I recently replaced the brake pads and front struts to my ‘02 accord. When I drive I hear a higher pitched sound from the driver side of the car. I don’t think the sound was there before replacing these things but I didn’t drive the car much before as I just bought it.
The sound does go away when I turn to the right. I’ve followed a couple of the tests on YouTube for a bad wheel bearing but don’t get any play with the tire when trying to move it grabbing the top and bottom of the tire. Without replacing the wheel bearing yet are there any other tests or things anyone would recommend to check? Cant upload audio as a new user but its a higher pitched noise doesnt sound much like a grinding maybe more of a whistling. I appreciate any and all feedback. Thanks
The description of the sound seems more like a brake problem. There’s often some shims & wear indicators involved with brake pad replacement jobs, and those must be installed in the proper orientation. . My guess, some sort of brake part installation problem. Did you replace the brake pads yourself? If so, did you diligently follow the instructions for the shims and wear indicators and applying brake lube to the required locations? If unsure, suggest to remove then re-install that wheel’s brake components. Use the other side as a reference, since no noise from that side. Or just wait, maybe the sound will go away on its own as the pads wear a little and the parts bed in.
Keep the wheel bearing theory in mind, that’s still possible. Wheel bearing problems are very difficult to diagnose sometimes. Sometimes the only way to prove the cause is the wheel bearing is to replace it, then the noise goes away.
Thanks for the help. The sound happens all the time. Ive tried to check out the dust shield and cant see anything but Ill probably try to check the breaks again to be sure.
I did do the breaks myself. It was my first time so I tried to follow step by step but could have made a mistake. Ill probably try to go through and follow your advice and remove then reinstall brakes. The car is fairly old so I may replace the rotors as well just in case. If the noise persists for a a while after that Ill try the wheel bearing next. Thanks for the help
If something associated with the brakes or the wheel is rubbing on something, that often produces a visible mark, so look for scratch mark clues. If there’s a wheel bearing problem and sound goes away when turning right, the problematic bearing would most likely be on the right side. Symptoms don’t sound like the typical wheel bearing problem though.