Wheel area making a squeaking noise

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:36 am

Hi guys,

When I am driving slowly, the wheel area makes a squeaking noise and it sounds similar to brake squeal noise. I jack the car up and turn all the wheels and no noise. The sound doesn't happen all the time. It is driving me nuts lol

Anyone have similar problems.

Cheers
m_jermyn
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 4208
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Sydney Australia Mate

Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:51 am

my drivers rear wheel makes a chirping sound not a squeal kind of chirp chirp chrp and it does it when I jack the wheel up...

Might be a aussie thing

Mike
User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:32 pm

lol Mike... you reckon... if its a aussie thing then it should go oi oi oi not chirp chirp chirp :)
Adil786
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 256
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Bristol/Slough

Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:19 pm

Yep - it was slight rubbing of handbrake shoes in my case - the pads have disintegrated and debris was in the drum. Bit better now it's cleaned out.

I also hate little squeals and noises!!!!
User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:41 pm

willnz wrote:Probably the brake pads. Make sure your floating calipers are floating properly, they tend to jam up if the pins are not kept clean and lubricated and dust boots torn. If you have a lip on the disc itself, this can also cause squeaking in the pads. Also make sure the spring tensioners on the pads are installed properly and not broken.
How do I check if the calipers are floating properly ?
User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:52 am

Is the brake pads suppose to touch the brake disc when brake is not applied ?

The wheel was removed and I can see the brake pad is touching the disc. When I turn the disc, it is dragging slightly but it does not make squeaking noise.

The squeaking noise only occurs when its going slowly.

The sound is similar to the vid:

User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Sun Oct 11, 2009 12:09 pm

sorry double post !!
Last edited by e30newbie on Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
e30newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 129
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Australia

Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:52 am

willnz wrote:Take them off and check the pins float. The older ones that are retained with a 8mm bolt with a 13mm head are the most problematic ones.
Pull the pins out, clean and grease up with a waterproof grease. Make sure the boots are intact, replace if torn.
I have the ATE caliper. It use the guiding bolts. Do I grease the bolts labeled no.5 pictured in the diagram ? I've read somewhere that there is no need to grease up the bolts because it is a different design to the one you mentioned.

Image

Also the squeaking sound is similar to the one in this video:
[youtube][/youtube]
User avatar
muzz
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: australia/brisbane

Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 am

had a squeek like that on my ford once found out when the car was up on a hoist that the main nut holding the hub assembly was loose and rear wheel was wobbly and was draging on the brakes crazy part was that car drove good no vibrations blew me away so i think check it first before you strip down your calipers what have you got to loose
Post Reply