Took the van out today for its first long run since getting her back before Xmas. Did 140 or so miles round trip. On the way out there were a few "noises" from the front - like brake squeals but not when the brakes were applied. On the way back we had about five minutes of the noise constantly to the point that I wondered if something was about to fail - the noise then stopped for the next 25-30 miles then came back intermittently for the last 10 miles all the way home just for a few seconds. The noise was a cross between the noise you get when rubbing a wet finger round the top of a glass and a knife being sharpened on a mill stone if that makes sense. It happened at 30 miles an hour, at 10 mile an hour and even as we pulled to a stop. This occurred going uphill, downhill and on the flat. I took a look underneath and couldn't see anything to suggest that the brakes were sticking on so I suppose my question is - should I be expecting some "bedding in" noise from the new front beam or is this something that needs a look at.
Thought that but not sure the noise matches what I think are wheel bearings - spose she'll have to be looked at. Sigh!
Did you fit the anti squeal shims on the new front pads, with a smear of copper grease? If not do so and the noise will stop
there's nothing on the beam to make the sort of noise you suggested....squeaks from bushes yes....finger round a glass? No. The whining suggests a completely dry wheel bearing...something reciprocating.....or as suggested, Back plate, or simply corrosion on the disc
Thanks gents - the new beam was fitted by my normal vw mechanics and they did the servicing as well -I'll get hold of then tomorrow and see if I can take her down next weekend for a look see.
To do the front beam ,you can either let the calipers hang [like earings]or they will take them off and clamp the flexi hoses ,if they have clamped a felix hose which is old it might be on it`s way out ,ie letting fluid go to the caliper [brake pressure]but talking all day to come back ,hence brake pads catching the disc....If the were good mechanics your wheel bearing should be fine... Try going for a drive without using the brakes....
Then there's my personal favourite which I forgot to mention. If the speedo cable is not secured in the bung at the back of the left hand hub it can grate. It's usually worse going round corners though.
I would go for squealing brake pads because the anti-squeal backing plates are difficult to find, they are not sold as part of the brake pad kit or the fixing kit.. I changed to a set of front pad retaining spring clips described as 'anti-rattle' from VWH which differ in that the spring that presses on the edge of the pads is as wide as the gap in the calipers , rather than a cross shape. In fact it was so wide I had to file one side down about 1mm to get it in. They are quite hard to fit as there is a reasonable pressure needed to get them to clip in. I also made sure the back of the pads was covered in a ring of copper grease where the pistons press on the pads. The deafening squeal on braking and other random squeaks from the brakes vanished. If that had not worked I would have made some copies of the originals out of sheet steel.
