I was wondering if anyone could help me narrow down what sounds like a high pitched squealing noise coming from the front left side of my car. Sounds like it's from the wheel well. Only makes the noise when going over 5 mph and if i'm going 40+ mph and slow down it stops when slowing down. I would like to be able to find the problem and hopefully repair it myself. If anyone has an idea of what this might be then let me know please. Thank you for any help you can give me

 

Can you ever make the noise without moving? Like revving a certain rpm?

If the car HAS to be moving, check out your brake pads. The wear indicator tabs can make strange noises when they first begin to touch the rotors. It's so easy to check for worn-down pads, just to eliminate guessing about the possibility.

 

how would i be able to check that w/out taking the pad off or caliper off the rotor.

 

And no...the car HAS to be moving to make the noise.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BrokeAssAcura &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how would i be able to check that w/out taking the pad off or caliper off the rotor.
</TD></TR></TABLE>You can see the outboard pad already if your wheels have enough openings. To check the inboard pad you only have to take the wheel off the car. You can see it by looking thru an opening in the caliper. Looking at the edge of the rotor, you can see the pads against the rotor.

 

it is the brake pads, i had that same problem couple of weeks ago just change them and you will be ok

 

def the pads.

 

Even if my brakes aren't applied? Sounds kinda odd that they'd make a noise when the pedal isn't depressed.

 

The last time my rear pads wore down, they made a soft moaning sound ONLY when backing up, ONLY when I wasn't on the brakes. After a couple weeks of that, they wore down a little more, THEN they started doing the classic screetching when I applied the brakes.

Besides, it takes so little time to simply LOOK at the pads & see if they're anywhere near worn out. In 10 minutes you'd know if they were worn down or not. OK maybe the first time it takes longer when you learn what you're looking at. But its so easy, everyone should learn what they look like...

 

Here is how the squealers work (wear indicators)

When the pad gets to a certain level, the "feelers" begin to rub on the rotor, the noise is only there when you ARE NOT pressing the brake and will go away when you press on the brake.

That is typical pad wear indicator noise.

If the noise is only related to speed (car is moving) and doesnt change when brakes are applied or not, the I would guess it may be abearing problem.

IMHO, its most likely pads.

 

yea, i checked out the brakes and they are low...didn't realize that some pads have a wear indicator on them... not used to that.