T-bone

iTrader: (1)

I have had a metal on metal rubbing sound coming from the front wheel(s) for quite well over a year. This weekend, I took it to a shop to check on an emissions problem and had them rotate the tires. When I got my car back from the shop, I noticed that the sound has grown MUCH louder. At first I only noticed it a speeds less than 10 mph when the windows were down. Now, I can hear a whirling metal on metal sounds from 40 - 60+ mph. It is so loud that I can hear it over a blasting radio with the windows up. It's awful. What would cause this sudden noise? Someone suggested that the shims for the front brake pads are the source of the problem. Can I buy new shims or would I have to buy a whole brake pad/shim kit?

The noise does not go away when I brake. I noticed the rubbing sound grows when I turn the wheel sharp (ie navigating a parking lot at 5mph).

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I should also note that I asked the mechanics at the shop (not Nissan) to check the brakes to see if they were causing the mild rubbing noise and they found nothing. They found nothing. The sound is now much much worse. Could they have made the problem worse? Could this be a coincidental new problem?

The front pads and shims are NOT OEM?

one more thing to note, the ABS light came on a while ago, and then went off. It was only on for a few miles. Could this be related to a wheel bearing issue. I know the ABS speed sensor is right there next to it.

note: this is not a hum sound. It is a metal grinding/whirling sound.

looslip

iTrader: (3)

Could be your wheel bearings. Can you lift your car up and try to turn your wheels, left and right and up and down? If the hub doesn't feel tight then it could be your bearings.

fornimage

Sounds like a wheel bearing. Is it coming from both sides?

T-bone

iTrader: (1)

I think so, but I'm not 100% sure. How much does this cost to fix?

T-bone

iTrader: (1)

I jacked up the car and tried to turn the wheel. I did not feel any looseness.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

simple problem...simple solution. It's the metal dustshield behind the front rotors rubbing against the backside of the front brake rotors. common problem. Easy to fix...just bend it back away from the rotor a bit (can be done with your hands or any kind of prying tool). It was probably already bent a little, and when they did your wheels, they probably accidentally bent it even more toward the backside of the rotor, causing the "more" rubbing. It's easy to bend in accidentally, and just as easy to bend back away.

bad bearings will not cause a metal-on-metal sound unless they are TOTALLY gone, in which case you'd have a TON of play in the wheels....

try the dust shield.

TheBigDu

iTrader: (1)

That's a great shot of your Max in the autocross there....but back on topic:

I have the same problem, and I also have no play in the wheels with the car jacked up. I've checked all four dustshields several times, and none are bent, or at least none are bent to where they're hitting the rotors. I had Nissan check this out over the summer while it was in for something else and they simply said "rust ring on rotors". Now, I know that all rotors rust slightly from sitting in rain and humidity, but any noise they make should be gone after a little while of driving. Not only is there no visible rust on those things, but furthermore the noise doesn't go away after a few minutes of driving. So first off, I say screw Nissan, and second that there must be something else causing this. It's not a huge deal, but it's a little annoying knowing that people hear your wheels maknig a scraping noise while you're driving down the road. Kinda takes away from the rest of the appearance, you know?

-Brian

EDIT: Sorry for the tone there, irish. I didn't mean to imply that a bent dustshield couldn't cause a scraping noise, because I know it can. But in my case, and maybe some others', that's not the problem.

E55AMG2

iTrader: (4)

Its either the dust shields, or the tabs from the pads dragging at an angle on the rotors.

OHH NOES

iTrader: (3)

If the noise is louder when you turn its probably a CV-Joint, the same thing happened to me this summer. Check for leaks in the boot.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

what E55 said is what my second thought would be....I had one of the spring clips contacting the rotor once...make sure they are centered in the caliper.

T-bone

iTrader: (1)

It was indeed the dust shields. The sound is gone! Thanks.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

10 char.

feel free to paypal ineedmoremodssoicangofaster@verizon.net for my consultation

meccanoble

iTrader: (22)

^^^^ lol, honestly i would if u solved a problem i had.