Rubbing noise coming from the front driver’s side tire. What could be the problem?
When driving I keep hearing a sort of soft scrubbing noise coming from the driver's side front tire. Ive taken it to a local transmission shop and after driving it they said they didn't notice anything, but I am sure there is an issue in the works and I'm trying desperately to head it off. The tread on the tire looks fine, I know it's not scrubbing the wheel well, and it has brand new strut assemblies, including mounts, springs, and insulators, on the front end (the noise was there before replacing then with no change afterwards). The noise is noticeably louder when the tires h
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The wheel hub bearing could be getting noisy or the scraping noise could be caused by the brake pad material. The most common cause of such noise is when the metallic material in the brake pad makes a scraping noise when brakes are not being applied and then it becomes noisier when the brakes are applied.
Bad or faulty lower control arm bushings will cause the noise to resonate through the frame and body of the car when compared to good rubber bushings that would normally isolate most of the noise.
First, get a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to replace the control arm bushings and check the brakes for any cracks in the brake pad material and excessive metal material in the pads that can cause the noise. At the same time, get the wheel hub bearings checked for noise and replaced, if necessary.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
A common cause of grinding noises under your car are failing wheel or hub bearings. Wheel bearings allow the wheel and tire to rotate and are designed for low friction, while hub assemblies have an additional responsibility of securing the wheel and tire to the vehicle.
You have a couple of options for fixing upper control arms (UCAs) rubbing on your tires. Either buy a set of wheel spacers or upgrade to a new set of wheels. Wheels with negative offset will bring the outside edge of the tire away from the hub, giving you plenty of clearance on the upper control arm.
Scraping or grinding noises you hear while driving or turning can be caused by the following issues: Worn or failing brake parts: Unevenly worn or rusted rotors or worn or thin brake pads. Worn dust shield that`s moved closer and contacting the brake rotor. Loose, worn, damaged, or failing wheel bearings.
A rubbing sound could be an early sign of a worn brake pad rubbing against the rotor. The pad could be in an early stage of wear before it moves on to a heavy grinding noise. Another possibility is a braking pad that hasn`t fully released. If you haven`t driven your car in a while, there may be rust on the rotors.
Uneven wear is a leading cause of tire noises because contact between the road and uneven tires isn`t uniform. The unbalanced tread depths cause tires to emit loud noises while driving. Usually, you`ll hear sounds caused by uneven wear coming from one tire. Alignment issues can also cause tire noises.
Scraping and Grinding Noises: The Usual Culprits. Most of the time, if you hear scraping and grinding, it can be attributed to one of two main issues: Worn-out brake linings. Worn-out wheel/hub bearings.
tire wear: worn control arm bushings can allow the control arm to shift from its intended position. this will create abnormal wear on one or both sides of the tire`s tread. steering problems: worn control arm bushings can greatly affect a vehicle`s alignment.
Brake grinding can occur for various reasons, such as worn-out brake pads, faulty wheel bearings, rusted or contorted brake rotor, low-quality brake pads, lack of lubrication, and debris lodged in the brake caliper.
One possible cause is debris or dirt stuck in the brakes, which can create friction and lead to a grinding noise. Another potential reason is a misalignment of the brake calipers, causing them to rub against the rotor instead of smoothly pressing against it.
Yes. There are hundreds of thousands of trucks on the road that rub slightly when turning in a driveway or backing up and this is normal. But on most of these, it`s only in severe turns or certain angles that cause rubbing. The average turn onto another street or into a parking lot won`t affect much.
oh, you could also put chalk on your wheel wells in the spot where rubbed and do some tight turns and see if the chalk is on the tires. that would tell you if they were still rubbing… +1. Just put anything that will show a mark.
If you notice your car making a grinding sound when it accelerates, your issue is likely to do with your transmission, a problem with your differential, a bad wheel bearing, a damaged CV joint, or a worn engine/motor mount.
There are many signs of a failing ball joint or control arm bushings including: Clicking, popping, or snapping sound when the wheel is turned. Eventually, the clicking and popping can turn into a squeaking sound at the end of a stop, when the gas pedal is used, and/or when turning the steering wheel.
As mentioned, new pads are typically abrasive and are sometimes coated with protective elements that can cause noise. After some wear, sometimes referred to as a “bedding process,” that brake pad squeak will go away.
It works fast to dissolve residual oil, grease and brake fluid in minimal time to help leave your brakes shiny and clean. Regularly using WD-40 Specialist Automotive Brake and Parts cleaner can prolong the life of brake discs and pads, helping to cut out brake noise for a smoother ride.
Brake dust typically causes a squealing sound, and won`t result in grinding, vibrating, or banging noises. If you hear a loud or grinding sound, chances are you have a more serious problem. An auto mechanic can inspect your brakes to determine if dust is at fault.
If you notice strange sounds when you are braking, this could be caused by low brake fluid or another brake system issue. Common sounds include scraping or grinding noises. Burning smells after hard braking could mean that you have burnt-out brake fluid.
The most common reason why your car makes noise when braking at a low speed is worn brake pads. All brake pads eventually degrade, regardless of the materials used to make them (ceramic or metallic matter). The material starts to wear as the brake pads are applied, continuing until they`ve worn down.
Reason #1: Your rotor disc and caliper are rubbing together.
If you hear a loud grinding sound when you push down the brake pedal, it`s most likely a result of contact between the rotor disc and part of the caliper, which occurs when your brake pads are wearing down or have already worn down completely.
