Grinding Metal Sound From Wheels?

[chacon101]

I know this post is going to be a bit vague but just in case there is anyone at all with a similar issue that just hasn't mentioned it, I thought I would share my experience.

I let a friend drive my car with me in the passenger seat and we had the windows rolled down. As she turned right (slowly since we were in a parking garage), I heard a not so nice grinding noise coming from what I think is the front right wheel area. I didn't think too much of it at the time and eventually just forgot about it.

Then, my friend Andrea (girl in the avatar) was in the passenger seat and mentioned the same thing. I was driving at the time and didn't even notice it. She made a pretty big deal about how bad it sounded.

My roommate rides with me all the time but she hasn't ever mentioned it but I am not sure if I can trust her to notice stuff. She can be a bit goofy sometimes (blah)

I was thinking it could be a loose wheel (nuts/bolts) or that loose sway bar issue people have found.

Any advice on how to check for the front sway bar link?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I have an 08 MS3 GT

 

[happy and angry]

Does it only happen when turning? Does it happen more or less under throttle?

Loose wheel nuts probably wouldn't do that unless a bunch were gone, plus they'd have to be visibly loose. The sway bar issue might be it because of the tortional stress on the chassis, but I thought that was only in the back.

Other candidates: cv join, ball joint. Be careful with that one, man.

 

[chacon101]

It has only really happened while turning and we were going like 5mph. I had that low tone grinding many people mentioned when I first got the car but it went away.

My friend Andrea said it actually vibrated up through the whole passenger side door which is exactly what I felt. It's like metal grinding on metal as if it were two heavy metal wheels grinding on each other on their sides if that makes any sense.

I haven't been in any accidents, no crazy pot holes and I don't beat the crap out of the car. I guess I will just have to give it a really good eye check and see if I can duplicate it for the dealer.

Overall, the car seems to run really well. I have almost hit the top speed on this car and it ran straight and true. That's why this is so confusing.

 

[Young Roids]

This same thing happened to my cusins toyota same low speed high steering angle grind noise. I never found out what it was yet though.

 

[B1GHAM]

my guess is your wheel bearing is bad...

other than that - eye up the front suspension just to make sure anything isnt rubbing or messed up. However, I have a feeling it is the wheel bearing.

 

[clos561]

that happend to my car, from a stop turning and accelerating like doing u turns or sharp turns in parking lots, the car would make a loud grind noise. i took it to the dealer and replicated it with the mechanic in my passenger seat. They changed bearings, struts and all kinds of control arms and finally got rid of the problem. Take it to your dealer and drive the mechanic around, first time i did it they said "cannot reproduce sound". Make sure they hear it. They are gay sometimes.

 

[creature75]

i have the same noise from the front passenger side. i have no idea what it is, buts it there. i also heard the same noise from my 3shatch. the grinding noise in the 3s went away when i lowered it on TEIN srings.

Well, i will ask to have a mech. do a ride along this saturday when i take in my speed3 for the OBDII recall.

i will keep you guys posted

peace!

 

[chacon101]

Cool, so it's not just me.

I have only seen this happen twice on this car so I can't really reproduce it. If I could, I would have just waited until the dealer fixed it and posted my results.

When it does make that sound, man, it's awful.

I don't work Sundays or Mondays so I guess I will have them inspect it on Monday. There goes a whole day off.

If it is the bearing, I should be able to put the car on a full lift and rock the wheel back and forth (side to side), right? I had that happen two weeks after my warranty expired on my last car, a VW GTi. That sucked big time.

 

[mspro19]

I have the same problem right now but it's on the front left wheel. It happens when you turn and bounce the throttle. I took it in and the tech tightened my lugs and it stopped. Now it's doing it again...I'm taking it in again on sat I'll post an update too if any...

 

[clos561]

try thi9s when ur still, From a dead stop, Turn left alm,ost all the way and then start launching the car. Do it again but turn right instead, thats how i reproduced the sound.

 

[D_Roc7822]

Yeah I have the same issue but mine is just when Im driving like normal. It all started one day after my TPMS light came on so I thought well maybe its something with that. I put air in the tires and still does it. Do you think the alignment could be the problem? Cause its pretty bad already. Ive tried going around the 70-80mph mark to see if their were any vibrations but nothing.. Ive tried hard turning to see and nothing... Ive tried almost everything and still cant figure it out.

 

[utopia]

That happened to me one time on my birthday. I was so pissed. I had to call a tow truck and all it was was that the dealership forgot to ******* tighten up a bolt and it fell into the wheel area i think they said.

 

[discharmingman]

Then, my friend Andrea (girl in the avatar) ....
Edit: I have an 08 MS3 GT

lucky you for getting a pic like that of her.......

Sorry to hear about your ride.....man, what is up with strange things happening to our cars???

 

[robsSpeed3]

Hi,

I just took it in for my first oil change and that noise when turning right at very low speed, as if when you are parking but turning at 90 degree angle and with my foot on the brake slightly. This was last week.

Drove with the NICE mechanic, he heard it and according to him he cleaned the brakes, but he said he'll re-check it next week when I bring it in again for windshiled rattle/cowl sqweek - they have ordered some clips for that...

I tried a few times to "replicate" it since and have not heard it...hopefully it was just brakes being "dirty" - whatever that means.

Bolts? Well if they were loose they probably had re-tightened it since they took the wheels of to check brakes. Could be...but shouldn't there be vibration associated with it? Not sure.

Good luck

P.S. Mine is also '08 Speed3

 

[chacon101]

lucky you for getting a pic like that of her.......

Sorry to hear about your ride.....man, what is up with strange things happening to our cars???

About Andrea, she and I have been dating off/on for about three years so it's not like I am just her "friend" if you know what I mean. She is pretty damn cool though. I showed her the avatar I made of her and she loved it (killit)

 

[c0okiecrisps]

its the wheel bearing.
i had this same problem, it finally busted.

its especially bad when the car is wet, right?

it makes an eiry creek when your driving slow, and seems to get faster as you accelerate?

get it taken care of quick, dont make the mistake i did

my car is stuck on jacks, i have no money to get it fixed, so im depending on the kindness of someone with a press to put my new bearing in

 

[JayCal]

What the hell does "they are gay sometimes" mean? What does that have to do with anything? What a rediculous thing to say.

that happend to my car, from a stop turning and accelerating like doing u turns or sharp turns in parking lots, the car would make a loud grind noise. i took it to the dealer and replicated it with the mechanic in my passenger seat. They changed bearings, struts and all kinds of control arms and finally got rid of the problem. Take it to your dealer and drive the mechanic around, first time i did it they said "cannot reproduce sound". Make sure they hear it. They are gay sometimes.

 

[mspro19]

I just dropped the car off for mazda to take a look. I told them about all of your posts and about the bearing. They put me in a rental car and said they don't want me driving it until they know. They are going to look at it tonight and overnight the parts to get it fixed. I'll update you guys as I hear things...

 

[serialtoon]

Anyone get this resolved?? Yesterday i got the noise ALOT...every single time i drove the car from stop to about 10-15mph it did. It wouldnt stop. I finally decided to brake hard at about 45-50 mph and it went away for now. I also tightened the lugs on the front wheels. Im going to the dealership today to tell them about this and the window cowl.