front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow

Topic: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check? (Read 6102 times) previous topic - next topic

front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

November 26, 2017, 03:54:28 am

Hey there,

in the last couple of days driving my coach I noticed a squeaking noise when rolling slow (engine idling). Appears to come from the front driver side wheel, but I'm not 100% sure, might also be passenger side.
I cannot hear it anymore when I speed up to say above 5mph.

My first chance to work on the coach again will be end of January, so got plenty of time to prepare...

I plan on taking the wheels off and to check the brakes, refurbish or eventually replace the caliper slide pins and of course regrease the whole brake while I'm at it. Pad linings still should be good.
The hub oil looks good, it has a solid green color and no signs of wear or leakage.

I really should have measured the hub temperatures, but somehow did not think of that when I drove the coach last time. Now it's in storage and I have no access to it while I'm working at sea. Anyway I'd like to order necessary spareparts before I return...

Does anyone have any advice for me on what to check additionally?

Cheers,
Matt

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #1 – November 26, 2017, 07:24:28 am

You'll need new hub oil,some brake cleaner,check the pins first you may not need new ones.The noise may be a rock or gravel
stuck somewhere.Never had my brakes apart but a few others will chime in soon for sure.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #2 – November 26, 2017, 07:27:45 am

Pick up 4 bags of helper springs (2 springs per bag - one bag per brake assembly), for when you do the brakes. They assist the pads in retracting, and could help avoid squeaky or dragging brakes. Do a Google search for the best price on the kits when you are ready to buy.

Meritor Disc Brake Helper Springs

KIT15018 by MERITOR - AIR DISC BRAKE - SPRING KIT

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #3 – November 26, 2017, 07:35:23 am

We had that on the passenger's side and had a brake dragging. Cleaned and replaced all the pads and all is well.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #4 – November 26, 2017, 07:56:30 am

Hey Matt, try touching your brake pedal and see if the noise goes away. Mine has done that for the last 30K miles pins are good,caliper lubed properly, helper Springs, good pads. You might also try taking a water hose with a sprayer and wash the dust out of the pads and rotors.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #5 – November 26, 2017, 08:03:35 am

Noticed that ours was doing the same thing yesterday while stuck in a rolling parking lot on I95 in Ga.
I lightly applied the brakes while driving about 10 mph for a hundred yards or so.
The squeaking quit. I stopped at a couple of rest stops and checked hub and rotor temp with an infrared probe and all looked good.
Squeaking doesn't mean anything is bad or defective, and yes the helper springs should help with squeaky brakes.
Thinking of adding those myself.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #6 – November 26, 2017, 08:12:45 am

Quote from: Matt_frbrd – November 26, 2017, 03:54:28 am

and of course regrease the whole brake while I'm at it.

Make sure you only use the prescribed grease in the calipers.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #7 – November 26, 2017, 08:39:17 am

If it is when you first start off, not to worry. It is common for hot disc brake rotors to get surface rust over night or after sitting for a while in humid areas. when starting off slowly the pads will squeal as they rub the oxidation off. IF it is excessive, you have a brake pad worn through, something rubbing, or some type of problem

wantabe

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #8 – November 26, 2017, 08:56:21 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – November 26, 2017, 08:12:45 am

Make sure you only use the prescribed grease in the calipers.

AND the prescribed purge process after greasing. Said another way, just do it per the Meritor manual.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #9 – November 26, 2017, 08:57:55 am

First thing I would check is the location of the DW and the cat!

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #10 – November 26, 2017, 01:49:06 pm

Quote

Pick up 4 bags of helper springs (2 springs per bag - one bag per brake assembly), for when you do the brakes. They assist the pads in retracting, and could help avoid squeaky or dragging brakes.

Already noted - thanks

I'm wondering how long those comparably tiny springs will hold, but one can't go wrong with investing 20USD per brake, so I'll install them. I was also worried at first that being that they're only installed on one side, they'd make the cylinder-side of the caliper push the pad on the rotor... but seems like the cylinder has its own return spring that'll provide enough clearance.

Quote

Hey Matt, try touching your brake pedal and see if the noise goes away.

It'll go away if I brake hard, by just softly touching the brake pedal it gets louder. That's what actually makes me hope that it's just dirt or rusty slide pins...

Quote

I lightly applied the brakes while driving about 10 mph for a hundred yards or so.

Interesting idea, will keep that noted, but since it's been doing it for a couple of days already and since I did quite a lot of driving in those days I guess I applied he brakes often enough, especially when coming down from Yellowstone and Teton National Park to Salt Lake City...
I try to balance retarder use and normal brake use while driving, so it's not like I'd not be using the brakes...

