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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: MadCityMike on April 14, 2006, 07:23:01 pm

Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: MadCityMike on April 14, 2006, 07:23:01 pm
My driver front wheel has a loud high pitch squeel after about 5 minutes of driving it.  If I veer in either direction it goes away until the wheels are centered again which leads me to believe it's a wheel bearing, but if I touch the brake pedal just ever so slightly it goes away as well, which leads me to believe it could be a sticking caliper.    I've worked the piston back and forth and put a bunch of anti-squeel goop on the brake pads and also made sure the little anti rattle clips are in their proper position but that didn't really make any difference.    I had a mk2 jetta before and when a wheel bearing went out on it I heard much more of a grinding noise then a squealing noise.   The wheel doesn't wobble noticeably if I try to move it while it's up in the air.   Anyone have any hints as to how else I can diagnose this?   I was trying to come up with some way to remove the caliper from it's bracket and put something between the pads for them to squeeze on and driving it around the block a few times just to eliminate the brakes, but that just doesn't seem like a very good idea.       If it does end up being the bearing, are the mk3's setup just like the mk2's?

Mike
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: wyldman on April 14, 2006, 08:44:16 pm
Rotor rubbing on the splash shield ?
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: shwartzbewithyou on April 14, 2006, 09:29:08 pm
Quote from: "wyldman"
Rotor rubbing on the splash shield ?


But wouldn't that start rubbing right away?  
It could be either.  A bearing can either start to squeal if it starts getting hot and thus starts creating drag OR make a grinding noise if the rollers come out of the housing and tumble around.
It's still kind of vague and could go either way.
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: LeeG on April 15, 2006, 12:26:13 am
Quote
I was trying to come up with some way to remove the caliper from it's bracket and put something between the pads for them to squeeze on and driving it around the block a few times just to eliminate the brakes


pry pads back a bit, put a vicegrip on rubber brake line with just enough pressure to pinch off line.  You will of course need to be careful driving like that.

My money is on wheel bearings though.
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: A Guy on April 15, 2006, 07:58:09 am
My money is on the Wheel Bearing too.
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: shwartzbewithyou on April 19, 2006, 11:30:17 am
His money probably will be too.
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: wyldman on April 19, 2006, 02:42:04 pm
Wheel bearings don't normally squeek or squeal.They will usually emit a rumbling sound,or a low pitched growl.

You probably have a brake squeal,or something rubbing.
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: RabbitJockey on April 19, 2006, 08:00:03 pm
if ur wheels are squealing and you don't like it you should probably detune ur engine or drive with a lighter right foot
Title: Wheel squealing - bearing or brake dragging?
Post by: jtanguay on April 20, 2006, 05:11:58 pm
Quote from: Trev0rbr
if ur wheels are squealing and you don't like it you should probably detune ur engine or drive with a lighter right foot


haha