Help! Squealing noice coming from front axle

dvs7310 · Post by **dvs7310** » 23 Feb 2006, 20:27

My 1998 V70 T5 (FWD)just developed this terrible squealing from the front axle, seems to be on the drivers side. It is happening when the car is in motion anywhere from 1 mph to maybe 25-30 mph (I haven't tried it any faster). When I pulled into the garage I also noticed a nasty smell at the front left axle.

My first idea was a wheel bearing, but I'm reading that the wheel bearing would make a grinding, not a squeal. I did notice that if I turn the car sharply to the right of left while driving the squeal will stop for a second.

Please give me some ideas that could cause this.

Thanks

Post by **pfeener** » 25 Feb 2006, 18:29

Could be a wheel bearing, but it sounds more like brakes. I would take it apart and have a look-see. Sometimes what can happen is a small pebble can get wedged between the rotor and the brake pad and it will make one hell of a noise. Happened to me on a Ford F150. I was about a mile from home and I thought I had broken a wheel bearing. I decided to try and make it home, but about half way home the pebble came loose and the noise disappeared. I took it apart when I got home and could see the tracks left by the pebble on the brake pad. Could also be the backing plate pushing on the brake rotor.