When I drive I hear a low rubbing sound within the car that sounds as if it is coming from a wheel. Some people have said it was a wheel bearing going bad because if I change lanes the tone of the rub will change too. I suspect it is a locked up brake caliper. Twice when I took it out of park and put the transmission in reverse, the car seemed to be locked up and then I heard a popping sound like the caliper just broke free. I am wondering if a bad wheel bearing would cause the wheel to lock up and make the same popping sound?? Any clues or advise as to how to determine which is bad?Locked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??I would say you have a real bad wheel bearing if it is popping like you say it is, take it to the shop and have them check the problem out before something leaves you stranded or catches fire from too much heat.Locked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??if it sounds like a %26quot;clunk%26quot; sound then it might be your bearings, but if it is a different sound. it might be your caliper, and you might need new roders [sp?] becuase that would mean your caliper is lose and its rubbing onto your roders and wearing them down. someone just had the same problem with their car.Locked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??A bad wheel bearing, a brake caliper, and if a front wheel drive a constant velocity joint (CV joint) can cause this grinding sound....most likely you have a dry worn out wheel bearing though.Locked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??In either even you should pull the wheel and inspect.. cuz either problem is gonna get you in deep CaCa eventually...
either is a pretty quick fix... though not cheap.. even if you have to replace the spindle... neither is a hard fix.. anyone that can work on a car can fix it in about an hour even if they are relativly a newbie...Locked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??one way is to jack up car put a shovel under front wheel and see if any movement in wheel' but the best bet is to take off wheel and check out bearingsLocked up caliper? Or bad wheel bearing??Jack up the car, spin the wheel and see if you can spin it by hand. If you can, pump the brakes, with it jacked up, and then get out and try to spin it by hand and see if there is any difference.
I would think that a locked up caliper wouldn't allow you to spin the wheel freely, so if you can spin the wheel while jacked up, and in neutral obviously, you will be able to hear the bad bearing, if that is in fact what it is.
Anyhow, good luck.
