Rear wheel noise (squealing)

[jonnya93]

Hi all

Been doing a few jobs on the Z4 today but still haven’t managed to find out what is causing a horrible squealing noise coming from my offside rear wheel area.

The tyre is really worn on the inside (almost no tread at all anymore) so getting this changed next week.

The noise can be heard as soon as I move off all the way up to 60mph then the road noise drowns it out. It sounds like the wheel rubbing on the plastic fenders/mud guards/wheel arch interior but having checked it’s not this. Can also be heard in reverse.

Breaking doesn’t affect the noise at all and neither does engaging the hand brake while moving.

Any ideas? Wheel bearing?

 

[Crazy Harry]

Have you jacked up the wheel and rotated it by hand (with tyre and wheel still on hub)?

 

[colb]

Pull the disc/drum off and check out the internals of the handbrake shoes, possible a lining has detatched from a shoe or maybe the shoe retaining spring clips have pulled through the backplate and the pin and spring are trapped inside the drum producing the screeching noise.

 

[Crazy Harry]

Pull the disc/drum off and check out the internals of the handbrake shoes, possible a lining has detatched from a shoe or maybe the shoe retaining spring clips have pulled through the backplate and the pin and spring are trapped inside the drum producing the screeching noise.

But not until you rotate the wheel by hand. If you can 'feel' an uneven rumble or you can 'shake' it side to side or top to bottom it's more than likely a wheel bearing. If the rotation is smooth and it has no play then start looking for other things. Brakes normally don't squeal when pressure is applied - well not when the wheel squeals already (as opposed to silent rotation and a squeal when the brakes are applied). Go rotate the wheel and tell us what you find.

 

[jonnya93]

Thanks both for all the advice.

Will jack the car up mid week and rotate the wheel and see what I find. I don’t think it is the brakes as these don't seem to have an effect on the noise at all.

Has recently had pads and discs changed at both rear and front. The tyre wear also needs investigating.

Thanks again and I’ll update with my findings.

 

[jonnya93]

So jacked the car up this morning and rotated the wheel, absolutely silent, no noise at all

Took the tyre off and rolled it around the driveway (looking like a bit of an idiot) and the noise is 100% from the tyre. Sounds as though the inside of the tyre wall has broken slightly so getting this replaced tomorrow followed by a full wheel alignment

 

[Crazy Harry]

So jacked the car up this morning and rotated the wheel, absolutely silent, no noise at all

Took the tyre off and rolled it around the driveway (looking like a bit of an idiot) and the noise is 100% from the tyre. Sounds as though the inside of the tyre wall has broken slightly so getting this replaced tomorrow followed by a full wheel alignment

Well done! always do the simple (and therefore normally cheap) first