Funny noise coming from front...possible seized brake or bad bearing?

[Ben Carufel]

It's not really a grinding noise, but it sounds like two metal surfaces rubbing together...

I noticed it the other day coming from the front somewhere...and when I jacked up the car to remove the right front wheel to clean it last week the wheel wouldn't turn freely. So I'm guessing either one or more of the brake calipers is seized or the bearing is shot.

Any ideas? I'll check and see how the front left is doing tomorrow. At the time I tried the front right the car was in neutral with no parking brake applied, FWIW...

Thanks as always!

[cohiba]

It sounds like a caliper problem. Feel the temp of the rotor with your finger, the left rotor will be much hotter due to the excess contact. You could try flushing the brake system, it may help.

[Bry]

If you want to check for a bad wheel bearing, jack the car up off the grond. Firmly grab the top and bottom of the wheel and push with your bottom hand, pull with your top, and vice versa. If there is any play in it, then your wheel bearings are going bad.

You can also test it by turning, if you turn left and the noise increases, then it is your right wheel bearing, if you turn right, it is your left. That is only for wheel bearings though.

[Ben Carufel]

Hmm...I'll try that wheel bearing check tomorrow...thanks Bry! I think I'm going to go have a mechanic drive it tomorrow to see what he thinks...still haven't had time to check the left front :(...

[jsp98m3]

Brakes themselves are nearly new. Might be internal. I never noticed a grinding other than normal brake noise when stopping. But I'm old and deaf.

[Ben Carufel]

Originally posted by jsp98m3
Brakes themselves are nearly new. Might be internal. I never noticed a grinding other than normal brake noise when stopping. But I'm old and deaf.

Jim...what mileage did you replace the brakes at? I can't believe you don't have any recipets :eek: ...or do you and I just have to ask for them? :D...

I'm going to stop by BMW Service Specialists in Downtown tomorrow and have Jim test drive it to see what he thinks...

[JasonJ75]

Meh...receipts on an E30...Once you're past one or two owners it just doesn't happen and isn't worth the time and effort....Though I do log what I've done..

That being said, I've got the same problem...Slight hum at certain speeds, most noticeable while coasting down from speed or left hand turns while going down a hill...One day it was fine and then BAM!...hummmmmmmmmmmm.....Thinking back, the signs were probably there they just didn't stand out enough for me to really take note....Got an 18" breaker bar, 2' pipe, 36mm socket, and parts on order in anticipation of some fun tomorrow night....

[Ben Carufel]

So what was it that happened?

[iamane30m20nut]

DON'T TOUCH THE ROTORS WITH YOUR FINGERS! That said, the reason for it being said is that the oil from your fingers is acidic and will eat away at the rotor. When it does that, the brake dust then accumulates in the indentation from the acid and may cause the brake to lock. If you must touch the rotor... drive the car immediately afterwards and brake several times to clean the rotor.

[Ben Carufel]

Hmm, I did not know that...

I always wear latex gloves when doing work to the car. In the long run, they're cheaper than GoJo since my doctor neighbors give me boxes of them for free...thanks to all of you who pay for medical insurance :D :wave:

[Bry]

Originally posted by JasonJ75
Meh...receipts on an E30...Once you're past one or two owners it just doesn't happen and isn't worth the time and effort....Though I do log what I've done..

That being said, I've got the same problem...Slight hum at certain speeds, most noticeable while coasting down from speed or left hand turns while going down a hill...One day it was fine and then BAM!...hummmmmmmmmmmm.....Thinking back, the signs were probably there they just didn't stand out enough for me to really take note....Got an 18" breaker bar, 2' pipe, 36mm socket, and parts on order in anticipation of some fun tomorrow night....

Wow, you are the first person that I have ever met to use Meh, when they didn't get that from me! Isn't it the best word? I use it for everything.

I'm the third owner of my car, and I've got quite a log. I just have a thick folder where I put all of my receipts in. It really helps me out, so I know when things were last done to my car.

[JasonJ75]

Originally posted by Bry


Wow, you are the first person that I have ever met to use Meh, when they didn't get that from me! Isn't it the best word? I use it for everything.

I'm the third owner of my car, and I've got quite a log. I just have a thick folder where I put all of my receipts in. It really helps me out, so I know when things were last done to my car.

lol...Can't remember where I got it from, but its perfect...Not a 'yeah', not a 'nah'...Just meh...:)

I'm all about keeping a log...My Bently has almost a page full of stuff in the notes section of stuff I've done...


Posted by Ben

So what was it that happened?

I'm going to assume you're referring to my post...Nothing really happened, the noise just seemed to appear one day. The week before I took a huge road trip so possibly the added heat had something to do with it.

I just replaced it tonight actually...By far the easiest job I've ever done. I used some crazy penetrating oil (I swear the stuff must have acid in it) and let it sit over night...By the next day...I'm not kidding here, after removing the bolt...The hub literally fell off the spindle. It was awesome. 30 minutes later I was rolling....No puller/special tools...It was great.

And as far as the don't touch the rotors w/ you bare hards...Uhh, dude, where you getting your info? Not that I'm saying you're wrong, just saying that I've never been particularly careful with not touching mine as whatever was left on there gets burned off in a hurry. I've never had any problems with my brake locking. Guess its because I've always driven my car afterwards and cleaned things off, but then again, who doesn't?