squeaking/wining noise...?

[j_robi]

recently the van has started a slight squeaking noise as i go around corners (left and right), she is clearly trying to talk to me, but what is she trying to say?
is it the bearings? what else may it be?
if so, how many miles do i have before they need changing before the wheel falls off?
thanks

[Aidan]

Have a feel of the wheels, are they hot ? Good indicator of worn/failing bearings (unless you've just braked for 400 yards at bottom of hill of course)
Could also be upper wishbone bushes, but they would also squeak when deflected by say a pothole, depending on which side. ditto shocks. The front tie rod bushes can also squeak as can the roll bar bushes.
Also spare wheel has been known to give rise to odd squeaks if moving about in the carrier.
Similarly the steering rack or relay may squeak if losing lube.
The list is long and not exhaustive, sounds like it needs closer inspection by someone who can diagnose.

[j_robi]

i had it looked at by a 'mechanic' a couple of week s ago who suggested that the brakes may just need loosening off, and that it wasnt serious and could be sorted in a couple of weeks.
having done a fair bit of extra mileage the squeaking ha got more persistent, coming from the front right wheel, when turning left/right and going straight! ts a really high pitched sound, that randomly comes on! pressing the brakes often stops the noise (apart from when driving at speed (50mph!)
does this sound like a bearing?
if so where is the best place to get them?
cheers

[HarryMann]

i had it looked at by a 'mechanic' a couple of week s ago who suggested that the brakes may just need loosening off,

Maybe freeing off, cannot loosen off disc brakes. Anyway, unlikely.. but maybe wheel bearing, easy to check, let's not keep trying to diagnose using 'just' noises, very dangerous business in all senses!

Jack it up, pair of sticky gloves in this weather, need a good grip, and try rocking the wheel in both planes... that is, pulling at the top and pushing at thebottom, in out. Then push-pull left and right sides and check for rock (other than the steering moving, you have to do the left-right one with that in mind) . If you can detect movement in both planes then its likely the wheel bearing, a big knock or lots of movement in one or other plane will be one of the steering joints.
To confirm, take the wheel off, and then grab the hub itself and when you make that rock (even minimally), look where the motion is coming from. If you can see disc moving in relation to the brake caliper, then it's the wheel bearing - definitive test. Movement won't be much (hopefully).

A well run wheel bearing often makes a characteristic 'droning' noise at one particular speed.

Spin the wheel up by hand and see what you hear, or if all else fails take it to a garage with a brake test roller and see what you can find...

If I were you I would also take a good look around the whole steering / suspension joints, that is a look a round with a big jemmy to hand.

As Aidan says, the list is long, an old-hand mechanic would be best to diagnose it, someone who's seen and heard it all and knows immediately how to check his suspicions, the mechanic you went to does NOT sound like the right guy

[only1jay]

had a problem like this myself, when i changed my front brakes, really annoying squeaking, all it was was it needed new anti rattle plates which cost next to nothing, not saying this is your problem but easy and cheap to do. try this first

[stuckin88]

if the squeak stops when you touch the brakes its probabley the brake pads--I had this once with cheap pattern pads on a Ford Cortina--not much you can do except change pads

[Dan Wood]

Our van does this. In fact, often plays a merry little tune and jumps from one steady 'note' to another! Steering and brakes work fine - and it's been like that for nearly 12 months, so I don't think it's anything to worry about. Just whistle along, or turn the radio up

[Emma&Al]

This has been the case in my van.
A high pitched sometimes constant whine which lessens and then stops if i turn steering wheel slightly or apply brakes.

Ive just had van MOTd and it failed on brakes imbalanced and front brake discs excessively worn (amongst other things!)

[Tex Ritter]

An old hand mechanic

It's possible you may have a sticking piston on your front brakes, the best way to check is to have a look at the thickness of the pads...is one pad wearing down quicker than the rest?

Check the condition of your dust shields whilst your at it, a torn/split shield will be letting brake dust in onto the piston causing it to 'hang on'.

Tex R