In the post title I actually meant squeaking not squealing


First off I'm not sure if it's the brakes but all of my research is pointing to that. It's a 1992 Civic LX with 200,000 km (91,000 miles). The axles were changed about a year and a half ago.

There is a very high pitched squeaking noise coming from the front of the car. The squeaking gets faster when driving faster and is slower when driving slower. The pitch of squealing changes or stops if the brakes are tapped. Usually the squeaking doesn't start until after about 5 minutes of driving.

I've ruled out the hub bearings since it seems that from all the research I've done hub bearings usually make a howl and not a squeaking. Turning the car to the right or the left also doesn't seem to change the noise in any way.

My guess is that it's the brake indicator. I know all I have to do is take the wheel of and look (which I'm going to do) but I want to get as much info as I can before I take the wheel off. What other things can I look for or test when I've got the wheel off?

Do indicators usually make noise even when not braking?

Thanks!

 

Most brake noise will occur with the brakes applied, or released.

Brake noise when released in my expereinces is caused by a poor fit of the pad to the rotor, bent brake parts (backing plates, wear indicators), or excessive corrosion on the rotor that contacts the brake pad. All of these can also be caused by rotor runout, where the rotor contacts the offending part at once spot, and lets go. This will usually sound like a scrape on, scrape off, on, off, on off, as the wheel speed increases or decreases.

Noise indicators are difficult to pinpoint. Sometimes they make noise without brake inputs. Sometimes they make noise only when braking. The best course of action is to determine which wheel is causing the problem. This will help you determine if it is a brake axle problem, or a wheel-specific problem.

 

Rotor shields bent?