Noise from front left wheel

H

HarryBadger

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Hi,

There's a noise that sounds like it's coming from my front left wheel and I'm having some trouble identifying the cause.
It usually starts when I turn left and has varying levels of volume:
Here's some audio of the grinding sound:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12rtNtwZcWESUmNHlA_OcFmrw5dT8yLFK/view?usp=sharing
That's it on a good day. I was driving it this morning and it was so loud that pedestrians were staring.

The sound goes away as soon as I apply my brakes.
My best guess is that there's a rock stuck in the brake.
I took it into Halfords for a free brake check and they said there was nothing wrong with it.

I've since taken the wheel off and inspected the area myself.
I was looking for some bright metal, indicating that there is a rub.
On the inside of the brake disc, near the outer diameter, there is some wear that looks like it's been ground.

Here's a video that shows the brake disc. You can see there's a ground patch towards the outer diameter of the inner surface of the disc:

If anybody has any advice on what this might be It would be greatly appreciated.

MAKE: Volkswagen
MODEL: Golf MK6
ENGINE SIZE/TYPE: 1.6 Petrol
YEAR: 2009
MILEAGE: 25,000

Here's an image of that ground-looking patch near the outer diameter of the inside of the brake disc:
thumbnail.jpg


Thanks
Harry
 
HarryBadger said:
I took it into Halfords
Click to expand...
Not the first place that would have sprung to my mind if I was seeking a competent opinion, if I'm honest.

I suspect their brake check amounts to assessing the number of millimetres left on the pads

I'd consider first taking the wheel off but then bolting the bolts/nuts back on (with spacers if necessary) to clamp the brake docs back up into the position it would be if the wheel were on, then slowly turn it and feel for anything not right. Perhaps a stone, perhaps a splash guard or other part of the metalwork around the disc.

If that doesn't give any clues, I'd pull the calliper and carrier off and take a look for a matching "rubbed" looking part and check the surface of the pads
 
Edit, in the video (it wouldn't play for me first time) it does look like there might be something trapped inside the calliper..

22262D51-5712-4DF1-B9D2-6C88D8EF76A5.jpeg


Usually only a couple of bolts hold the calliper or carrier on. I didn't see any good angle in the video that highlighted them well but these things:

5E6BDA57-D8BE-450C-9804-8604C4FC3992.jpeg


hide a smooth sided bolt that the brake caliper slides along as it operates/takes up wear in the pads. To remove the bolt you usually have to remove a cap at the top and stick an Allen key in the hex head inside
 
Last edited:
Many thanks for advice !
I was a little worried about removing the calipers but I've found a YouTube video for the MK6 golf and it's exactly as you've described. Take some caps off and use a 7mm Allen key.

I'll give it a go shortly and report back.
 
Before undoing anything. With the wheel off, if you spin the disc round by hand can you hear the same noise ?
 
Before you take the caliper off spread an old towel on the floor so if a little stone does fall out and you don't see it fall out it hopefully won't bounce off into the ether.
 
HarryBadger said:
Many thanks for advice !
I was a little worried about removing the calipers but I've found a YouTube video for the MK6 golf and it's exactly as you've described. Take some caps off and use a 7mm Allen key.

I'll give it a go shortly and report back.
Click to expand...
You could probably flick it out or break it up with a screwdriver without removing the calliper
 
What's that white thing at the bottom of the second pic in post #3?
 
carmanmemoranda said:
Before undoing anything. With the wheel off, if you spin the disc round by hand can you hear the same noise ?
Click to expand...
I had a go at this earlier. I couldn't hear anything.
The noise usually starts when I turn left. When I did the test I had the wheels straight. This could have been why I couldn't hear anything.

freddiemercurystwin said:
Before you take the caliper off spread an old towel on the floor so if a little stone does fall out and you don't see it fall out it hopefully won't bounce off into the ether.
Click to expand...
Good idea - I'll try this if I take the caliper off or try to unlodge something with a screwdriver.

Mottie said:
You could probably flick it out or break it up with a screwdriver without removing the calliper
Click to expand...
Good idea - I'll try this first.

Thanks for all the advice!
 
Try turning the wheel and then spinning it

Looks like some binding to me. Could be the noise of the pads dragging on the disc
 
HarryBadger said:
I had a go at this earlier. I couldn't hear anything.
The noise usually starts when I turn left. When I did the test I had the wheels straight. This could have been why I couldn't hear anything.
Click to expand...

That's because when you turn, it sets up different stresses in components, when they come under load, so they bend slightly. You will not be able to reproduce it by simply jacking that corner up.
 
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