Car Repair question

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Yesterday while driving home from the supermarket my car started making a noise that I can best describe as dragging an old aluminum garbage can lid on pavement.

Had my son back it in and out of the garage a few times ("gently" on the accelerator means gently!) and it's definately the left front tire area. Brakes and rotors were done a year ago March 2009. New tires this year.

I certainly am calling my mechanic first thing in the morning to get it in there. The questions I have are "What could it be?""How much will it cost?" and "Will I cause major damage, death and mayhem driving it the 6 or 7 miles to the mechanic?"

Of course this totally blows out my schedule for tomorrow but these never happen at a good time. I'm grateful the vehicle tends to only need regular maintenance and when necessary odd things do go; I'm home.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Can you see if anything is stuck up in the wheel well or on the tire? I am assuming you didn't see anything dragging underneath the car.

[garyd210 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close garyd210]

I'd take the tire/wheel off in the area where the noice is coming from and examine it with a flashlight. If it's near the rear end, you might want to check the oil level in the differential hub if it's a rear wheel drive. This is where the drive shaft connects to the rear axle. There's a little round plug that takes a ratchet tool connection to unscrew it off. If the car is on a level surface, you'd stick your finger in to see if the oil level is just below the plug opening. I don't think this applies to a front wheel drive vehicle. Wonder if a small rock got up in the disc brakes. Again a flash light would help.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

Did you look under the car? If older car, could be a broken hanger for the tailpipe. If that is the case, get a wire to hang the pipe before driving to the mechanics so that you do not end up replacing the pipe also.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Can you see if anything is stuck up in the wheel well or on the tire? I am assuming you didn't see anything dragging underneath the car.

You know I did mean to go back and edit to say that "No I am not actually dragging an aluminum trashcan lid".

Looked and felt the wheel wells and stuck my fingers in thru the holes in the alloys and didn't feel anything out of place. One of the metal brake pieces inside "sounds" like it could be the culprit when my finger dinged it. Not that the truly ignorant would know unless it was obvious.

Oh yes, the car is front wheel drive and an automatic.

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Wish I could help. Sorry. But it is not easy to diagnose here on the 4MS. Drive slow to Mechanic. Good Luck!







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[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

well you know there wasn't any scraping noises to speak of this morning but I took the car in anyway. I didn't imagine that noise and it wasn't attractive.

My mechanic put my car up on the first available lift so I wouldn't have to deal with suburban mass transit all day.

Turns out the left front backing plate had to be adjusted away from the brake rotor. An inexpensive and quick fix at $25.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

well you know there wasn't any scraping noises to speak of this morning but I took the car in anyway. I didn't imagine that noise and it wasn't attractive.

My mechanic put my car up on the first available lift so I wouldn't have to deal with suburban mass transit all day.

Turns out the left front backing plate had to be adjusted away from the brake rotor. An inexpensive and quick fix at $25.

That's great!! You are lucky to have such a good mechanic.

[pkyorkbeach Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pkyorkbeach]

Great that it was such an easy fix. Finding a good mechanic who is honest is tough. I have a good one who is retired but works part time. Honest as can be so I trust him. When he finally retires I do not know what I will do.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Lucky you. Small problem, small bill. Congrats.