(T) Wheel / brake squeal ?

Its either my front drivers side or rear passenger side that intermitantly makes a squealing / noise.

I say its intermitant as some days it doesn't do it - some days it does.

When it does do it it stops when I steer left ( eg on the motorway) or I brake!

Could it be brake dust between the pad and disk OR is it something more sinister?


Its starting to annoy me and I can't keep driving round with the Music drowning it out!

HELP! PLEASE!

Hi, most likely culprit is a brake pad slightly catching in the brake caliper and just dragging on the brake disk when the brake pedal is released. Easiest way to check this is to remove the front wheels and brake caliper as if changing brake pads and see if the pads move freely in the lower caliper grooves, if not scrape the grooves with a screwdriver to remove the mix of brake dust and rust that has collected there (you may also need to run a file on the brake pad where it touches the caliper groove if it's rusty) and while your there you can check the thickness of the brake pad material (if it's between 3mm - 5mm then I'd replace the pads anyway).Refit the brake calipers and wheels (not forgetting to re-tighten the wheel bolts when the car is on the ground) and then go out on a test drive and hopefully the squeal will have dissappeared for several months depending on the weather.
One of the other options is a wheel bearing may be failing (haven't had this happen to me so I don't know what wheel bearing squeal sounds like) which would be bad news as it helps keep the wheel attached to driveshaft, hopefully other members will be able to point out the warning signs of this.

Hi
I'd like to know if you've found the fault - my punto active sport 1.2 3 door 52 reg does exactly the same. Passenger side front wheel screeches on longer journeys and stops when brakes applied or I turn to the left slightly. Taken it to 1 garage already - couldn't find anything wrong.

my 2001 mk2 has started doing the same, i think mines on the right as it makes the noise when i turn left

I have recently checked the pads on that wheel so im thinking it might be because i have disturbed the wheel some how

Mine did it on long journeys; I just got used to tapping the brakes from time to time