I was driving my TL as usual today when I suddenly out of nowhere start hearing a really loud scraping noise from what seemed like the front driver side wheel. It literally sounded as if I'd been dragging a piece of metal while driving. Immediately, I jumped out and checked the underneath of my car and found nothing at all. Checked all the wheels, engine, everything and found nothing. I turned the car off and started it back up after a few minutes and started driving again. The noise appeared again. The noise has nothing to do with me braking since I tried stopping and going several times to see if there was a noise when I applied the brake, but nothing. I had my buddy step out to see where the noise was coming from. I slowly went straight ahead and he verified that the noise was coming from the front driver side wheel. Any ideas? Possibly a cracked cv boot? Anything would be great help, thank you

 

Does the noise get louder when you increase speed or stay the same? I had a similar problem that ended up being something caught in the brakes and rubbing against the rim. I didn't see it until I took the tire off.

 

Check the pad material. When low, a metal tang will scrap againt the inside of the rotor to alert you that the pads need replacement. Check this first.

 

I had this issue and it turned out that my dust shield (or heat shield) around the hub was bent. I must have hit something but I don't remember hitting anything, I'm always careful about that. I bent it back into place and the scraping noise went away....just a thought

 

I'm gonna try taking the wheel off today, I'll keep you guys posted.

 

Sounds like you need brakes.

 

my pads and rotors are pretty much brand new, had them installed about 4-5 months ago and havent had a single problem. I tried accelerating and stopping to see if the noise was consistent with the brakes but it wasn't. I'll give it a check tho

 

Been raining all day in Boston so didn't get a chance to take the wheel off, I'm gonna take it off tomorrow and see what I find.

 

There is a piece of metal that rides on the rotor when the pad is worn down, so you wouldnt notice a difference in the sound.

See if your break fluid is low, that is an easy way to tell if the pads are worn.

Other than that I would put the car on a jack and spin the wheel by hand before taking it off.

You could also have a rock in the dust shield, it used to happen to my civic all the time.

 

when i was rplacing ball joints and the wheel sensor on my car, i broke a drillbit that i was using to get the wheel sensor hole cleaned out. The broken piece fell into a small spot between the dust shield and steering knuckle and pushed out the dust shied, which started rubbing gainst the rotor. Just a thought to check out the dust shield.

 

HEY your in boston toO! rain does suck man; and todays a little cold out but get that wheel off and look for loose pieces. Just grab parts and wiggle them see if anything has play or movement.BUT before you take the wheel off; jack it up put a couple blocks behind it and leave it in neutral. try to move the wheel and see if your brakes are dragging or really worn. maybe a seized caliper??

 

Just had a very similar event (metal scraping noise) as nazTL described. In my case, the noise was intermittant and sometimes varied with wheel speed. Fortunately, after reading this forum, I had some possibilities to check out.

Good news: I found the root cause and fixed it for free!
Several fragments of a magnet were sitting between the brake disc and edges of the caliper (not between disc and pad). This also explains what happened to the glue-on magnet that came off a kitchen magnet dropped near my car's wheel last night! With a long screw driver and a strip torn from a shopping paper bag, I was able to remove the remaining fragments with the wheel in place.
Thanks for the tips and ideas, everyone!

 

Good morning All,
As I'm turning, I'm hearing a fairly loud scraping noise coming from my left driver wheel. It only happens when I'm making a right turn. Any ideas?

 

Brake pads... sticking caliper... wheel bearing...

 

If it is sticking caliper or brake pads, then it would scrape while driving but only when it turns. Right?

 

Not always.. I have seen brakes that only make noises when turning

 

Very possible it's the wheel bearing. I'm dealing with the exact same thing. The loose bearing would allow the brake rotor to scrape against the caliper bracket when the wheels were turned to the right. Removed entire knuckle. Purchased new bearing, lower ball joint, and outer tie rod end. Took knuckle to machine shop. It's going to take about 3 hours of work to press out the old bearing and hub, cut off what doesn't press apart, and press in the new bearing with hub (along with the new lower ball joint). So far, what started as a $150 brake job is now a $450 brake and bearing job!...plus the lower control arm compliance bushing a couple weeks ago, the 5 motor and tranny mounts a month ago, the two tires that are corded due to all this, the fresh alignment when I'm done, etc, etc...good thing the car's paid off, I guess!