Jeffs05GT

Last night we were driving down the gravel road (1 mile of gravel road to get from our house to the highway) at around 10mph like usual (to keep gravel chips/rattles from developing) and I started hearing a noise which sounded a bit like metal grinding that was accomponied by a high pitched squeak.

At first I didnt know our car was making it because it came on so suddenly, but after stopping the car and realizing the noise stopped with it I turned arund immediately. On the way home the noise got worse.

While going home I made not of some things. The noise is not caused by me pushing or depressing on the break. It happens when driving in first, coasting in neutral, even coasting backwards with the car off, so it does not seem to be tied to the transmission, clutch or engine. It's certainly not belt whine.

Sounds like it's coming from the front driver side wheel but you know sometimes sounds are weird and don't come from where they seem.

What could this be? Is it possible that I got a gravel chunk caught up in my brake system somewhere, is it the wheel bearing, what? It seems to be getting worse as I drove it around our circle drive a bit this morning after rinsing the wheels off with water. The noise is quite awful and alarming, and it just came on out of the blue.

Would something like a wheel bearing take longer to effect?

It has me worried becuse just two days ago I had an elderly women scrape her bumper against the rear passenger side area of my car. There was no damage aside from black rubber from either her bumper and it all buffed out, b ut it seems like an awful coincience to me. Though how could this be related if it literally didnt even do enough damage to scrape the paint or bend the plastic...

Anyone have an ideas or similar experiences?

Oh, I't s a 2005 V6 vert 5 speed with only 3100 miles on it.

WERKED 66

alot of people have report getting rocks caught between th caliper and rotor i would start there first....might be better off removing the 2 front wheels....

StangNut

Driver's side mirror maybe?
Mine squeaks/squeals anytime I'm on a bumpy road.

adrenalin

definately have a stone stuck in there like mentioned above. Not the first time someone posted this issue and definately not the first car to experience this. Time to remove your tires and find out which one has the problem.

Jeffs05GT

I dont have access to any tools, would it be safe to drive to the dealership like this?

Jeffs05GT

This is too loud and brutal of a sound to be that. I can hear the grinding itself so I know its something else.

Jeffs05GT

Hmmmm would the included jack for spare tires be good enough just to investigate this?

cop on my back

Yes, remove the tire and look between the rotor sheild and the rotor, you will probably find a rock. I had it happen to me in the first month of owning mine (December 04) and I don't drive on gravel roads. It has never happened since.

Jeffs05GT

Yep, found a little rock right in there.

Is there any way this could have damaged anything or need I worry about it? It was between the shield and the rotor just like you said.

cop on my back

If it wasn't squeeling for more than a day or two I would think you are fine. Just feel the rotor with your finger and see if the rock wore a groove in the rotor.

Oh course you probably have the wheel back on now!

EleanorsMine

OW you too? WTH?
Mine fell out finally after about two days. Driving early last week was an embarassment.

Result: eleanor is no longer allowed on Non Paved roads.

Skorch52

I've had rocks caught in my 98 and my 03 Expy brakes. Just one of the many reasons why I hate gravel roads...

clintoris

switch to drum brakes.... that ought to resolve that one.

hk2006

That's a good one

stangster

Probably not. What happened to you is not an uncommon a problem with disc brakes and areas where small loose rocks laying around.