I have a 2010 Mercury Mariner. Just after I had the brakes replaced, it started sounding like the brakes were grinding when I’d come to a firm (but not fast braking) stop, just periodically.
I had the brakes looked at at the shop again, and they told me the brakes were perfect and they didn’t hear the noise. I didn’t hear it either for about three days, then it started up again. I had a friend look at my brakes to make sure nothing was done incorrectly, and he agreed that they were perfect, and when he took the car for a drive, he didn’t hear the noise.
About a day later, the noise started up again. This time I had my friend come over and took him for a drive before he looked at the car. Sure enough, he heard it! After some testing, he thinks it’s something in the suspension. He took off the wheel and took a look, but couldn’t see anything obvious. And then when he took it for a test drive, the noise had magically stopped. But it started up a couple of days later, of course.
I again took it in to Ford, while I was having the tires replaced, and they said they didn’t hear anything. So frustrating! But later that day, it started again.
So my question is this: what could be causing the noise? It’s a deep grinding noise, and I can feel it in the brake. It feels like the brakes themselves are grinding. It doesn’t happen all the time, but definitely happens more often when I’m driving down a hill. And sometimes when I’m going over a bump, the wheel feels “loose” if that makes any sense, and I hear an almost hollow noise from the undercarriage somewhere. I don’t have to slam on the brakes to make this noise happen. Sometimes it’ll happen even at very low speeds, stopping at a light with normal distance at 20mph. And as you can see above, it seems to STOP if the wheel is removed for some reason, unless that’s a coincidence.
I’d just like something specific for the dealership to direct their attention to. It’s under extended warranty, and only has about 45k miles on it (because I worked remotely for many years, and I took careful care of it). I appreciate any advice!