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Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area


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Trizzy123
New User

Oct 1, 2019, 12:34 AM

Post #1 of 9 (1401 views)
Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

I'd really appreciate your advice on an issue I am having with my 2003 Lexus ES300. It currently has 180k miles on it, and was a family hand me down, so I know a little about it's history if that matters. Although there's not much to report on that end. Never been in an accident and normal maintenance. No major parts have had to be replaced (other than brakes, oil changes, transmission flush, etc) so any of the following possible issues would involve the original parts ( in other words, they're old so anything could go).

The issue has something to do with the steering components, suspension, or brake system. The issue started with hearing a high pitched metalic grinding or scraping sound that corresponds with the wheel rotation so it's a rhythmic sound. I can only hear it at slow speeds and when I'm quiet areas (it's not a loud). There's no feeling of this through the steering wheel.

Then I started hearing a clunking sound when braking. The funny thing is, I can only hear it when I'm braking as I'm pulling into my garage. I'm sure it happens at other times, but for some reason I only hear it then. It might help to mention my driveway has a steep pitch with my garage at top on level ground. I'm not sure if going up the hill then leveling off has anything to do with parts moving/shifting and then hearing the sound when braking.

Then recently my anti lock brakes have started engaging any time I am coming to a stop. It doesn't happen when just slowing down, only when at very low speeds while coming to a stop. At first it happened just once during my drive, but over the last week it has increased to happening every time I come to a stop.

Then just the other day, I started hearing a squeaking when making a turn (anything less than a 90 degree turn).

I just had new pads and rotors put on, and there was no mention of anything obviously broken or failing. Although I don't know how closely they were looking.

I don't know if all of this is coming from one issue, or if I have a few issues going on. After internet research, I have a list of things it could be:

Steering fluid low
Steering belt
Steering rack
Steering pump
Tie rod
Ball joint
Wheel bearing
CV joint/shaft
Control arm
Control arm bushing
Sway bar
Sway bar bushing
Upper strut bushing
Upper strut mount

This is quite a long list of potentials, so I'm hoping you guys could help narrow it down for me based off all of my symptoms.

Thank you very much for your help and for sharing your expertise with all of us novices!!

-Laura


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 1, 2019, 2:49 AM

Post #2 of 9 (1396 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

You hear it when braking ends the hunt - check the front brakes and rears too. Know what status things are in, make a list to begin your new history how long ago what was done and checked.


Brakes usually have a screech sensor to annoy you into checked on time there isn't much left when you hear those.


As for your web list: OMG - just list even part of a car it's all on some maybe list...…
T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 1, 2019, 3:50 AM

Post #3 of 9 (1392 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

My money is on a wheel bearing issue. The symptom seem to lean that way. You definitely need to get it checked out ASAP before something more serious happens.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 1, 2019, 4:02 AM

Post #4 of 9 (1386 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

Yes - Everything gets checked when looking. New rotor - yadda, yadda IDK if they are done right or any good. That noise is telling that way. Some "screech" sensors (too many lately) are bent wrong out of the box new about to screech so I adjust them.
Nice family car since new! Unless (some of my own) that's nice to know what it's been thru all those years, T



Trizzy123
New User

Oct 1, 2019, 3:04 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1374 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

Thank you very much for the replies. I know I have a long list of possible problems, and I know I'm asking a lot for a solution over the Internet. But I'm a girl in my early 30s that's legally disabled and therefore money is beyond tight. I was just hoping for any advice that could possibly save me a few dollars. A family member was kind enough to give me this car, and it's been great other than this issue. So I truly do appreciate the help!

I just had the brakes and rotors done a month ago, so I'm pretty confident it's not that. I did take a look at them ( as much as I could without taking the wheel off) and pads aren't loose, bolts are tight, no strange wear patterns on them, etc.

HammerTime- thank you for sharing your opinion! I don't know much about vehicles, but I'm the kind of person that will certainly put in the effort to learn. From what I've read I was leaning toward wheel bearings as well. Or possibly control arm bushing. My question for you if you don't mind is, do you think the ABS brakes engaging is related or a separate issue? I'm not sure where the sensor is, but if it's in that area I can see how the car would think there's a traction issue and engage the ABS. Yet on the flip side, a number of years ago my father had the ABS engaging on his Suburban, and that was just a faulty sensor.

I will definitely take it to a mechanic soon, but your thoughts on this would help me prepare for what's going to need to be fixed and how much to budget for.

Thank you again!!!


Trizzy123
New User

Oct 1, 2019, 3:25 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1370 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

A couple more questions if you guys don't mind:)
If I can get someone to crawl under the car and take a good look, would an issue with the wheel bearing, bushing, etc be obvious? Or are these issues that require some disassembly to figure out.

Also, I know someone that has a code reader (not a professional one but one that's pretty good apparently), would this kind of issue show a code? Or is it too "mechanical" for the computer to pick up? Thank you for your help!! I really really appreciate it!!!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 1, 2019, 3:42 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1360 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In


Quote
My question for you if you don't mind is, do you think the ABS brakes engaging is related or a separate issue?


That would definitely be related. In fact that is one of the reasons I leaned toward bearings.

If the bearing has any wear and play, it causes movement of the gear that the speed sensor reads from to move around from the sensor and denigrates the speed signal for that wheel and the ABS computer sees that as the wheel is locking up and initiates the ABS for that wheel.

The only code a wheel bearing could generate would be an ABS code for the speed sensor but it may not even do that.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 1, 2019, 3:50 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1358 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

Just the last post for now: If you are NOT already equipped to hoist a vehicle, where to place jack(s) and stands(s) plus have the level proper place usually concrete to do that you really shouldn't go under the vehicle or anyone else pro or not.
Nothing to do with your gender and 40 other non PC things to say if not equipped send that stuff out.
Just bearing know how to tell? If no free-play, should never be with a wheel hoisted and no wild sounds I say it's early stages of failure is a learned ear or feel. Wheel bearings also near always would make a growl just driving from one side gets better or worse when steering shifting load on them. That just driving the car and a warning to have it checked just anyone anyway IMO, T



Trizzy123
New User

Oct 1, 2019, 5:03 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1353 views)
Re: Lots of sounds/issues coming from wheel area Sign In

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You've both provided a TON of information! Not only will this help with my current situation, but like I said I try to learn for future situations. This will also help me not get taken for a ride at the mechanics. I like to think that most people are honest, but I also know a little "upselling" is done and told that parts need to be replaced when really there's 30--40K miles left in them.

This forum and its members are awesome. I'll report back after I have it fixed just so you guys can have a conclusion. Have a great evening!!! :)






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