# Rear-right wheel is rubbing

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** wheels\
**Created:** [December 31, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887 "2007-12-31T19:48:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Davide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Davide](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Davide)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887/1 "2007-12-31T19:48:46Z")

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This morning I gave my '97 Geo Prizm an oil change & 4-tire rotation. As I drove away from the shop, the rear-right wheel (14-inch) rubbed–with every revolution. I went home anyway. As I returned to the shop after lunch, the wheel rubbed only when I made right turns. I got a mechanic to ride with me to confirm the problem, but being New Years Eve they were short-handed, so they couldn’t investigate today. (This same rubbing noise has occurred before, when I’ve made a fast right-turn into my workplace parking lot. But LEFT turns don’t seem to cause this rubbing.)  
  
 What is likely the problem? (I don’t carry heavy things around in the trunk; odometer is just 71K) Why did a tire rotation “trigger” this previous condition? Is it possible I’ll have to buy a new wheel?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887/2 "2007-12-31T19:54:38Z")

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It’s hard to tell from here but it should be really easy for the shop to find.  
Do you live where yo might have a slush buildup in the wheel well?

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**Author:** ![Davide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@Davide](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Davide)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887/3 "2007-12-31T20:39:00Z")

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We did get some snow last night, but not much–that’s not the prolem. My hunch is that I’ve made too many hard-right turns into the parking lot at work. Let’s say some bearings are  
worn–would that mean I’d need to buy a new wheel?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887/4 "2007-12-31T21:08:17Z")

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Nope. Although it sounds like it’s coming from the rear, it’s more likely coming from the front. It may be just a brake wear indicator rubbing or it could be something like a CV joint. I’ve personally had a wear indicator make a rubbing sound only when turned hard in one direction.

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-right-wheel-is-rubbing/8887/5 "2008-01-01T01:43:27Z")

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Are all the wheels the original wheels? Are all the tires the same size? Are there any wear marks or cuts on the tires?