your shock mounts are tight. Also check the shock to strut nut. If you lift the front of the car you can grab the strut assembly and yank at it. If it moves, something is loose.

My first suspicion would be front suspension bushings.

Yes, if the thrust washer is too loose, then you can introduce enough wobble to make the rotor rub against the brake pad.

The problem may also be worn bushing races. Did the PO change the races at the same time as the bearings? When the inner bearings go back on to the spindle, is the fit tight indicating that the spindle is within spec?

I'd think about changing the bearings, races, and mic the spindles relative to the inner bearings if the problem doesn't go away with an adjustment. Also make sure the races are seated all the way into the hub, and are square to the rotors, not at an angle.

Do you have a way to check the rotors for runout? Excessive runout can cause a hanging caliper, and may be made worse by loose bearings. Also, old caliper o-rings or a bad or old and swollen brake hose can cause the brake piston to not retract fully when you let off the brake pedal.

Good feedback Rusnak. I'll drive the car tomorrow to see if the noise changes while applying the brakes. That should narrow it down to something wth the brakes or not. I put new lines in while I gad it all apart, so should be no issues in that department.

No noises before it was all apart, so if it is something with the bearings, I must have done something wrong with putting the hub on the assembly. If I rule the brakes out, I'll take the hub back off (have to to put longer studs in anyway. I'll check how things are seating at that point. Do I just leave the front bearing out to see how the hub, rear bearing and hub have all seated?

you can check the bearings by grabbing the top of the tire and shaking it side to side. If the wheel is unusually black compared to the other side, then it's most likely a brake pad issue.