Wheel noise?

[WalrusLike]

I nearly didn't get the boat in the water last weekend because of a weird wheel noise.

The Toyota Hilux 2wd front left wheel was making a horrible metal scraping noise as I towed the boat out of the driveway.

Lube Mobile charged me $150 dollars to say nothing was wrong.

When it happened I stopped and jacked wheel up and hand spun it and it was a bad grinding kind of noise. I thought metal brake pad plate on disc because I knew the brake pads would need replacing at next service.

Took wheel off and to my surprise (shows my ignorance) the wheel studs could move 3 or 4 mm either direction inside the steel cup/bowl/cover that the wheel mounts on to. I thought that was bad but Lube mobile says that's normal.

So I used another vehicle to tow boat for family day out.... Thank god for the old falcon wagon I gave my daughter.

The weird thing was when I put the wheel back on and spun it again it was silent.... Fixed? But I didn't trust it so swapped vehicle and next day got lube mobile out.

My front yard had a mud bit so I was wondering if it wasn't some grit caught somewhere. Any thoughts?

(sorry its not off road or 4wd but thus seemed the most appropriate forum)

[Axl]

Sounds like it could have been a rock stuck in between the rotor protection plate (on the back of the rotor) and the rotor. This makes a horrible noise when it happens.

[Goodoo haven]

Yeah, I will go along with Axl, or it could be a small rock/pebble caught between the brake pad and the disc.

[WalrusLike]

Thanks guys. What do you call the plate/cup/bowl with straight edge/ mount thingy that the wheel is mated to after you do the nuts up?

The studs poke through it. The studs seem attached to the rotor plate but float inside this iron cover. Is it normal that you can move them?

Ie move them in respect of the cover plate.... They all stay still in respect of the rotor and each other.

[Axl]

Thanks guys. What do you call the plate/cup/bowl with straight edge/ mount thingy that the wheel is mated to after you do the nuts up?

The studs poke through it. The studs seem attached to the rotor plate but float inside this iron cover. Is it normal that you can move them?

Ie move them in respect of the cover plate.... They all stay still in respect of the rotor and each other.

Walruslike post a pic mate your discription is vague at best, but I think you are talking about the rotor itself. As for you wheel studs moving that sounds a bit strange as they are pressed into the rotor.

If you brake a stud once it has been removed from the rotor the new one presses/pulls itself in as you do up the wheel nut and once they are in they can be a right pain to get out.

[fat-buoy]

Sounds like it is likely the depth indicator on your brake pads touching the disc rotor if the pads are getting low.. there is a small metal tab that bends around the pad.. The tab touches on the disc rotor when the pads are down to let you know to change your pads..

[Axl]

Sounds like it is likely the depth indicator on your brake pads touching the disc rotor if the pads are getting low.. there is a small metal tab that bends around the pad.. The tab touches on the disc rotor when the pads are down to let you know to change your pads..

Yes!!!! good pic up fat-buoy they make a hell of a noise until you replace them.

[WalrusLike]

Walruslike post a pic mate your discription is vague at best, but I think you are talking about the rotor itself. As for you wheel studs moving that sounds a bit strange as they are pressed into the rotor.....

Yeah sorry it's vague. You are being gentle in your wording there, thanks...

I can't send a pic unless and until I get the time back at home to take the wheel off again.

The thing I refer to looks for all the world like a small brake drum from my EJ Holden days. If you took the wheel off and then just wound a nut on, it would wind in until it touched this drum. It is the thing that the wheel is tightened against.

The wheel nuts are rigidly held in position in relation to the rotor behind it but this drum floats and since the hole for each stud is slightly oversize you can move them (but they all move together) slightly to one side of the hole or the other.

You can move the nuts (and rotor) or you can move this drum... The are independent to the degree that the oversize stud holes allow.

Sorry to be so vague. I will post a pic in a day or do. I wouldn't bother you about it except it is a slight worry to me...

If its the pad warning then wouldn't it be continuous? Lube mobile didn't think of that possibility.... They just said unknown. You've beaten them.

[captain red beard]

I agree with fat-buoy on this one. Those indicators make a bad noise but they normally break off not long after starting to rub. If you had a bit of mud or something stuck in there it can fall out as soon as the wheel spins the opposite way. If no more noise all is good.

I think maybe the front rotors on a hilux just slide on over the hubs and wheel studs. Once the wheel goes on it holds it all tight. That design can sometimes have screws securing it. Picture would have been good.

[WalrusLike]

Thanks again. I feel better about it now. I will assume that mobile lube didn't miss anything and that it was what you guys suggest.... The indicator strip.

I will take it off again and post an image so you all can poke fun at my stupidity once you see what it was I was unable to explain.

Thanks fellas for the info.