Lately I've been getting this squeaking noise coming from the front passenger side wheel. It sounds like it squeaks at intervals that vary with my speed. So as I go faster its like "squeak squeak squeak squeak squeaksqueaksqueak" and then they get farther apart as I slow down. And it only happens under light braking or no braking at all. So I'm thinking warped rotor...what do you think?

 

have you removed your wheels at all lately? you may have lose lug bolts...it might also be your wheel bearing...the fact that it only happens under light/no braking doesn't necessarily mean it's a brake problem...

 

Yea I was thinking about the wheel lugs, cause I put them on in my dad's warehouse in the freezing cold with a spinner wrench...I'm goin back to the stock wheels with AS tires soon, and I'll put em on with my new impact gun. I'll see if it stops then.

 

i just tried tightening the lug nuts, its def the brakes.

 

No your totally off base sorry. Warped rotors wont make a squeak but will pulsate the brake pedal and vibrate the front end during braking. Kinda like overactive abs on steroids. Squeeking can be from many things, low or worn pads, glazed rotors, caliper pins not greased or lubed enough. Id check the measurement of your pads and if your savvy enouhg grease the caliper pins. If the squeek happens when your not even near or breathing on the brake pedal then its not a brake issue. but if it only happens during braking then those are where Id look first. Let me know how it goes.

 

ps make sure you torque your lugs correct or you will have warped rotors.[8D]

 

hm, well my father says warped rotors for everything...but i should know not to listen to him. When i first bought the car, i took it to a local german car shop and he said the car would need brakes soon (pads). But yea there is squeaking when not braking, but also when I'm lightly braking to a stop. It even is squeaking at highway speeds...could it be a wheel bearing? I'll probably take it to the german car shop if i can't figure it out for sure on my own.

 

well if a caliper isnt releasing completly cause it is out of grease then it could still be making contact with the rotor even when not braking. But no gauruantees.

 

yea that was another possibility, thanks for ur help.

 

A few points of advice...

1. NEVER use an impact wrench to tighten lug bolts, or any nuts and bolts for that matter...Impact is for quick removal of tight fasteners. Torque to spec, never more, never less. Also make sure the bolt threads are clean with no dirt, grit, grime.

2. Check your pad thickness and rotor trueness. Check to see if there is even wear on the rotor surface.

3. Take your car for a spirited drive, and then after you're done having fun, put the BACK of your hand to the wheels and feel if the wheel is hot. If it is hot, then you have a caliper problem. NOTE - what I mean is to touch the wheel, not reach in and touch the rotors or calipers.