Hissing/squeaking noise from front of p5

[Jezz]

2002 P5, 87000+ miles.

Lately, I've been getting a weird squealing/hissing noise from the front of the car while driving.

Off throttle and on throttle, doesn't matter. Doesn't matter what gear, or what RPM. It seems to start making the noise randomly, when I hit a bump. It's a high pitched sssstttthhhhsssss kind of noise.

Here's the thing though, if I dab the brakes, I can change the pitch/tone of the noise, and if I press down hard on the brakes to the point where I feel the car start to slow down, the noise goes away.

So i thought it has to be the brakes, but why would it make the hissing noise when I'm NOT on the brakes at all? It seems to come and go, for no real reason, I'll be cruising down the highway in 5th, and it'll start hissing. I dab the brakes, and it'll go away, only to come back later.

The rear brakes/rotors were replaced/resurfaced back at 60000ish miles when I got new tires. Front brakes haven't been touched since it left the factory. I was planning on getting a front brake job done anyway, since the last 5 months or so, I started noticing more pedal travel and a little softness in the initial travel of the pedal.

Any ideas? Just thought I'd get some opinions before I go to the mechanic and get hosed.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

I know that pads often make noise when they're wearing down...can you tell by looking if your pads need replacing? I had an odd noise from my dust shield contacting my rotor...it was just barely touching but made a scraping noise. I pulled it back away and no problems since...hope that helps!

 

[buttthrax]

I know that pads often make noise when they're wearing down...can you tell by looking if your pads need replacing? I had an odd noise from my dust shield contacting my rotor...it was just barely touching but made a scraping noise. I pulled it back away and no problems since...hope that helps!

That little thing you pulled away was the warning pin. Its supposed to make noise when your pads get to the point that they need to be replaced.

Have fun buying new rotors.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

That little thing you pulled away was the warning pin. Its supposed to make noise when your pads get to the point that they need to be replaced.

Have fun buying new rotors.

I don't at all understand your analysis. So there's a "warning pin" in the dust shield? My pads still have plenty of life left and my rotors aren't scored, so I'm pretty sure the only issue there was my shield got a little too close to my rotor. No harm no foul.

 

[buttthrax]

I don't at all understand your analysis. So there's a "warning pin" in the dust shield? My pads still have plenty of life left and my rotors aren't scored, so I'm pretty sure the only issue there was my shield got a little too close to my rotor. No harm no foul.

Have you ever heard a high-pitched screeching sound when you applied your brakes? That’s a small metal shim, called an indicator, which is giving you an audible warning that you need to replace your brake pads. You should be aware of this sound (which is loud enough to be heard while the windows are up, but not necessarily loud enough to be heard over the radio or air conditioner).

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/Warning-Signs-You-Need-New-Brakes3

"indicator", yeah.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Butthrax:
I didn't get the noise when braking, I got it all the time, and I'm pretty sure it was the shield, because when I took a look at it was just contacting my rotor, and when I pulled it back just a little, the noise was gone. If Jezz's noise is not just present under braking, then it's probably not a warning for new pads.
Jezz:
Just to be safe, pull the wheel off and look at the pads (you can check the rotors for scoring by dragging the top of your fingernail across the disc- make sure it's cold!) If you can't feel scoring lines, your rotors are fine. I would check and make sure there's clearance between the edge of your dust shields and your rotors.

 

[808MP5]

Must visually check the pads... it sounds like the little metal tab on the brake pad is saying "change me".

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

If you pay any attention to maintenance on your ride then those annoying screeching indicators are just for people who think that wearable items last forever. You know, the same ones who don't know what's wrong with their broke ass car since they just put gas in. When you buy good parts where the pads last 75000 miles then there's not much rotor left to turn anyway so why not let them go all the way to the rotor. You need new ones at that point anyway. Key thing is if you pay ******* attention to your car you'll know how much pad is left from other things, like when rotating your tires every 5000 miles. How do you do that without noticing your pads? IMO those things are for folks who have trouble wiping effectively. No offense to lazy rich folks who like paying out the ass for other people to not care about their cars for them & of course those who cannot work on their cars for whatever physical reason. Those people are the only ones who need those indickaters. Oh, wait that's more people than I first thought so nevermind, noise making party favors FTW! More useless reminders all around. Wonder how peeps in the "olden days" got by without them. Musta been massive rotor carnage back then.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

good morning to you too...