Quote

If it is when you first start off, not to worry

Unfortunately it more seems to be the other way round, I couldn't always hear it when I started off, but almost always when I rolled towards my parking spot...

Quote

Said another way, just do it per the Meritor manual.

Absolutely, already went through reading it and am well prepared - also thanks to bbeane who told me some stories about how not to do it

Never got to touch them though, too many other things I had to do in the last 1.5 years that I own the coach...

Quote

First thing I would check is the location of the DW and the cat!

Oh yea, my first look was of course directed towards the passenger seat when I noticed it... My GF didn't even hear it. But when we went across Hoover dam to the parking lot on the other side too many people turned their heads. I'm sure there're a couple of reasons for that, she came up with that they have never seen such a beautiful coach or that the group of Japanese guys wanted to take a picture of the crazy guy crossing the dam with his house... anyway I could spot a kid holding his ears when I passed and that made me feel bad

- so I definitely gotta do something about it.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #11 – November 26, 2017, 07:20:11 pm

Not un-usual to get a rock or grit on the pads, Some times you can clear that squeal by backing up with a light pressure on the brakes.
Have a great day ---- Fritz

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #12 – November 27, 2017, 06:10:29 pm

The anti-squeal clips in my front brakes broke and the loose piece was causing a squeal by wearing a grove in the outer diameter of the disk. I removed the wheel to discover this and just removed the broken piece (pass side). I checked the driver side and it was broken also, so I removed the broken piece before it started to squeal. That was 30,000 miles ago, so apparently, they are not essential. Replacing them involves dismantling the brakes.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #13 – February 03, 2018, 03:20:12 pm

Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin – November 27, 2017, 06:10:29 pm

The anti-squeal clips in my front brakes broke and the loose piece was causing a squeal...

Hey guys! So I'm with the coach now and removed the driver side wheel. As Wyatt suspected, the anti-squeal clip is broken and seems to cause the squeal.

I wonder if the fact that the anti squeal clip touches the rotor means that the linings are worn...?

Cheers,
Matt

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #14 – February 03, 2018, 03:53:41 pm

Looks like the pad is good,can you get a new anti-squeal part in without taking the pads out?Looks like your pins may be rusted
or just look that way,if you pull them out get the return springs ,can research them on the forum.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #15 – February 03, 2018, 06:38:02 pm

I don't mean to highjack Matt's thread, but his photo of his front hub has raised a question. Looking at the copy of his photo (on the left, below) I have indicated with arrows what I think are supposed to be "locating lugs" that help position the front wheel? On both of my front hubs (2nd and 3rd photos) those lugs appear to have been broken off.

What is the story on this? Is this normal? I'll be very curious to hear from the more knowledgeable members...

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #16 – February 03, 2018, 06:52:20 pm

Chuck,

You have "Budd" hubs and wheels or said another way stud centered wheels, Matt's coach has hub piloted/centered hubs and wheels. This is the difference in the age of the coaches. Your lug nuts should have tapers on the wheel side Matt's lug nuts will be flat based.

Mike

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #17 – February 03, 2018, 06:54:54 pm

Thanks Mike,

I was wondering what the heck was going on. I guess they used the same basic hub casting for both applications, because I can definitely see where the lugs were "removed" from my hubs.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #18 – February 03, 2018, 11:41:05 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – February 03, 2018, 06:52:20 pm

...Matt's lug nuts will be flat based.

Yes, exactly, my lugs are flat.

So here's the progress from today:

Cleaned the whole brake and removed excess grease from all the grease points. Then I pried off the broken anti-squeal spring.

I'll regrease the joints and steering knuckles tomorrow, not yet sure if I should regrease the brake piston too... got to check if I hwave the proper grease first...

After removing the anti-squeal spring the brake pad is pretty loose and I can move it back and forth about half an inch, I hope that won't become a problem...

Keep you updated!

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #19 – February 04, 2018, 12:42:45 am

When you drive it the self adjusters should take the play out.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #20 – February 04, 2018, 08:57:44 am

For most of us, stop with the greasing of the brakes. Re-greasing is only needed about every 100K miles. You are more likely to cause a problem if it is not done correctly.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #21 – February 04, 2018, 10:22:10 am

I agree. Not only incorrect grease, but improper purge process after greasing can lead to sticking brakes.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #22 – February 04, 2018, 10:28:18 am

Good job Matt, looking forward to seeing you guys soon
Cheers

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #23 – February 04, 2018, 10:31:03 am

Matt,you get an A+ for cleaning.

Re: front wheel squeaking noise when rolling slow - what to check?

Reply #24 – February 04, 2018, 03:47:05 pm

The improper grease can cost about $600 to correct

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