Front wheel squealing/scraping

fuzzdecay · 09-03-2008, 05:55 PM

I've now taken my car in 3 separate times (for a total of 8.5 hours) for this issue, and it's not being resolved at the dealership. so, i'm asking you fine people for insight.

I've had my smart since march 28th. i've put 7,300 miles on it, thus far. around april (1,200ish miles) i noticed that when i was on the interstate, that i'd get a high pitched metal on metal squeal/scrape sound coming from my front passenger wheel when i'd veer or turn to the right. it only happened on the interstate after going 80-85 for over 10 mins, once the wheels heated up. so i'd hear it while passing other cars and on the offramps.

i took it in for the squeal and this clunking noise i'd get when i'd turn sharply. my suspension bolts were tightened, which helped the clunk, but not the squeal. the dealership told me that the tech couldn't reproduce the squeal. well, of course, on my way home from the dealership it started squealing again.

so, i decided to wait a few weeks until it got worse, so maybe the tech could reproduce it. now my car will squeal while veering right OR left (and it sounds like it's coming from both wheels now), for a sustained period. only when i'm going fast, and sporatically. sometimes shaking my steering wheel seems to fix it, sometimes it doesn't. of course, it's completely random, but happens at least once a day.

i left my car at the dealership half a day and the service manager drove my car around and heard the sound, but again, the tech couldn't reproduce it. the official write up on my paperwork is "valve ping from using regular gas". which i don't believe is the case as a.) i've never used anything other than premium and b.) the noise is coming from the front of my car, away from my engine.

i've checked the calipers, there seems to be clearance between them and the rotors. my suspension is tight. the paperwork says my clutch is fine. what could it be? i've been worried that maybe it's the power steering belt or something, as the noise sounds like something between a brake squealer and a slipping belt (i've heard this same sound on other cars with a dented brake shroud that was scraping the rotor, and a bad wheel bearing), but i really don't believe that's the case.

jonnysan · 09-03-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzdecay

I've now taken my car in 3 separate times (for a total of 8.5 hours) for this issue, and it's not being resolved at the dealership. so, i'm asking you fine people for insight.

I've had my smart since march 28th. i've put 7,300 miles on it, thus far. around april (1,200ish miles) i noticed that when i was on the interstate, that i'd get a high pitched metal on metal squeal/scrape sound coming from my front passenger wheel when i'd veer or turn to the right. it only happened on the interstate after going 80-85 for over 10 mins, once he wheels heated up. so i'd hear it while passing other cars and on the offramps.

i took it in for the squeal and this clunking noise i'd get when i'd turn sharply. my suspension bolts were tightened, which helped the clunk, but not the squeal. the dealership told me that the tech couldn't reproduce the squeal. well, of course, on my way home from the dealership it started squealing again.

so, i decided to wait a few weeks until it got worse, so maybe the tech could reproduce it. now my car will squeal while veering right OR left (and it sounds like it's coming from both wheels now), for a sustained period. only when i'm going fast, and sporatically. sometimes shaking my steering wheel seems to fix it, sometimes it doesn't. of course, it's completely random, but happens at least once a day.

i left my car at the dealership half a day and the service manager drove my car around and heard the sound, but again, the tech couldn't reproduce it. the official write up on my paperwork is "valve ping from using regular gas". which i don't believe is the case as a.) i've ever used anything other than premium and b.) the noise is coming from the front of my car, away from my engine.

i've checked the calipers, there seems to be clearance between them and the rotors. my suspension is tight. the paperwork says my clutch is fine. what could it be? i've been worried that maybe it's the power steering belt or something, as the noise sounds like something between a brake squealer and a slipping belt (i've heard this same sound on other cars with a dented brake shroud that was scraping the rotor, and a bad wheel bearing), but i really don't believe that's the case.

Are "underlubricated" and as such will show up as a squeal when they get hot after running hard on an interstate as you have said they did. I would take the fronts apart myself and check that if I were you ....I know..it's the dealer's job under warrantee....but I could not stand for someone to tell me they couldn't find anything wrong when you know very well there is a problem. Did you ask the dealership if they checked that? I would......

