Scraping noise at low speeds.

[Bedwards]

Hey guys. I'm getting a light, metallic scraping noise coming from the passenger wheel (I think) at speeds up to about 50 km/hr. It doesn't seem to change frequency with an increase in speed, or a turn. It also is only heard when my foot is on the gas. As soon as I take my foot off, it disappears. I haven't checked for wheel play yet, but to me, this doesn't feel or sound like a wheel bearing. I'm having trouble figuring this one out.

My brake pads and rotors are no more than 6 months old. I just replaced the passenger side CV joint as well

[Zef_66]

Could be that you have something rubbing on your rotor. Like the little bracket that holds the ABS sensor connector. I've done that before.

Or it is a possibility that the calipers are not retracting all the way and you have a pad or one of the metal clips rubbing lightly on the rotor.

Try to jack up that side and spin the tire by hand to isolate where the noise is coming from.

[Bedwards]

Could be that you have something rubbing on your rotor. Like the little bracket that holds the ABS sensor connector. I've done that before.

You mean the little black metal piece under the rotor (at 6 O'clock)? I checked to make sure it wasn't bent up and touching the rotor. So it's not that.

Or it is a possibility that the calipers are not retracting all the way and you have a pad or one of the metal clips rubbing lightly on the rotor.

I thought it might be the caliper. It's weird because when I have the car up on jacks with the wheels off, and in drive, the driver's side wheel hardly spins, yet the passenger one spins freely. However, the sound I'm hearing is coming from the passenger side. I pulled the drivers caliper off anyway, and pulled out the piston and lubricated it with some brake fluid, as well as greased the slide pins. I also bled the brakes. I put it back together, and it span freely for a bit, but then I had the same issue. I don't know if this is related to the problem or not (different wheel alltogether).

Try to jack up that side and spin the tire by hand to isolate where the noise is coming from.

I can't hear the noise up on jacks. I only hear it when I'm driving.

[Zef_66]

I can't hear the noise up on jacks. I only hear it when I'm driving.

I would check the play in your wheel bearings then. I had an issue where I had a wheel bearing go bad. It didn't groan or throw any ABS lights. But I heard a scraping noise from the drivers side. Pulled the wheel to find the wheel was grinding on the strut because the wheel bearing was bad and allowing the wheel to tilt in.

So check your bearings.

[Bedwards]

Checked for wheel play. Nothing out of the ordinary. Hmm...

[RegalGS98s]

Sounds like the wheel bearing again. Did you change it yet from the last post? Did you try loading the bearing test I recommended? I doubt this, but check the inside of your rim and the strut for rub marks. When did this noise start to appear?

[Bedwards]

Sounds like the wheel bearing again. Did you change it yet from the last post? Did you try loading the bearing test I recommended? I doubt this, but check the inside of your rim and the strut for rub marks. When did this noise start to appear?

I haven't changed the bearing. What load test? Turning and listening for a change in sound? I hear the sound more in straight line. It doesn't seem like turning affects the noise. This noise started after putting the new cam in. I changed the axle at the same time too. Ever since then.

[RegalGS98s]

I haven't changed the bearing. What load test? Turning and listening for a change in sound? I hear the sound more in straight line. It doesn't seem like turning affects the noise. This noise started after putting the new cam in. I changed the axle at the same time too. Ever since then.

When I had my bearing go bad, you couldn't feel it by grabbing the tire. I had to do a load test. As you drive at maybe 20-30 mph, try steering the car left to right. Think they call it loading the bearing. If your steering to the left and the noise gets louder, it's your right bearing. If you steer to the right and it's louder, it's your left. You say your wheel bearings keep going bad. Are they a good brand and are you torquing the axle nut to spec? When I first had the car and had someone else change the wheel bearing, they torqued it down with an impact and it looked like they were making it kind of tight. 6 months later, the bearing failed. I changed it myself next time and torqued to spec. Torque varies by year. About 70k miles later, the bearing is still good, just have problems with the wheel speed sensor wires.

Basically you would rock the car back and forth and from the weight of the car transferring onto that side, it would put more of a load on that bearing so it would make more noise. Re-torquing the axle nut at this point wouldn't make the noise go away. Damage would be done if that was the problem. This might seem like a lot of work, but could try swapping the left and right side bearings and see if the noise appears on the left side instead of the right.

[Bedwards]

The noise is also only when my foot is on the gas. If I cruise with my foot off the gas, it goes away. Wouldn't the wheel bearing continue to make noise?

[RegalGS98s]

The noise is also only when my foot is on the gas. If I cruise with my foot off the gas, it goes away. Wouldn't the wheel bearing continue to make noise?

Have you tried doing the load test driving with your foot off the gas? If it doesn't make a difference in the noise then to me it would have to point to a transmission problem. I know you changed the axle also, but that should make noise if you're on the gas or not. I assume when you say on the gas, you mean just enough gas to accelerate easily or maintain speed, not a hard acceleration.

[Bedwards]

Have you tried doing the load test driving with your foot off the gas? If it doesn't make a difference in the noise then to me it would have to point to a transmission problem. I know you changed the axle also, but that should make noise if you're on the gas or not. I assume when you say on the gas, you mean just enough gas to accelerate easily or maintain speed, not a hard acceleration.

I'll try the load tests tonight. I mostly hear the noise at about 1600-1800 RPM.

[RegalGS98s]

Also to see if it's the brakes, try riding the brakes with the gas. Just apply the brakes enough for them to touch.

[Bedwards]

I tried turning and load testing the bearings. The noise stayed the same no matter what. I also tried applying the brakes, it didn't stop the noise. The noise also happens in reverse, around the same RPM.

[RegalGS98s]

Now I'm thinking it's a problem with your engine again since it's only at certain RPM's. Timing chain or the timing chain dampener if you used one. I don't remember all the things you changed.

[Bedwards]

I did replace the timing chain and timing chain dampner. Why would that be making noise? I installed it correctly... And wouldn't it make the noise if I revved the engine in drive (up on jacks), or in neutral? If it is the chain, will the noise eventually go away as it wears, or what should I do?

[RegalGS98s]

Is it the same chain that was used while the pushrods were being bent, it might of stretched? But yeah, I would think it would make noise when reving the engine on jacks.

[Scottydoggs]

so you only hear this noise when the car is moving and on the ground?, and you hear nothing when its in the air in drive, and hear nothing when its in park, even if yo u rev it up a bit.

that would be a odd one for sure. maybe trans related, bad gears or something.

i dont know jack about fwd transmissions but when a rwd ring and pinion set goes bad, they tend to make noise when off the gas rolling,(down shifting) like a ringing/hum. and if you would goose the gas( like give it just enough gas to start moving the car while moving and then let off) while in low gear you could feel the slop in the gears.

[RegalGS98s]

I haven't done this, but if the axle is not inserted all the way, wonder if it would make this noise when under load. It only making the noise at certain RPM is what is perplexing me. I would point to the Engine or the input side of the transmission for RPMs.

[Zef_66]

Wait, what? You bent pushrods and then replaced the timing chain? Did you break the chain? What exactly happened and how long ago? Could shed some light.

[Bedwards]

I have the huge long thread about the car not starting after the cam install. It ended up being the valve keepers on upside down. Mangled a bunch of pushrods. Would that stretch the chain though?