humbucker87

So just today I started hearing a squealing noise when taking left turns inside my neighborhood (relatively slow speeds). My first thought was the brakes but modulating the brakes didn't seem to have any affect.

The car only has 55,000 miles. Could it really be a bad wheel bearing? To my knowledge the car has never been tracked and is only driven spiritedly on occasion (although I am the second owner).

I took a video to try and capture the sound. It's a little hard to hear. At one point I took the cul-de-sac with the clutch in to try to minimize engine noise.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icv33HiCpxc[/media]

P.S. If it is a bad wheel bearing, how hard are they to replace? I am still learning how to work on cars and consider myself a novice. I was planning on doing my brakes in the next month or so.

Mr2000

Try removing your wheel, take both hands and jiggle the brake rotor. If there's play, it may be a bad bearing.


Not sure how hard it is to replace, my master mechanic (SgtB) did mine.

slalom44

That sounds like a wheel bearing. You may not be able to prove it by wiggling the wheel. But you might find the hub hotter to the touch after a drive.

They're not easy to replace. I've never done it on an S2000, but I've done them on other vehicles.

MasterForce

mine sounded kinda the same. it sometimes when away when i turned or it came back when i turned. it also made noise while going straight. i was about to buy the hubs but i just decided to get my front brakes changed. it just were my brake pads which were done. i was at around 60k miles.

slalom44

Before you spend any money on it, jack up your car, take your wheel off and check your brake pads. If your pads are worn to your wear indicator,that could be your problem.

I think it's unlikely that this is the problem since you aren't getting the grinding sound when you're braking but you should rule it out anyway.

Billman250

Brake wear indicators usually make noise on turns, not when you hit the brake. just make sure its not that.

humbucker87

Hey guys,

Just wanted to say thanks for all the help.

I confirmed when I got home today that it's the brake wear indicator. Thankfully not something like a wheel bearing.

Now I just have to wait until my new pads come in. Any idea how long it's 'safe' to drive with the wear indicators sounding? I'm going to be replacing the front rotors anyways.


For reference here is the thread that made me think it was the wheel bearings. The exact problem I had, but the guy never wrote back with a resolution. I'm sure its probably the pads as well.

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/824...-turning-left/