funny noise at highway speeds

[matthewkristof]

07 sport, v6 with no 4wd.

i get this weird noise coming from the front of my car at highway speeds. it's in no way deafening or too loud, and there does not seem to be any performance issues when i hear it. it's just ridiculously annoying. been hearing it off and on the last few months.

usually occurring over 65 and under 80 mph, it starts abruptly, lasts anywhere from 5-10 seconds, and fades out. it can pop up every other minute, every ten minutes or not at all. there seems to be no pattern. only i can hear it...the back seat passengers cannot. it's really hard to accurately describe the precise sound, but it's more like a whine or high frequency buzz, and it doesn't sound like something is caught somewhere, or metal on metal. i'm no mechanic, but it sounds strongest on the right hand side, and it is usually the loudest when i first begin to hit higher speeds. i drive my car on the freeway in southern california daily, and i do not hear it every day or every time i drive.

totally perplexed. brakes have not been replaced in a while, and they still do have life on them, as well as the rotors. no major maintenance done on it recently.

thanks for any advice.

 

[Hyaline]

Recording

07 sport, v6 with no 4wd.

i get this weird noise coming from the front of my car at highway speeds. it's in no way deafening or too loud, and there does not seem to be any performance issues when i hear it. it's just ridiculously annoying. been hearing it off and on the last few months.

usually occurring over 65 and under 80 mph, it starts abruptly, lasts anywhere from 5-10 seconds, and fades out. it can pop up every other minute, every ten minutes or not at all. there seems to be no pattern. only i can hear it...the back seat passengers cannot. it's really hard to accurately describe the precise sound, but it's more like a whine or high frequency buzz, and it doesn't sound like something is caught somewhere, or metal on metal. i'm no mechanic, but it sounds strongest on the right hand side, and it is usually the loudest when i first begin to hit higher speeds. i drive my car on the freeway in southern california daily, and i do not hear it every day or every time i drive.

Record the sound. Best advice i can give you. For starters you can check all your heat shields under the vehicle. If the sound is coming from the right side I'd start there. Now I'm just grasping at straws right now because the description you gave is pretty confusing

 

[LOSTR4]

How many miles are on your rig? Perhaps a wheel-bearing? Or perhaps a rock in between y our brake disc and dust cover?

 

[matthewkristof]

gonna hit 165k soon. daily driver. very well maintained.

it's been a while but i managed to get a decent soundbite from my phone. i held the phone over the dashboard while i recorded the mystery sound. it's not nearly as loud as it sounds in the file...with the music on, it cannot be heard. its more annoying than anything else. almost sounds like a mix between a grind and a ringing. hard to pinpoint where it is coming from exactly or the precise sound it makes.

i appreciate any help. thank you.

 

[fdbyrne]

How new are your brakes? It almost sounds like they are dragging or the wear indicator has popped through and is riding the rotor.

 

[matthewkristof]

Front brake pads changed at 157k (at 165k now) in September and rotors were resurfaced. I've honestly only noticed the noise since then but if the brakes are new, how could they already be worn down?

There's no rhyme or reason. I can go days and not hear anything or hear it to and from work. I have noticed though when at highways speeds and I hear the noise, braking actually causes it to stop. So is it really the brakes then, or just a coincidence?

 

[MFreund]

Could the calipers be slightly hanging up and the pads contacting the rotor?

 

[Hyaline]

Check your calipers. It's definately your brakes or the wear indicator making that noise. I'd check my rears too. If the vehicle is not making the sound at low speeds then it probably is a caliper sticking on and off. Check to see if you can make your pistons manually retract on both side.

 

[radlynx]

I agree, it's the wear indicator. check all the brake pad indicator if it's touching the rotor. that indicator will make a squeaky sound if it's touching the rotor. I've had it once, I thought it was the wheel bearing. upon further investigation, I found it. I never knew what that metal was all about until I experienced it myself.

Check your calipers. It's definately your brakes or the wear indicator making that noise. I'd check my rears too. If the vehicle is not making the sound at low speeds then it probably is a caliper sticking on and off. Check to see if you can make your pistons manually retract on both side.

 

[matthewkristof]

Digging up one of my old threads in hopes of finding an answer...

So I took my car in for its 200k mile service. Had them check the brakes, calipers, and everything looked fine. Said brake change was not needed at this time, perhaps in the next 5k miles or so.

I am having this same loud sound again. Beforehand, I really only heard it at highway speeds like 65mph, but I'm finding it more and more at lower speeds like 40mph. If I press the brakes it immediately goes away, which leads me to believe it may be the brakes. If I hit a bump hard enough, it will also go away.

Ruled out the calipers, as they said it was fine. I just changed my tires, and my XREAS suspension is leaking. Could it be that? Also, previous posters have mentioned the wear indicator on the brakes could be grinding against the pads/rotors. How can I check that myself without taking my car in again?

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[Trumpet]

Digging up one of my old threads in hopes of finding an answer...

So I took my car in for its 200k mile service. Had them check the brakes, calipers, and everything looked fine. Said brake change was not needed at this time, perhaps in the next 5k miles or so.

I am having this same loud sound again. Beforehand, I really only heard it at highway speeds like 65mph, but I'm finding it more and more at lower speeds like 40mph. If I press the brakes it immediately goes away, which leads me to believe it may be the brakes. If I hit a bump hard enough, it will also go away.

Ruled out the calipers, as they said it was fine. I just changed my tires, and my XREAS suspension is leaking. Could it be that? Also, previous posters have mentioned the wear indicator on the brakes could be grinding against the pads/rotors. How can I check that myself without taking my car in again?

Thanks for any and all input.

If the brakes are going to be due within 5k miles, you may as well just do them now. More than likely the pad indicators are starting to rub on the disc's.

 

[jrm]

Maybe

the right side wheel bearing?

 

[Billynath1988]

its lazy caliper/pads or wheel bearing.. or all 3

 

[jfry008]

A few things to consider:
1. Bad wheel bearing
-put the front on jackstands, grab front wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, push with one hand and pull with the other, listen/feel for play, clicking noise is bad
2. Bad driver side needle bearing in front differential (for V6 4x4)
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...differential-bearing-vibration-thread.152173/
3. CV dust shield scraping steering knuckle
-put the front on jackstands, take front tires off, spin the caliper andlisten for any noise