Hi guys I have started to notice what sounds to me like seagulls chirping from my front wheels at very low speeds. I notice it if I am in a drive-through or up against some sort of wall that the sound can bounce back off of. It goes with the rotation of the wheel and stops when the brakes are hit. Could this be the front wheel hubs? Any advice would be appreciated. The brakes were done shortly before I bought the truck around 3-4k miles ago with ceramic pads. 118k on the truck.
Thanks.

 

If it were your hubs/bearings then the noise would probably get louder as you put the brakes on because of added force to the front. It has to be your brakes. The ceramics vs steel rotor can certainly cause strange noises especially when the rotor is slightly warped. Besides, the ceramic pads will wear your rotor away faster. On the other hand, pounding on your brakes until hot may straighten the rotor out because the pads are a harder composition.

 

Cool I will look into that. I may just throw new rotors and pads on there. I like to know what is on my truck and who knows what the guy who owned it put on there. Thanks for the advice.

 

I've had brake dust and a grain or two of sand caught between the pad and rotor before. Take them off, spray the pads with some brake cleaner, take the glazing off the rotor with some <240 grit sandpaper or a wire wheel and spray them too.

I had to replace my hubs last year. What a nasty grinding noise the bearings made especially while coming to a halt. It was as loud as serious mud tires.

 

I'm just wondering if it was sand or a dust or a rock if it would be a pulsing sound in time with the wheels turning. or a constant? I agree now that the brakes (rotors) are most likely the culprit. If the pads have good life on them and the rotor is warped would I have to replace the pads? Would they be worn unevenly due to the warped rotor? I guess I might as well. Thanks for all the tips and advice here guys.

 

Jack it up, pull the caliper off and spin the hub. If noise is still there it's the bearings. This is how I found my bearing squeak.

 

Good call. I will try that as well. My Uncle (30 year plus ASE mechanic) said I most likely just need to add anti squeal to the back of the pads. These are all great ideas. I just need to find some time to try them, plus it's 110 degrees outside here in Phoenix.

 

I used to live in Buckeye. I remember having to keep a rag in the back of my truck so that I could touch the metal handle to open the door, then another rag in the cab so that I could touch the metal on the column to start it.

I'd definitely do the work late in the afternoon.

 

Yeah I hear you. My black Calibers hood the other day was as hot as the sun when I went to change my wife's spark plugs. Luckily we have a covered parking spot but it is still hot as hell. I have a floor jack, inverter, and an electric impact that speeds things up a bit. I can't stand when people from back east (I'm from Kent, Ohio) tell me how it is a dry heat. Fire is dry too.