Hi, 2001 DRV 3500 5.9L here.

In the last months I’ve had a lot of work done- most of brake system rebuilt but not the master cylinder and many of the front end steering and suspension parts replaced including the wheel hubs with bearings but not the lower ball joints which were done like 20,000 mi. ago (along with a rebuilt tranny). After 2 new front tires and front end alignment my van now rides smoother and quieter than I knew was possible.

But I’m left with one problem that began with with all this new work (but before alignment & tires) which work was done pretty much all at once as I drove very little, maybe 20 mi., during all the stages of front end repair. Only when I turn right I hear this sound, It’s not loud but it’s there there. Best I can describe it is like the sound a small ball bearing might make rolling across a thin piece of sheet metal. It’s somewhat high pitched liked crickets chirping but not pulsating like crickets do.

It always happens on a right hand turn and always stops when the turn is over. On a straight road at about 10 to 15 mph I turned the steering wheel alternately left and right swerving and even with such a slight turn the sound was always there turning right and then gone. It’s hard to tell but I think it comes from the front passenger side wheel area but my directional hearing isn’t good. I don’t think it’s the new bearings because the wheels or grease cup don’t overheat at all and the sound is only on a turn to the right. In front I have new brake soft lines, calipers, pads, rotor and bearings.

I don’t really have anything to justify my feelings that it has something to do with the thin metal clips that hold the discs to the calipers except that there was a clicking sound there during the brake work that went away with adjustment of the pad/clips position.

Any suggestion would be appreciated. I’m one little noise away from from what to me is a smooth ride even though it’s a big old stiff suspension DRV.

Thanks in advance

 

Still have the dust shields behind the rotors? See if one is closer than you think it should be. It may just be touching when things deflect on the right turn, to cause contact.

 

That’s gonna be it. That’s what made me think it was somewhere in there- I forgot how thin that shield was. And it was the “pitch” of the noise from that shield when working on it that leads me to think the problem is in there.

I’ll let you know.