So, when driving on anything other than a perfectly smooth road free of sand, dirt and debris, bald tires compromise your brakes` ability to stop by providing reduced traction Poor braking efficiency increases the chance of being involved in an accident, plus adds unwanted repair costs.
Bumping Into Curbs
When a tire bumps into a curb, the sidewall of the tire is rubbed against the curb. While sidewalls can sustain some impact, they aren`t built for the impact that the threaded part of the tire takes. Thus, a relatively light bump might cause some damage.
Vibration is usually caused by an out of balance or defective tire, a bent wheel or a worn driveline U-joint. You may find that the car shakes the car in an up and down motion. You may feel vibration through the seat, the steering wheel or even in the brake pedal.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Rubbing noise coming from the front driver’s side tire. What could be the problem?
ANSWER : The wheel hub bearing could be getting noisy or the scraping noise could be caused by the brake pad material. The most common cause of such noise is when the metallic material in the brake pad makes a scraping noise when brakes are not being applied and then it becomes noisier when the brakes are applied.
Bad or faulty lower control arm bushings will cause the noise to resonate through the frame and body of the car when compared to good rubber bushings that would normally isolate most of the noise.
First, get a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to replace the control arm bushings and check the brakes for any cracks in the brake pad material and excessive metal material in the pads that can cause the noise. At the same time, get the wheel hub bearings checked for noise and replaced, if necessary.
I hear a loud clicking noise on the drivers side by my tire rim when turning the steering wheel front tires vibrating as well.
ANSWER : A clicking noise on turning is very characteristic of a failed outboard CV axle joint. Sometimes, in such a circumstance, you can see that the rubber outboard boot is actually torn and leaking grease. If you see that (look behind the wheel toward the axle end), the axle for sure will have to be serviced. If you change the axle, be sure to install a new rubber seal on the transmission output side so that you do not have transmission fluid leaks with the new axle (a common mistake is to overlook that seal; if an old, left-in-place seal leaks after the axle is put in the job has to be done all over again). Vibration without actual shaking of the steering wheel "might" be related to the axle issue. On the other hand, such vibration could also be due to a failed wheel bearing, especially with over 200,000 miles on the vehicle and if those are the original bearings. If you were to need both an axle and a wheel bearing at the same time, and on the same side, that’s actually not that bad because the steering knuckle that holds the wheel bearing has to come off anyway to replace the axle. But, backing up here, the very first thing to do is get the issue properly diagnosed so you spend the minimum possible. If you want to obtain a diagnostic, please request a vehicle CV/wheel bearing noise inspection and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Loud repetitive noise coming from front tire in 2 wheel drive, goes away when in 4 wheel drive.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Chances are there was an existing issue that was amplified by the tire rotation. There are several parts that will cause similar symptoms. You will want to consider the parts that are under load in 4wd, that are free when in 2wd. This would include the axle and sveral joints. There are a couple of tests that can be done. More damage was likely done driving on dry pavement in 4wd. It was a good step in diagnostics, but should be avoided. For more help with diagnosing the sounds, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
A loose sound coming from my front left side tire.
ANSWER : What you are describing sounds like a failing CV joint. Depending on which side is worn, you may hear the noise more pronounced from the side that is affected by this. A CV (Constant Velocity) joint is a shaft that connects the transmission to the wheels, essentially transferring the power from the drive train directly to the wheels. The CV joint is packed with a special grease and sealed tight with the rubber or plastic boot, that is held in place with two clamps. The most common problem with the CV joints is when the protective boot cracks or gets damaged. Once this happens, the grease comes out and moisture and dirt get in, causing the CV joint to wear faster and eventually fail due to lack of lubrication and corrosion. When the CV joint becomes damaged or worn, you may hear a clicking, clunking or popping sound coming from this area as the weight of the vehicle puts pressure on this area and shifts back and forth and side to side. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Squeeking noise coming from front driver-side tire only
ANSWER : It is possible you have worn brake pads and the sensor is telling you the pads are worn down too far. Since you also had an ABS light come on you may have a bad bearing and sensor in that wheel. I would recommend have the brakes get a complete inspection and also have the ABS scanned for codes. You will most likely have a bad bearing assembly on the noisey wheel.
Loud grinding and stuck feeling at front tire on driver’s side
ANSWER : Hello. There are a few things that this can be. Most of the time it is due to a failing front bearing. When a bearing fails this noise will occur. I typically get the vehicle in the air and spin the wheel while listening for the noise and then disassemble the bearing and inspect it. If it is fine then the noise may be a brake caliper or pad that is coming loose or a failure in the front differential. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose this.
Clicking noise in driver side rear tire
ANSWER : Hello there. It is possible that the clicking is due to the brake job. A few different items can cause the clicking after a brake job. The two most common would be the backing plate rubbing on the the brake rotor or the brake pad backing plate not being installed properly. A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, will be able to inspect the clicking noise and perform any repairs required.
What is driver side front versus passenger side front? Isn’t an axle replacement the whole axle connecting the two front wheels?
ANSWER : Hi there. Wheel location is determined by imagining you are sitting in the driver seat. Your, and most vehicles today, have 2 axles in the front; certain vehicle still have a solid rear axle housing, but retain 2 individual axles as well. It sounds like you may have bent the strut, lower control arm, ball joint, and/or hub when you hit the curb. I suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a suspension inspection.
