I hate these types of questions, but here's mine:

97 SE - front left wheel has a high-pitched noise. The only way I can describe it is the sound a baloon makes when you pinch the nozzle and let the air out slowly. It increases in pitch with the rotation speed of the wheel. I'm stumped.

It doesnt' sound like a wheel bearing - at least what I know of what a bearing should sound like when it is going bad... any thoughts here would be appreciated

It isn't the brakes - I'm 100% sure of this. This is the 2nd brake job - rotors pads and this time calipers, and still theres the sound.

It isnt' a pebble stuck anywhere - It would have popped out or been worn down long ago.

Anyone else have any ideas... its hard to get my head under there to hear it when the car is moving. hahaha It is definitely coming from the front left wheel area.

Joe

 

Does it turn to a deep groan at low speeds? If so, it's a wheel bearing.

 

The squeeker could be rubbing your rotor. Time to replace you front brake pads

 

Had that same problem in the rear driver side and it was the rotors

 

HOw much meat you got left on your rotors...If you got alot, I say resurface them and see if this fixes it

 

Just had my rotors resurfaced, and pads replaced (all 4 sides). My mechanic said that I also had my front passenger’s side caliper frozen. Does your car pull to one side when brakes are applied? Get it checked right away. I also had a significant loss in brake power. I had the same type of noise that you described. Car has awesome braking power now.

 

I just had this problem. I thought it was my wheel bearings but it turned out to be my hub for that bearing... Thank the man up stairs I got a friend that's an ASE certified mech. The hub alone will run you 120-140 bucks and it has to be special orderd through the stealerships if it isthe wheel bearing then it will run you 75$for that part alone I dont even want to think about the labor costs, good luck...

 

Not to sound like a jerk... but I know 100% for a fact that it is not brake-related - just as I had originally posted, but thanks for the suggestions.

Thanks Badboymel... I'm going to pull the whole thing apart again this weekend, so I'll check the hub and bearing. I can't find any other parts... it might be one of those "maxima" sounds that come from somewhere else... just don't have a way to hunt for it. When I have it on the rack, I'll check the bearing for play. It doesn't groan like a bearing though.. its always pretty high pitched... not like a brake rotor rubbing or a worn pad... Brand new rotors, pads etc... sounds the same before and after. Anyone ever have a differential start to make noise? I can't think of any other rotating parts that would make a variable speed noise.

Joe

 

as a mechanic the first place u should start is take apart the brakes...not to sound like a jerk...but everyone can overlook something small

 

so the sound is ther only when going at certain speeds? what about when you hit some sort of bump, how's the noise then?

 

I think I have the same noise, it's definitely not a brake sound, it's a light high pitched squeaking sound and varies in pitch as the wheel rotates...very weird. Anyway, it doesn't worry me much as it is not loud and nothing has gone wrong. By the way coooter, mine only does this in warm conditions and only after driving for a while and then only when moving slowly...is this the same with you?

 

Maximus,

The sound is always there... it changes pitch at different speeds... no change with brakes applied or not, no change in neutral or drive, no change if engine is on or off, no change over bumps. It is a constant high-pitched sound like something rubbing, but not like a metallic rubbing sound like the brakes. I can't stress enough that it is not brake related.. I knew that everyone would post that... Again, thanks for the suggestions, but I'm ruling out brakes. It is coming from somewhere else... I'll check the hub and the bearing this weekend.

Any other ideas?

 

Yes Sterling... you are describing it exaclty... although mine seems to do it more than it used to... it seems like it does it at all speeds.. just changes pitch. It is annoying enough now that I want to fix it.

 

Oh my Gosh, haha, well not 100% sure but you know that cover that is around your rotors? its towards the inside of the rotor. if that is bent in anyway, it will rub against the rear of the rotors. that happened to me before. all i had to do is rebent that part away from the rotor and tadah! noise gone. if i was you, i would check that out. it did have a high pitch noise.

 

Maximus,

Are you talking about the rotor shield? I thought that might be it too... but when I replaced the calipers/rotors/pads, it all checked out as ok. Frustrating. I'll look at it this weekend... just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas about things that maybe I hadn't thought of.

Joe

 

yes, that's what im talking about. sorry, couldn't think of the name. but anyhow, even though it did check out ok, i would still check it out myself.
it did it to me, and i dont even know how it happened. good luck.

 

Its probably your wheel bearings. If your sure it isn't your brakes or anything rubbing the brakes, the only other rotational parts would be wheel bearings and a drive axle. If its the wheel bearing it's not to bad a job, I just did it this week, took about two-three hours, but it helps I have a press.

 

Yeah the shield is a dust guard around your rotors..HAHA..i bet that is it. I bent mine changing the brakes. Just get a screw driver and tap on it.

 

Ok, not that it matters much given the maxima got totalled, but I did find out what the sound was for anyone still interested. Upper CV boots. They were torn an puking grease all over, the funny thing is, you can't really see it until everything is out and on the floor around you. Just a tip, if you hear this sound, and it has been there a long time, you may have significant damage to your half-shafts. Mine had several stress fractures and were nearly broken through. Get yours checked/replaced, especially if you drive like I did with my Maxima - off the line, front of the pack every time.