Need help diagnosing potential axle problem

Ingwe

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Hi guys, I've noticed a 'squeak' coming from what I believe is my rear driver's side wheel so was looking for some help in diagnosing this.

Car started making a rotational squeak about 6 months ago but only when the brake is pressed. Was quite quiet but got louder and louder as time went by. Driveability seems fine doesn't feel any different but the noise worries me. Rear brakes needed changing and I assumed the pads were worn down causing the noise but fresh pads and the noise is still there just as loud.

Stuck the Gopro under the gas tank door pointing at the tyre and took the car for a drive to try and get the noise. Again, it only makes the noise when braking. I played the video back and am not sure if the wheel is actually wobbling or if it's just my imagination or the tyre not being uniform. Please have a look and let me know what you guys think. Exhaust is quite loud so you may need to crank the volume but let me know if you've heard anything like this before or have any ideas.

Thanks. - Andy

Here's the vid (apologies, don't know how to embed from Photobucket)
http://vid1123.photobucket.com/albums/l552/andrewg83/Edited Video_zpsecizdcg2.mp4
 
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JeremyH

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Could be a warped rotor. You can swap rear rotors side to side to see if the squeek follows.
 

TexasBlownV8

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Did you use brake grease on the contact points on the new pads? If not, they can squeak only when braking.

How are the front brakes? Check those, too.
 

Ingwe

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Thanks for the input guys. Good points raised there on a warped rotor. I didn't install the fresh pads so don't know if the rotors were turned but i don't think so. I'll swap the rotors and see if that makes a difference.

Love this site. Always fear the worst (bent axle etc) and it's guys like you who bring me back down to earth with simple logic. Definitely about time I gave something back and became a supporting member.

Keep you posted.
 

Ingwe

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After watching the vid a few more times i can't tell if the rim is wobbling or the tyre distortion just makes it look that way. Anyone else videod their tyres while driving?
 

eighty6gt

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my caliper mounting bolts would come loose from time to time and do this. Also, lube your brake pad contact surfaces - on the caliper side, of course.
 

Ingwe

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You could swap rear tires too for that matter also. Good luck.

Good thought. If the rotor swap doesn't shed any light on the subject then i'll try that. Thanks Jeremy.

my caliper mounting bolts would come loose from time to time and do this. Also, lube your brake pad contact surfaces - on the caliper side, of course.
Thanks, I'm pretty sure this was done but i'll double check when i pull the rotor off.

It seems to me an axle issue would present all the time while driving, not just on braking.

That's what I thought but then I figured maybe if the axle housing was out of alignment by only a small amount it wouldn't be noticed and only shows up when braking. Is that plausible?

I also noticed today the squeak is present when taking a sharp right hand corner, say in a parking lot, regardless of whether the brake is pressed or not. Does that mean anything to anyone?
 

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