thepep
08-25-2002, 08:46 PM
I finally finished my high compression motor swap and got it ready for its first test drive. Started to drive out of the garage and I hear a metallic scraping noise coming from the front wheels, mostly the passenger. It is speed dependent.
Pulled it back into the shop, put it on the lift and took the wheels off. The rotor near the top had a very small groove cut into it. I removed the caliper and looked for a stone or something that could have done this. Didn't see anything. I felt the surface of the break pad and it was smooth. I used brake cleaner on the pads and rotor and bolted it all back up. Took it for another test drive and the same noise.
Brought it back into the shop, took the wheels off again, started the motor and put it into first gear. I could not hear any scraping noises! It appears that the problem occurs when the tire/wheels are weighted.
I talked on the phone to a mechanic friend. He said, among other things, that if the large axle nut were not torqued enough there could be some play which could cause this noise. I don't know if that would be the bearing or the actual axle making the noise. I'm gonna have our mechanic at work take a look at it tomorrow. Any input would be appreciated though. Keep in mind that before the wheels, calipers, rotors and axles were taken off as part of my engine swap, I had absolutely none of these problems so something happened when these things were reinstalled.
Steve
Pulled it back into the shop, put it on the lift and took the wheels off. The rotor near the top had a very small groove cut into it. I removed the caliper and looked for a stone or something that could have done this. Didn't see anything. I felt the surface of the break pad and it was smooth. I used brake cleaner on the pads and rotor and bolted it all back up. Took it for another test drive and the same noise.
Brought it back into the shop, took the wheels off again, started the motor and put it into first gear. I could not hear any scraping noises! It appears that the problem occurs when the tire/wheels are weighted.
I talked on the phone to a mechanic friend. He said, among other things, that if the large axle nut were not torqued enough there could be some play which could cause this noise. I don't know if that would be the bearing or the actual axle making the noise. I'm gonna have our mechanic at work take a look at it tomorrow. Any input would be appreciated though. Keep in mind that before the wheels, calipers, rotors and axles were taken off as part of my engine swap, I had absolutely none of these problems so something happened when these things were reinstalled.
Steve