diagose my front end noises

[kev1n]

2002 Q45, 92k miles. when I am makine slight left turns on curved roads, I get a noise, sort of like a intermitent squealing from the front right side. could it be control arm bushings ? maybe tie rod? I've also noticed that when I am coming to a stop, ther is a grinding type noise coming from the very same side. I put on new brakes and rotors in september so don't think that is the cause for the second noise.

[JedCoop]

Making left turns on straight roads can cause crunching sounds on your front end.

Seriously, sounds most like a wheel bearing since the brakes are done recently.I assume you heard this from the front, too. Otherwise it could also be CVs in the rear, but I would not expect that unless the CV boots are damaged.

[kev1n]

thanks for the input. I always thought a bear would make a sound consistenly even when the car is rolling along like a dull humming sound. Is it possilbe that a bad bearing would squeal only at certain times as it seems to be in my case?

[96Qowner]

I'd take a good close look at your brake pads and the way they were installed. They may have been installed crookedly or loosely and rub on the rotor during turns. There might be a stuck or missing spring. Check the backing plate - my right front had a bent edge that was rubbing on left turns.

zerothread?id=126807

Rule out the brakes and pads before checking the bearing.

[JedCoop]

I always thought a bear would make a sound consistenly even when the car is rolling along like a dull humming sound. Is it possilbe that a bad bearing would squeal only at certain times as it seems to be in my case?

yes, they can make intermittent and cyclic sounds. If you wait to replace it for a while the sound will get steadier :-(

And its probably worth checking the brakes, too. Everything bends a little when turning, thus cuasing a noise only when turning one way.

[elwesso]

Wheel bearings when they are on the first stages of failure can cause the symptoms... Basically there is play in thebearings, when your going straight the bearing sits in as its supposed to but as you turn, the bearing will move around in the housing causing metal+metal contact, which=bad.

[JedCoop]

If you inspect a bad bearing you'll see shiny bits in the grease. The bearing noise is generally caused by chips from the bearing rollers. They can make noise as the chips are being pushed along or rolled over.

Bad bearings will cause your wheel to heat-up, sometimes excessively, or in the worst case smoke and catch fire to the grease. It should be obvious before you get to the last stage.

[jimmys G50]

the grinding could also be a bad caliper.