Squealing from rear when cornering

[flyingguy]

Hi all,

Posted about this a while back when we bought the van, have sorted out the clunking noises but still have this squealing sound coming from the rear on the passenger side. It used to happen just when turning the wheel left slightly but has gradually got more and more persistent. Sounds like a mouse or bird, high pitched noise. It's been in the garage who can never seem to find it, but it generally starts once the van's been on the road for 10 minutes or so. One garage thought it might be the wheel bearing when there's load applied at cornering etc, but can be quite expensive to replace the bearings, and don't want to do that unless that's it. Anyone else had something similar or any suggestions? It's irritating more than a problem, but as we might sell the old girl at some point would rather not have this going on. 

Thanks,

[cancunia]

From your description, a wheel bearing issue does seem possible. If it is simply annoying, I'd wait until it gets worse. A worn or otherwise faulty bearing should show up on the MoT or be possible to diagnose at a garage. So it's probably a waiting game for now and if it gets worse, get it checked again?

[flyingguy]

From your description, a wheel bearing issue does seem possible. If it is simply annoying, I'd wait until it gets worse. A worn or otherwise faulty bearing should show up on the MoT or be possible to diagnose at a garage. So it's probably a waiting game for now and if it gets worse, get it checked again?

Thanks, it just had MOT and wasn't picked up on it sadly! It's got worse in the sense it's more consistent though.

[ffrenchie]

Bearings tend to rumble when they are worn. If there's a bit of play in them it could be the brakes making the noise. Check if they are releasing fully feel if they are getting warm after a run out.

[pluggit1]

I tend to go with the brakes. Shoes dont do it much, pads yes and yours are probably shoes on the rears so ...??

Have you changed the tyres recently. Some tyre compounds can screech terribly in general use.

[oilyrag]

To see if it might be brake related just lightly apply the brake when the noise occurs - footbrake & handbrake separately. Could be a wheel cylinder/ brake piston just a bit sticky and allowing the friction surface to touch once the drum/disc is warmed up.
Brake assemblies aren't always as rigid as you might hope and flexing under cornering can happen.
Just to add to the fear factor - many years ago, on returning from seeing Alien in Leicester Square in a £20 Morris Oxford the tyres started to squeal when cornering. We all thought is was a good laugh, but it was actually the front offside brake flexi rubbing on the wheel rim. It burst as I braked for a set of traffic lights and we sailed through on red, pedal on the floor. Alien had nowhere near the laxative effect of that moment!
Still, I'm sure yours wouldn't do that.......

[uk_friendly_fire]

It may be a mechanical brake pad wear indicator?