Brakes or Wheel Bearings
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Brakes or Wheel Bearings
I have noticed a sound coming from my wheel. Last night I raised the car and noticed it was the front drivers side wheel. When I spin the wheel it seems like it is dragging. How can I easily determine if it is the brakes that are dragging or if it is a problem with the wheel bearing?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
How bad is the drag? There should always be a slight drag, it should sound like "sand paper" just faint though. Bad bearings should be checked by raising the wheel and checking at 12 & 6 and at 9 & 3 for play, keep in mind 9 & 3 will play with the tie rod. I could also imagine a bearing making noise and not have play, you could check this by removing the calipers and pads and then remount the rotor and wheel and then spin it, just make sure the caliper is out of the way and not hanging by the brake line. With a good healthy spin of the wheel it should rotate quite a few times freely before comming to a stop. Hope this helps. Just my thoughts.
Bob
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
When was the last time you had or did a brake job? What's the level of your brake fluid resevoir? If it's down it might be time for a brake job. At any rate , remove the tire and visually inspect the rotor-also feel it for wear, you should be able to see your brake pads.
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by rick lambert
When was the last time you had or did a brake job? What's the level of your brake fluid resevoir? If it's down it might be time for a brake job. At any rate , remove the tire and visually inspect the rotor-also feel it for wear, you should be able to see your brake pads.