"Just do it" ....yourself for your own peace of mind.

John

tjmodz · 09-03-2008, 06:16 PM

I wouldn't think it's the power steering belt. I assume with the rear engine, that is where the belts are?

I'm thinking that you are probably closer with the brakes, or wheel bearing. With all those trips to the dealer, they didn't check what I would assume is the obvious place to start, wheels & brakes? There isn't much other mechanical equipment up front that I know of? The only other thing would be if there is a cooling fan for radiator with a bad bearing?

Sorry for no real answers, just thinking out loud.

MCMarathoner · 09-03-2008, 06:21 PM

Other cars that I've owned have had rotor/caliper issues at speed in and in hard turns when seemingly in spec. Silicon is your friend, applied to the back of the brake pad. It fixed the old Porsche, it fixed the old VWs, and it even fixed the Vette. Silence is golden...

Happy motoring,
26.2

NCC1701 · 09-03-2008, 06:38 PM

My ignorance may be showing, but does EPS even have a belt?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzdecay

the official write up on my paperwork is "valve ping from using regular gas". which i don't believe is the case as a.) i've never used anything other than premium.

I hope this doesn't become a common catch all explanation from service centers.

PeteInLongBeach · 09-03-2008, 09:27 PM

Electric Power Steering has no belt-driven pump. It's basically a torque sensor and electric assist motor on the rack. Of course the alternator that generates the electricity is belt-driven, but it is there regardless.

I've never in my life heard the specific term "valve ping". Pinging, Pinking, Pre-detonation, Pre-ignition, Knocking - all terms for the sound of fuel burning too soon on the compression stroke of the piston. These days, most cars have "knock sensors" which electronically retard the timing when pre-ignition is sensed, making it possible to use lower octane fuel without damage. However, due to the retarded timing, engine performance and efficiency will not be optimal.

Fredvon4 · 09-04-2008, 05:06 AM

As stated above the power steer is electric and completely in the front. Possible that the motor sings some when torque is added during a turn left or right. I have tried to "Hear" my power steering by coasting down my drive way and the dang thing on mine is dead silent.

Mass produced car with pre-lubed front hubs and bearing assys. Possible that a hub is not properly lubed. It is also possible that once heated up the brakes expand enough to drag slightly... I suspect the brakes first, hub bearings second, and power steer last

Tell your service manager to try again and gently... really.... use a very non adversarial tone...but communicate to him/her that if you have a front bearing failure, and subsequent accident, you and your insurance agent will hold him/her personally responsible

bottlerocket · 09-04-2008, 11:19 AM

Ha! I've had the same issue but I've kinda just let it be. To me no squeal but I can hear the scraping sound at highway speeds which is similar to the sound a bigger car makes when the brakes are on their way out.

I've chalked it up to it being a small car that makes hearing such noises more common

Westfield 11 · 09-04-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjmodz

I wouldn't think it's the power steering belt. I assume with the rear engine, that is where the belts are?

I'm thinking that you are probably closer with the brakes, or wheel bearing. With all those trips to the dealer, they didn't check what I would assume is the obvious place to start, wheels & brakes? There isn't much other mechanical equipment up front that I know of? The only other thing would be if there is a cooling fan for radiator with a bad bearing?

Sorry for no real answers, just thinking out loud.

I thought the power steering was electric? Am I incorrect?

OOPS! I should read the WHOLE thread before responding, sorry.....

GHammerly · 09-04-2008, 03:45 PM

I don't know about the smart but most likely it uses sealed wheel bearings so lubricating them would not be possible but replacing them would.
I heard cars making squealy noises some times as they pass by my corner station cornering hard during autocross events.
Like Fred said, tell them to check the brakes first (caliper sliders) and second the wheel bearings.
I would be pissed to hear such claim from my mechanic. "Valve ping" Hawwww?