Metallic rubbing/ chirping/ high pitched squeal front wheel area

Sladie07

Member
T6 Pro
I’ve previously had a thread about a suspension knocking issue where I mentioned this ongoing issue but think it probably needs a new thread of its own as the other bits are now resolved.

For the past couple of months, when moving the steering wheel slightly to the right at roughly 20mph or above, I get a very high pitched, metallic squeaking/ rubbing noise from what I think is the O/S/F wheel area. I’m not sure if I can hear it on the passenger side, but it’s very obvious on my side most of the time. After this noise has started, I’ve had the following done on the van (so these can, I think, be ruled out):
4 new tyres…Cross Climate 3s
New NSF wheel bearing (this garage was also asked to check this issue but said they couldn’t hear a noise, so I’m not keen to go back! They also gave it a ‘thorough health check’ and noted nothing untoward)
Full CRS Definition kit, inc front arm poly bushes (new mounting rubbers, mounting bearings, Evo Spring seat rear, pinch bolts…not sure what these bits are but just to rule things in or out).
Other thing I’ve tried on the advice of Steve at CRS was to push the brake disc dust cover back out of the way, which I thought had helped, but the noise came back after a few miles. I’m wondering if I need to try bending it back a bit more forcefully?

I’ve tried to record the noise on my phone camera but the wind noise covers it a bit, but if you turn up, you can hear the very high pitched noise at certain points. It’s very obvious in real life.

Has anyone got any bright ideas? I want to take it in to a garage soon, but want to be able to point them in the right direction as I don’t want to be fobbed off again.

Any help would be most gratefully received as we’re off on a European trip in 5 weeks time and don’t want to go with this as an issue.

T6 Caravelle Exec

 
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I’ve previously had a thread about a suspension knocking issue where I mentioned this ongoing issue but think it probably needs a new thread of its own as the other bits are now resolved.

For the past couple of months, when moving the steering wheel slightly to the right at roughly 20mph or above, I get a very high pitched, metallic squeaking/ rubbing noise from what I think is the O/S/F wheel area. I’m not sure if I can hear it on the passenger side, but it’s very obvious on my side most of the time. After this noise has started, I’ve had the following done on the van (so these can, I think, be ruled out):
4 new tyres…Cross Climate 3s
New NSF wheel bearing (this garage was also asked to check this issue but said they couldn’t hear a noise, so I’m not keen to go back! They also gave it a ‘thorough health check’ and noted nothing untoward)
Full CRS Definition kit, inc front arm poly bushes (new mounting rubbers, mounting bearings, Evo Spring seat rear, pinch bolts…not sure what these bits are but just to rule things in or out).
Other thing I’ve tried on the advice of Steve at CRS was to push the brake disc dust cover back out of the way, which I thought had helped, but the noise came back after a few miles. I’m wondering if I need to try bending it back a bit more forcefully?

I’ve tried to record the noise on my phone camera but the wind noise covers it a bit, but if you turn up, you can hear the very high pitched noise at certain points. It’s very obvious in real life.

Has anyone got any bright ideas? I want to take it in to a garage soon, but want to be able to point them in the right direction as I don’t want to be fobbed off again.

Any help would be most gratefully received as we’re off on a European trip in 5 weeks time and don’t want to go with this as an issue.

T6 Caravelle Exec

Can’t hear anything on the video to indicate a problem. Maybe try recording at a quiet time or on a quiet road.
 
Yeh, it’s really difficult to get it….tried loads of times!

With the volume up I can hear it about 4 seconds in, and again around 13/14 seconds most prominently, but it is almost a pitch only dogs can hear on the video! Will try again somewhere else
 
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If it helped when you pushed the dust cover away it could be worth trying that again. As you say maybe push it further this time. I would also check for anything stuck between the dust cover and disc. You could try a full strip down of the brakes incase of stones or similar stuck somewhere
 
If it helped when you pushed the dust cover away it could be worth trying that again. As you say maybe push it further this time. I would also check for anything stuck between the dust cover and disc. You could try a full strip down of the brakes incase of stones or similar stuck somewhere
Yep, I think I’m going to try and get some pliers and see if I can bend it just a little so it stays put.
Unfortunately I’m not mechanically minded and have pretty much no tools (and my driveway is a slope which doesn’t help for jacking it up!) but I’ll have a careful poke around
 
Does the noise go when you touch the brake? Is it there when you jump in the van or only after a little bit of driving?
 
Yep, seems to go away when I brake, and usually comes on after a couple of mins.

I’ve managed to get a slightly better video today so will upload that again in a sec
 

Hmmmm….does YouTube compress the sound? Really obvious on my phone!

Edit - quick google and yes it does! How annoying!
 
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Doesn’t seem to particularly get worse, once it starts doing it, it stays pretty similar all the way on my journey.

Nope, nothing made worse by bumps or anything, just literally turning the wheel slightly off centre

Can hear it most clearly on the video at 8 seconds
 
How many miles / years since the front brakes were stripped down or renewed?
 
How many miles / years since the front brakes were stripped down or renewed?
That I don’t know. I’ve only had it about 3 months or so, and I don’t have a record of that annoyingly. Might be time to have a chat with the garage and ask them to do that before I go on my hols
 
OK how old is the van and what’s the mileage?
Have you jacked up the wheel and checked that they are free to turn and that the brakes aren’t binding?
 
It’s a late 2016 on 75000. It had a ‘health check’ a few weeks ago and discs and pads were ok apparently. This was while they were allegedly looking at this issue which they said they couldn’t hear.
I haven’t personally done it but hope the garage would have had, but now I’m not sure they did anything much other than replace the opposite side bearing and wheel sensor
 
Could be as simple as a stone stuck with road tar, I have had it once before had to get wheel off and good look around and flicked it off, couldn't believe it held on but it did.
 
Could be as simple as a stone stuck with road tar, I have had it once before had to get wheel off and good look around and flicked it off, couldn't believe it held on but it did.
Hopefully it’s that simple!! I think I have a jack and axel stands in the shed so will dig them out over the weekend and see what I can see
 
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