Mystery Squeak

[Riotcake]

Well, after much reseach I finally turn to my own forum post to ask for help. :confused:

So I have a squeak that I only hear when turning left. It only happens when I'm cornering pretty hard while on the gas; if i let up on the gas or take a wider angle on the turn, no squeak. I believe the squeak is coming from the front left, and it sounds like a rotation based squeak (as opposed to the bump squeak my sway bar linkage was making which i was able to find).

Within the past year i have replaced both front axle U joints and both front hub assemblies. At first I was thinking a bad U joint because the squeak sounded similar to how my double cardan joint sounded before it exploded, i have heard the term "angry sparrows". However, that noise was constant and this one is intermittent, only when turning left. Furthermore, from what i read it sounds like the angry sparrows is attributed to the double cardan joint, does a single U joint make the same noise? Or is it specifically fhe centering ball of the D.C. that makes that squeak?

If anyone has any ideas or things for me to try I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

[Jim]

Does the frequency of the squeak relate to tire rotation frequency / speed or does the frequency of the squeak relate to engine speed?

[Riotcake]

I hadn't thought to pay attention to that, so i just tested it in a big empty lot:

It appears to be wheel speed related. I did several circles in first gear, some wide, some tight and was unable to get the sound before i got dizzy. Then i went to second gear and did the same thing, started to get a bit of squeaking but the centrifugal force was getting bad by the time i heard it. So i did some left turns from a stop simulating a stoplight left turn and that is when i heard it most. Imagine taking a big double left turn where 80% if the turn is a smooth turn and the last 20% is sharper, that last 20% is where you hear it.

To test your question, i got up to speed and put it in neutral before the turn, i still get the sound.

[Jim]

With your second gear vs neutral test I take a broken motor mount / shifting motor / motor driven accessory item squeak off of the list.

You're at your drivetrain items.

Do you have manual locking hubs that you can activate / deactivate to see if that makes a difference? Activate 4WD and see if that makes a difference? Have someone else drive it and you sit pass side to see if it's louder or not (to see which side it might be from)? Right front wheel bearing? Jack up each front wheel and shake/wiggle hands at 9 & 3 and again with hands at 12 & 6?

[Riotcake]

I did some of that today. No movement at 6 and 12, slight movement at 3 and 9 but it felt like i was just turning the wheel, not something unnatural. No locking hubs. Haven't tried 4WD or riding passenger. Why do you say front right wheel bearing? Just curious what points to that.

[Hypoid]

It is your brakes.

It could be sticky caliper pins, it could be grooves worn into the caliper guides.

[Hypoid]

Why do you say front right wheel bearing? Just curious what points to that.When you corner, the weight transfers to the outside of the turn.

[Riotcake]

https://youtu.be/RMOM5slkL9U


https://youtu.be/E7EPWuD87Xw

I tried to get a few clips on my way home, you can't hear it all that well. Sometimes it's only one squeak, sometimes it's 3-5 over the course of the turn.

[Jim]

Why do you say front right wheel bearing? Just curious what points to that.

Because you say left turn thus right has greater loading.

Oh - Mike has a good point - brakes - if you lightly press / load the brakes - does the squeak not happen?

I heard the squeak in the vids. You are out of 4WD yes?

[Riotcake]

Oh - Mike has a good point - brakes - if you lightly press / load the brakes - does the squeak not happen?

I heard the squeak in the vids. You are out of 4WD yes?

I haven't really noticed with the brakes, since it's a manual i usually just let off the gas and slow down enough to turn, it's subconcious. will try it with them tomorrow.

And yes that was 2WD. I need to find a big enough dirt lot for 4WD testing.

I'm gonna try to get an alignment this week, see if the shop has any ideas...

[Tom]

I haven't really noticed with the brakes, since it's a manual i usually just let off the gas and slow down enough to turn, it's subconcious. will try it with them tomorrow.

And yes that was 2WD. I need to find a big enough dirt lot for 4WD testing.

I'm gonna try to get an alignment this week, see if the shop has any ideas...
My jk started chirping loudly from the rear when the caliper wear indicators started in. It sounded like an intermittent squeak. Have you checked your pads? Didn’t sound quite like yours but is easy to check.

[Riotcake]

My jk started chiring loudly from the rear when the caliper wear indicators started in. It sounded like an intermittent squeak. Have you checked your pads? Didn’t sound quite like yours but is easy to check.

Until you guys mentioned it, i hadn't even thought to check brake pads. Oops. I will look into that in the morning!

My mind goes straight to the worst things and skips the easy stuff haha.

[Jim]

Ride those brakes for an easy test.

[Riotcake]

Ride those brakes for an easy test.

While turning? I have not heard any brake squealing when driving straight and applying the brakes.

[Jim]

Yep.

If it were me... I'd get set up for a turn where the noise may well happen and the one variable I'd change would be light pressure on the brake pedal - enough that the pads should be lightly applied - and see if the noise is present.

The result may change my focus from u-joints / drivetrain to brakes.