Grinding noise towards right front wheel when driving slow.

I have an 01 Tacoma, and maybe withing the past week, when I dip 10mph or below I hear/feel a grinding like noise even when I'm not braking. I crawled under there, but am slightly clueless what I am looking for. Any ideas or suggestions what could be the problem. Thanks!

 

Possibly brake pad squealer tab thing to indicate pads are ready to be replaced? Or wheel bearing?

 

metal high pitched sound prob a brake pad sticking, grinding sound more likely a wheel bearing.

 

Easiest thing to look at is your brake dust cover.

It's the thin metal disk that goes between the brake rotor and the rest of the wheel/hub assembly. Those can bend pretty easily, and is an easy fix (just bend it back, lol). Maybe it's rubbing on your rotor. You should see wear marks on it if it's rubbing.

Best to jack it up and rotate the wheel back and forth, see if you hear it still. Then take the wheel of and inspect thoroughly.

Could be your wheel bearing going bad or brake pad pieces rubbing too, though.

 

Sounds more like wheel bearing going bad unfortunately. I'll do some internet digging and see if I can find some "how to do". Thanks everyone.

 

Suggest you hurry. This is not a 'when I get to it' issue.

This might be helpful

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ive-done-the-work-you-save-the-money.288282/

 

I'm thinking I might have the same issue. How can I differentiate between "brake pad" noise and "wheel bearing" noise? The only wheel bearing issues I've had were on 2 different Subarus and they were a more distinctive whirring noise at high speeds. My experience with brake pads wearing out seems to be more similar to this grinding, but it only makes the grinding noise at around 20 mph and no other times and not when I'm braking.

 

first things first. inspect the brake. make sure they're not metal to metal.

 

Meh. I've seen worse. A lot worse. LOL

 

more likely a bearing in your case since its not when you apply brakes.

 

Well, shit.

 

My nephew had an 01 quad cab and did the front brakes on his own. Not a smart guy...... Put the brake pads UNDER the retaining pins thinking they just held the pads in the caliper and drove off..... you can imagine what happened when he called me a few weeks later wondering why he cant stop his truck anymore.......

 

Get that wheel up off the ground and spin it... you'll know more. I have had the dust cover chaffing and just bend it back like jbrandt mentioned. Sound does drive you crazy though.

 

Definitely the wheel bearing. I did the push/pull test and it had some play and when I turned the wheel with it jacked up, I could hear the grinding. Took the wheel off and turned the rotor and got the same feedback. Also noticed a ton of rust on the brake calipers. What can I do to make sure I don't screw anything up because of the rust when removing all of it?

 

If the bolts and parts look really bad you might want to replace them as well. But if its just surface rust it shouldnt be a problem taking it apart. You'll know if its bad if you break stuff taking it apart.

 

It's a "while you're in there" situation. If you're disassembling that much to get to the bearing do the brakes at the same time. Although you should do brakes on both sides at the time. I recommend do both bearings as well since if one is gone the other may not be far behind. But, I tend to go over the top with maintenance so don't take my word as law.