Rubbing sound turning slightly left and sharp lefts

BUCKEYEPROUD

MEMBER
2005 CHEVROLET BLAZER
4.3L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

Earlier this month my vehicle had a bad axle and wheel bearing problems on the passenger side replaced both. SUV runs fine going straight and turning right, Except for sometimes not always you hear like a rubbing sound turning slightly left and sharp lefts but not always. Helps stop the sound when braking. No idea really where it is coming from and by that I mean front or back sounds like the passenger side. Looked to make sure if tire was rubbing no sign of it. Does not feel it in the steering column can hear it and Sharper the left hand turn the worse it gets when it happens.

4 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

If this just started after the parts were replaced, there are two common things to consider. The first is the brake rotor's splash shield got tweaked and is rubbing on the outer edge of the rotor. That can usually be bent back by hand, otherwise a small pry bar will do it. Second, if you have the rotor design that slides onto the hub and wheel studs, there should be a light coating of high-temperature brake grease applied to the hub where the rotor's center hole makes contact. GM has more trouble with this on their front-wheel-drive cars, but any vehicle with this style rotor can develop a crunching noise when cornering, or a rubbing sound. It is caused by the very minute flexing of the wheel and rotor from the side forces when cornering.

If neither of those seem to apply, there is a tool you might be able to borrow or rent from an auto parts store that borrows them called the "chassis ear". It is a set of six microphones, a switch box, and headphones. You clip the microphones to suspect points, then drive around while listening with the headphones. You can move the microphones around to zero in on the source of the noise. Be aware that many mechanics have never seen or even heard of this tool. Suspension and alignment mechanics use it to find rattles, squeaks, and other noises.