Oppo, help me figure out this noise?

"As Du Volant" (skuhnphoto)
07/13/2018 at 10:06 • Filed to: None

So my girlfriend told me her SX4 is making a noise. I drove it last night and sure enough it is. Though I’m not really sure what to make of it.

It’s a rhythmic thumping sound coming from the left front wheel area. Sort of sounds like a warped brake rotor, and I feel a little bit of pulsation in the pedal when I get on the brakes hard.

But... the sound continues when I’m not braking. If it was a rotor, would it not stop making noise when the brakes aren’t being used?

What say you, Oppo?

DISCUSSION (17)

Wacko > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:15

warped rotor can still rub on pads even when not pressing the brakes.

Could also be a bearing. rock stuck in rotor.....

I’m Oppo’s SX4 resident expert btw.

Still miss my 2010 awd 6 speed, ( rest in pieces little car that can)

MoCamino > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:19

Maybe a slipped belt or a bubble in the tire?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:19

Bearing or rotor I would think, I agree. Too bad we can’t call C lick and C lack.

functionoverfashion > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:20

Are the tires wearing unevenly? Kinda sounds like tire noise in that it’s pulsing, not constant. If you swap front and rear wheels, you could see if the noise moves to the back.

As Du Volant > Wacko
07/13/2018 at 10:23

I was thinking bearing, what threw me off was the lack of a grinding/rubbing noise that those usually make.

BeaterGT > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:24

Sounds like it could be one of a few things,

Wheel out of balance.

Caliper is borked and could be taking the rotor with it. Inspect to see if the calip er pistons are retracting.

Wheel Bearing is shot.

As Du Volant > functionoverfashion
07/13/2018 at 10:24

I thought that too... the tires are slightly unevenly worn and will be due for replacement soon. The crazy thing is though... the noise only starts after the first time you hit the brakes. Up until that point, no noise... so I think that rules out the tires.

As Du Volant > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
07/13/2018 at 10:24

Don’t drive like my brother.

As Du Volant > BeaterGT
07/13/2018 at 10:25

I can check the caliper. Didn’t think that at first because it’s not pulling to the side and there’s no excess heat coming from that brake.

Future next gen S2000 owner > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:25

Does the noise increase frequency with speed or engine rpm? Maybe something is stuck in the tire, bolt or nail?

Wacko > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:28

just wait a bit longer and you might get those noises.

jack up the front and see if any play in the wheel.

BeaterGT > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 10:29

When my front calipers were starting to go, I got the brake pulsing without the pulling to the side. Might as well make sure the guide pins are greased when you’re down there.

functionoverfashion > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 11:02

What. Yeah... that does sounds like brakes. Perhaps a sticking caliper is at the root of this.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 11:08

It’s going to be one of the following: tire, brake rotor, wheel bearing, or drive axle, pick one or pick all and enjoy!

shop-teacher > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 11:08

And don't drive like my brother.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 12:17

Have you tried jacking up that wheel with the car in neutral and turning the wheel by hand and listening/feeling/watching what happens when you do it? Doing that might narrow things down for you.

Also check if there is any play in the wheel.

That’s what I did with my Focus a while back and figured out that it was a wheel bearing... which I was able to replace myself.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > As Du Volant
07/13/2018 at 12:44

Wheel bearing. Try loading and unloading that corner to see if the noise changes. If, likely bearing is bad.