77 Squeals down the road

[XQIZT]

Wow, sounds like the wheel bearings are screaming! I don't think its the brakes, because it happens with no brakes applied but stops with any amount of braking pressure.

Can these bearings be packed like some? Or are they sealed units like the C4 rears?

How difficult to get to all 4 of them? Day job?

I think a lot of the "issues" we are seeing with the car are because it is getting driven almost daily, whereas before it sat and sat and sat............

Thanks guys...and have a great Thanksgiving!

[walleyfisher]

In my experence wheel bearings growel then they might sqeal but by then they begin to seeze or fall apart.

My guess you have dried out U-joints.

[XQIZT]

Hm. Never thought of U-Joints. Will hitting them with some type of lubricant be ok for now if they seem otherwise tight...just to shut them up?

[walleyfisher]

Originally Posted by XQIZT

Hm. Never thought of U-Joints. Will hitting them with some type of lubricant be ok for now if they seem otherwise tight...just to shut them up?

Once they start chirp'n they are so dry that you most likly will be unable to get grease into them plus they are already shot. Also the good U-joints have no jerks. This makes them stronger due to no oil passages

FWI, again in my experence the drive shaft ones usually squeel because there is not much movement being the differental is fixed to the frame and the moter really only wiggles during excelleration. The half shaft joints usually start "clicking" because you have pounded some of the needle bearings out.

To test the drive shaft u-joints you will have to disconnect from the differental and you will feel for a stiff u-joint

[Sly Vette]

Regardless of where the "squeal" is coming from,you have a worn part and lubing it may reduce the noise for a short period but you are driving on borrowed time.
Best case is you have a loose and worn belt...Simple fix.
Worst case is you do have a bad bearing or u-joint and serious damage will result when it breaks.
Find the culprit and fix it properly!

[TimAT]

It's noisy while you're driving, but stops as soon as you step on the brake? One of the brake pads is likely dragging on the rotor. IF none of the brakes are dragging even a little, a wheel bearing would be the next place to look. Jack the car, turn the wheels and see if the noise appears. Check for any looseness in the bearings or rough spots as it turns.

[D_B]

Originally Posted by Sly Vette

Regardless of where the "squeal" is coming from,you have a worn part and lubing it may reduce the noise for a short period but you are driving on borrowed time.
Best case is you have a loose and worn belt...Simple fix.
Worst case is you do have a bad bearing or u-joint and serious damage will result when it breaks.
Find the culprit and fix it properly!

Agreed. Rule out easy things. Does it squeal when stationary at all or JUST while moving. Does the squealing speed up with engine RPM or just speed? Does it do it in reverse and drive?

BTW - Front bearings are easy to get into and re-pack. If it's a rear bearing, there is a lot more to worry about, and it requires special tools and a very specific way to set it all up correctly.

Get the front off the ground, and hand spin the wheels. see if either is squealing. Then, get the rear up, and with it in neutral, try to get a noise out of it by turning the rear wheels. It'll be tough because you're fighting the resistance of the diff and the opposite wheel.

I agree with Walley, the U-joints tend to squeal more than bearings...but it's a good idea to put the -joints on your list of things to fix properly. Imagine if a half shaft U-joint breaks. The half shaft turns into a flail and will literally destroy the fiberglass undercarriage and storage bins. Same for the drive shaft, but it typically isn't as destructive as it's smaller siblings.

Spend some time under and around the car trying to isolate the squeal and you'll find your culprit. Then we'll help you with the best approach.

[XQIZT]

Thanks guys. I'll get the car in the air this weekend and hand spin the tires and see what happens.

The noise only occurs when the car is moving, not when stopped, so I don't believe its a belt (plus they are all new).

It's pretty high pitched and relatively even in tone.

I'll report back with more findings.

[D_B]

Originally Posted by XQIZT

Thanks guys. I'll get the car in the air this weekend and hand spin the tires and see what happens.

The noise only occurs when the car is moving, not when stopped, so I don't believe its a belt (plus they are all new).

It's pretty high pitched and relatively even in tone.

I'll report back with more findings.

Is it relative to engine RPM or vehicle speed?

[XQIZT]

Originally Posted by D_B

Is it relative to engine RPM or vehicle speed?

The pitch doesn't seem to change, and it doesn't seem to be speed related.

It does seem to only come up after 10-15 minutes of driving.

[shipy59]

brake pads are my guess. when cold give them a good flush with a water hose to get rid of the brake pad dust

[XQIZT]

Lots of things to consider here. Thanks guys.

The wheels do seem to get a lot of dust tossed on them after not that much driving. Doesn't happen on the C4 like that.