Mr_Duva23 Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Hi Gang- I have a couple of questions if anyone knows the answers to, I would be very pleased. 1-I am the proud owner of a 2006 Subaru Outback 2.5i, which I purchased on Feb 26, 2007. I have noticed over the past three months or so a grinding noise coming from my driver side disc brake. First thing pops to mind is my brakes are going bad. I had the dealership (Turlock Imports) take a look at it and an independent mechanic look at it and they said my brake was miked and it was practically brand new with 70% left on the pads upfront. They experienced no such grinding sound and said its fine. I have 37,500 miles on it, and have had the dealership perform the 30,000 mile maintenance and it passed with flying colors. Can anyone tell me what it could be? I have read on this forum that it could be my bearing on that driver side. It tends to wear out quickly and may need to be replaced. It just puzzles me because the car could be sitting all night and I start it up and go, as soon as I come to a stop; and not even a hard stop, it grinds. 2- My second probably is I noticed a noise coming from my engine compartment on cold starts. It's a wine’ ding sound. The dealership said it’s the alternator and it’s normal to have it sound like that in the mornings. Because it is charging itself. Can anyone validate that for me? Thank you If anyone needs more info please let me know and I will give further details if needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzam Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Is the grinding constant or is it speed related? Are the brakes being applied or are you off the pedal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 It can be the brake pads. They may have gotten dirt or grit in them. You can replace them on your own (really quick job) and see if it goes away. if the dealership is any good, they would have caught a bad wheel bearing or axle. Take the tech on a drive with you and show him the grinding, as that always helps. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzam Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 BTW- Welcome to the board!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Doubt that it is a bad wheel bearing. A bad bearing doesn't make noise upon stopping, but is loudest when making a wide sweeping turn, for instance when entering or exiting a long freeway ramp. It could be a brake pad that has a "hard" spot on the pad facing. It is easy enough, and cheap enough to replace your self. As far as the under hood noise in the morning when the engine is cold, I don't think the alternator would make any wierd noise. My guess would be a loose shroud around the exhaust system. When cold, and with any looseness, the shroud will vibrate causing a shrill noise. Usually the noise comes and goes at different engine rpm. Once warmed up, the noise may disappear. If the shroud loosens up more, then the noise will be constantly present any time the motor is running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancomb Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 The grind sound on first brake application in the morning could be a light coating of rust on your rotors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Duva23 Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 Thank you all for your responses. I am glad to be a member of this site and can't say enough about Subaru's and their owners. We are like no other car company on the planet. Enough said. I will look at getting that disc cleaned or change the pad. The grinding is only heard at stopping only, Suzam. Regardless of speed. There some days where it will grind for hours, only stopping. But then there are times you never hear it. However, could it be that when I do apply my brakes that the whistle noise I get from that driver side could mean my brake pad is worn out, or that the rotor needs to be turned? Its funny cause both the dealership and independent mechanic said the pad was fine. And neither of them hear the noise when the kept the car for 5 days. That to me just doesn't make sense. Just a side note I don't feel or hear any grinding on any of the other wheels; just the driver side only. Rooster2- thanks for the heads up. Though, the dealership said it’s normal for the vehicle to make that sound. I was just puzzled at their suggestion that its normal. Though if the car is sitting out in the sun during the mornings and I go to start it up, you don't hear the noise. Funny thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Thank you all for your responses. I am glad to be a member of this site and can't say enough about Subaru's and their owners. We are like no other car company on the planet. Enough said. I will look at getting that disc cleaned or change the pad. The grinding is only heard at stopping only, Suzam. Regardless of speed. There some days where it will grind for hours, only stopping. But then there are times you never hear it. However, could it be that when I do apply my brakes that the whistle noise I get from that driver side could mean my brake pad is worn out, or that the rotor needs to be turned? Its funny cause both the dealership and independent mechanic said the pad was fine. And neither of them hear the noise when the kept the car for 5 days. That to me just doesn't make sense. Just a side note I don't feel or hear any grinding on any of the other wheels; just the driver side only. Rooster2- thanks for the heads up. Though, the dealership said it’s normal for the vehicle to make that sound. I was just puzzled at their suggestion that its normal. Though if the car is sitting out in the sun during the mornings and I go to start it up, you don't hear the noise. Funny thing. With the noise being sunshine and temperature sensitive, I am still very inclined to think you have a buzzy shroud surounding the exhaust system. Suggest running the front of the car up on ramps, then with a helper in the driver seat, hold the throttle at various motor rpm to find the buzzy sound. Once you hear it, push on various portions of the shroud with a screw driver to stop the vibrating shroud from making the noise. Once you isolate the specific vibrating spot, I hammer in a good size bolt in the space between the shroud and the exhaust pipe. The bolt prevents the shroud from vibrating. Yea, it is a very low tech repair for a low tech problem, but it works. I have fixed this problem permanently in this manner on both of my Subies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotshot Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Once you isolate the specific vibrating spot, I hammer in a good size bolt in the space between the shroud and the exhaust pipe. The bolt prevents the shroud from vibrating. Yea, it is a very low tech repair for a low tech problem, but it works. I have fixed this problem permanently in this manner on both of my Subies. I personally recommend hose clamps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I personally recommend hose clamps. Thats what i use too. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast I Drive Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Ive noticed that if your car has a problem and you take it to a mechanic, the problem seems to magically disappear for the time the mechanic has it, but once you get it back, the problem is back. We took our 96 Ram 2500 to the mechanic cuz the gauges and overdrive quit working, but when the guy started it up, everything worked fine. Then we took it home and they went out again, and the cruise control gained a mind of its own! Any, just an observation -Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Ive noticed that if your car has a problem and you take it to a mechanic, the problem seems to magically disappear for the time the mechanic has it, but once you get it back, the problem is back. We took our 96 Ram 2500 to the mechanic cuz the gauges and overdrive quit working, but when the guy started it up, everything worked fine. Then we took it home and they went out again, and the cruise control gained a mind of its own! Any, just an observation-Bill I have same problem with dentists. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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