Noisy front left wheel

[MattyT]

My front left wheel keeps making a high pitched rubbing sound. It speeds up as the car speed increases also.

Another high pitched rubbing sound also makes itself known when braking. It comes from the front left too.

What could it be?

[rayray086]

My front left wheel keeps making a high pitched rubbing sound. It speeds up as the car speed increases also.

Wheel bearing? I'm definitely not sure but I would attribute any weird sounds coming from a wheel to be the wheel bearing. Did this just started to happen?

[DubSteve]

Could it be the tyre at all?

[BlackVr6ix]

stone jamed in the caliper?

[Golf Loon]

Inner guard plastic rubbing?

Is the car lowered?

[Tim]

i got heaps of stones caught in my brake shields when i was in tassie. it doesnt sound high pitched. its a horrible groaning/scraping noise! such a painful thing to listen to. kinda like the scraping nails down a blackboard thing.
get under there and have a good look for signs of scraping. im thinking wheel bearing as well tho.

[MattyT]

Ok its my day off so I jacked her up and took a squizz underneath.

I'm no mechanic, but I do believe I have warped brake rotors :(
Moving the front left wheel around by hand was rather hard and yes this was with the car out of gear. The wheel would move freely and then catch once every rotation.
Just to make sure I jacked up the other side and that wheel rotated by hand much better, but still did slow a little.

Everything else looks fine though, the car is somewhat lowered but not fully sik lowered and I'm only on 16" rims so rubbing guards is out methinks.

Also I discovered what looks like a meaty front lower swaybar too! :D No brand name stickers on it but it looks an easy 25mm and painted black.

So... time to buy some new rotors eh?

[bombsquad21]

I wouldn't replace them unless the're undersized, just machine them up, save the $$$.

[SOHC]

anychance of things stuck in some kinda joints or noisy wheel bearing as well??
LOL once my car stuck in the rocks, then they got stuck in the brake shield as well!! it made bloody horrible soundn:
then everyone just looks at me so I had to stop by and take of both of the front wheels!!!!!at a freezing night!!!:mad:

[MattyT]

It's a bit embarrasing, the noise is much louder to outsiders then it is to me. Thank god the cars got mega dark tint!

Going to book it in to a suspension/tire/brake shop I know of, see if they can sort it out.

[MattyT]

Got teh dub looked at by Wheels World today and they think its a warped brake disc too.

They werent willing to be 100% certain, but 99.98% certain. Which is good enough to swap them out for something bettah :D

So, suggestions?

[MattyT]

...none?? :(

[Bora Sport]

Depends how much you want to spend. You could upgrade to the later model VR6 front brakes that are 288mm where yours would be 280mm. However you would also need the calipers and probably carriers. Easy if you could find a wrecked 97or later model.

Otherwise some ATE powerdiscs which I used on the Vento and I was very happy with. When they wore out I tried DBA (Disc Brakes Australia) slotted rotors. They were pretty reasonably priced but they warped after not a lot of use.

[MattyT]

I checked the DBA catalogue and there wasnt any VR6 slotted ones in there. Am I missing something?

[BlackVr6ix]

they are avaliable im pretty sure, just add SL and SR after the part number :D

[MattyT]

Ah, I see :D

One thing though, the DBA catalogue says "VR6 Mk3 Up to SW 400 000" then "VR6 Mk3 From to SW 400 001". Whats the SW number mean?

[BlackVr6ix]

its the 280/288 difference. do you know which one you have?

[peedman]

Give Tony from eurocarparts a call. He seems to have some stock of golf3 brake rotors i think. I even spied a brembo kit, maybe not for the VR6 but im sure they can get em in :D :D :D


Ps: DOOO ITT!!!

[MattyT]

I gots 280s. My VR6 was built 5/95 (yet rego'ed 1/96??).

I havent got the money for brembos :(
Would LOVE an AP Racing setup, but theyre even more pricey then brembos.

Have toyed with going to an r32 setup, financially its possible but sounds very fiddly.

So DBA rotors and better pads might be the only option for now.

[BlackVr6ix]

get yourself some EBC green stuff too. definately worth the money :D

[MattyT]

Yeah heard good stuff about the EBC greens. Either them or ferodo 2500's.

[BlackVr6ix]

I've also heard ferodo 2500's are a great pad, but never used them myself so cant comment.

[MattyT]

A few of my mates have used the 2500s with nothing but good words for them.

Gone in a bash with a car fitted with them too and very impressive stops.