I've searched the forums and found multiple posts describing front end noises but none seemed quite the same. Just this past wednesday I started feeling a very light tapping that I could feel through the driver side floorboards and barely through the steering wheel, but couldn't hear any associated noises. Yesterday it was a little more detectable but still no audible noise. This morning it was much worse and feels like the driver side wheel is rubbing on something. It makes a rubbing noise that increases with speed. It is noticeable all the way up to 55mph (I don't go any faster on the roads I travel) and doesn't get better or worse if I turn either direction, but it does fade almost completely under braking. It's a '99 Dakota 4x4 and it did just pass the state inspection 2 weeks ago.

Any ideas?

 

possible warped rotor would be my guess If it is warp it would be rubbing the brake pad in spots
Do you get on your brakes hard or drag the brake by leaning your foot on the pedal


The tapping maybe something completly different ussually a problem with with the front you will feel the most vibrations in the steering wheel you said you feel it mostly in the floor could be a body mount to check this open door push on the top of door jam to see if you lift the cab

these are just guesses
I hope they help I have yahoo IM if you need to chat about it kota981
Rick

 

No I'm generally am not hard on the brakes and I definitely don't ride the brakes. What you describe is seems reasonable but wouldn't the problem be most noticeable while I was braking. Also what I described as tapping has morphed into what I'm now feeling. Initially there was no noise and the "tapping" for lack of a better word, was subtle. Now it feels like rubbing. I had the tires replaced about a month ago, a friend suggested that I might have thrown a weight and the balance is off now.

 

you can try moving the wheels from front to back if the noise goes with them its the tires ussually if it was a tire out of ballence it would vibrate not a loose wheel it can make a rubing or growling noise


Is there any pull toward the side if there is could be a possible wheel bearing

I beleive witha warped rotor youll feel the brakes pulsate usually

It also could be in the drive line.u-joint&halfshafts pop
Rick

 

There's no pulling one way or the other. The brakes don't feel irregular at all, in fact the sound/feeling almost completely disappears when I apply the brakes.

Thanks for the replies!

 

i had a similar problem once after changing my brakes. It turned out that one of the little thin metal shields somehow bent in a little bit and was rubbing the rotor. bent it back out and never heard it again