squeaking sounds from the front wheel at low speed, not braking

[ak11214]

Hi all,

I have an audi a4 2011 awd P+ with 26k. Recently there is a low squeaking like sound (like metal rubbing against metal) coming from the front wheels (not sure which side) at low speed 5-15mph. I can hear it with the windows open. It happens at low speed (accelerating) and/or cruising with gas pedal not pressed. The sound stops when I press the brake. Any idea what could be the problem? I googled this and some said it might be grit stuck behind the dust guard. I would love to hear everyone opinion.

Car is 100% stock, I believe the brake and rotor are original. Also when I had the car inspected at 24k, the brake and rotor are in excellent condition with plenty of life.

Thank you all.

update:

So I took a video with the squeaking sounds. I apologize for the wind noise, but you can hear it clearly at 0:50-0:59. Thank you all in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSplKHc_YfM

What could this squeaking noise be coming from?
-Rusty rotors
-U joints
-other suggestion?

[treginginco]

How do you have a car that is six model years old with only 26k miles? Wow!

Try some high speed hard braking a few times..... maybe something it a little glazed.

Otherwise..... Not sure. The noise is not typical of a wheel bearing as those usually sing at higher speeds.

[ak11214]

How do you have a car that is six model years old with only 26k miles? Wow!

Try some high speed hard braking a few times..... maybe something it a little glazed.

Otherwise..... Not sure. The noise is not typical of a wheel bearing as those usually sing at higher speeds.

Its a NYC weekend's car (prior owner from Manhattan). Thank you for your advice, I will try it and report back.

[natypes]

I'd look at the dust guard immediately. Rocks in there can grind a groove in rotors. Does it happen when you go over a bump? If so, could be a strut mount, but that's awfully low miles for anything like that to go wrong.

[van462]

Pull the wheel and check your brake pad thickness. A few things could cause the squeak. Rotors may have some run out and are lightly hitting the pads, brake wear indicators, brake pistons or caliper float pins that are dirty/dry and not allowing the caliper or pads to obtain clearance. I had one of the little metal shims that go between the brake pad and caliper migrate once and hit the rotor and act like a wear indicator causing a similar squeal. Downside of having quattro is you can't jack up one corner and spin the wheel to listen for it.

[ak11214]

I'd look at the dust guard immediately. Rocks in there can grind a groove in rotors. Does it happen when you go over a bump? If so, could be a strut mount, but that's awfully low miles for anything like that to go wrong.

How do I do that? Do I have to pull the wheel out? The sounds surface when I'm driving at low speed without going over a bump and without applying brake.

[ak11214]

Pull the wheel and check your brake pad thickness. A few things could cause the squeak. Rotors may have some run out and are lightly hitting the pads, brake wear indicators, brake pistons or caliper float pins that are dirty/dry and not allowing the caliper or pads to obtain clearance. I had one of the little metal shims that go between the brake pad and caliper migrate once and hit the rotor and act like a wear indicator causing a similar squeal. Downside of having quattro is you can't jack up one corner and spin the wheel to listen for it.

Thanks, but I had inspection done less than 2k miles ago and I had the brake fluid flush. At the time the brake pad and rotor are in excellent condition. But I guess I should bring it to my mechanic to inspect again. If there is a rock behind the dust guard, will it destroy my brake pad or/and rotor.

[van462]

Rocks trapped behind the debris shield usually fall out as soon as you pry back on the shield. Also a rock scraping the rotor sound will not go away when you press the brakes as it is lodged against the rotor. When brake noises go away under braking then it usually has to do with some light contact between the rotor and pads or retaining clips. I had a similar noise and my rotors looked great but until I swapped them out I had a squealing noise. I had tried pulling my rotors and cleaning up the hub of corrosion but it had just a bit of runout that made contact with the pads. It wasn't a constant squeal but a pulsed that matched with wheel rotation.

[ak11214]

Rocks trapped behind the debris shield usually fall out as soon as you pry back on the shield. Also a rock scraping the rotor sound will not go away when you press the brakes as it is lodged against the rotor. When brake noises go away under braking then it usually has to do with some light contact between the rotor and pads or retaining clips. I had a similar noise and my rotors looked great but until I swapped them out I had a squealing noise. I had tried pulling my rotors and cleaning up the hub of corrosion but it had just a bit of runout that made contact with the pads. It wasn't a constant squeal but a pulsed that matched with wheel rotation.

Thanks for all the info, I will have it check out by my mechanic. Hopefully i won't need to change the rotor. Maybe i will just live with the sound for now since its a very low squealing sound.

[COLD13]

I had a similar noise a couple weeks ago. I was leaving work and heard an insanely loud screeching noise coming from my car but I could only hear it going forward. when I backed up it was fine, as I drove it was less noticeable but never went away and especially loud at low speeds. when I got home I pinpointed it to 1 tire. I had my wife driving it slowly back and forth and when she stopped so I could take the wheel off I saw a piece of mulch fall out into the wheel well. tried moving the car again and the noise was gone. I was parked near a curb with grass and the landscapers were there that day so I assume that piece got kicked up behind the dust pan as they mowed

[ak11214]

I had a similar noise a couple weeks ago. I was leaving work and heard an insanely loud screeching noise coming from my car but I could only hear it going forward. when I backed up it was fine, as I drove it was less noticeable but never went away and especially loud at low speeds. when I got home I pinpointed it to 1 tire. I had my wife driving it slowly back and forth and when she stopped so I could take the wheel off I saw a piece of mulch fall out into the wheel well. tried moving the car again and the noise was gone. I was parked near a curb with grass and the landscapers were there that day so I assume that piece got kicked up behind the dust pan as they mowed

Thanks, now that I think about it. The road was under construction near my house and there are plenty of small pebbles. So I wouldn't be surprise if one of those got inside the dust guard or some where in the wheel.

Thank you all. I will post an update in the next week or so.

[ak11214]

Just brought it to my mechanic and I was told my rotor needs replacement. He said it has alot of rust around the area due to the car not being drive often. (only 26k miles 2011 A4) He didnt take the wheel off because he said if he did he would have to charge me $25.

[ak11214]

So I been searching the web because somehow I don't believe its my rotor that needs replacement. My 2011 a4 only have 26k miles. I came across this which is very similar to my issue squeaking sound while in driving gear at low speed. http://www.thenewx.org/forum/11-powe.../184969?page=1 . Do the A4 B8 have u-joints?

[ak11214]

So I took a video with the squeaking sounds. I apologize for the wind noise, but you can hear it clearly at 0:50-0:59. Thank you all in advance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSplKHc_YfM

What could this squeaking noise be coming from?
-Rusty rotors
-U joints
-other suggestion?

[mecg]

I agree with your mechanic. Dealt with this a number of times as I don't usually put many miles on my rides (I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 4x4 with 84K miles). If you look/feel on the back side of the rotors they're going to be rusty. Enough so braking won't take it off. New rotors at a minimum. If you keep riding around without doing anything you will add new pads to the issue, as well.

[ak11214]

I agree with your mechanic. Dealt with this a number of times as I don't usually put many miles on my rides (I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 4x4 with 84K miles). If you look/feel on the back side of the rotors they're going to be rusty. Enough so braking won't take it off. New rotors at a minimum. If you keep riding around without doing anything you will add new pads to the issue, as well.

Do you think it be better and cheaper to just resurface the rotors? I'm only planning to keep the car for 3.5 year and selling it back before hitting 50k miles.