A different brake issue- high pitched noise

Sue Bee · 08-19-2009, 02:24 PM

Have an '03 3500 DRW 4X4 that we bought in May with 121K on it. The brakes start to make a sort of high pitched "keen", not a squeal like the wear indicators, but more almost a whistle kind of sound, after the truck has been driven for a few miles (we didn't hear the sound on the test drive). When the driver hits the brakes, the sound stops temporarily, but will start again. Eventually, it usually goes away, but this is after hours of driving.

At the time we bought it, the dealer told us that the brakes had just been done. Brought to a local mechanic, who we trust, they looked at the brakes and confirmed that the pads were new, ceramics. They could find nothing wrong, and so they honed the front edges down a bit, thinking that maybe there was some sort of resonance happening. Didn't help, so we had them dig further, again, everything is newer, looks to have been done recently, and could find nothing to be concerned about.

This is what we are doing with the beast, so we want to be sure that the brakes are going to work:

Does anyone have any ideas of what could be causing this noise, and how to stop it?

scavanger · 08-19-2009, 06:14 PM

Did they check to be sure the calipers move freely on their mounts?
I kind of question the ceramic pads. Might be the source of the noise. Also they have to heat up to work their best, so initial braking might not be up to par.

scav.

BernieB · 08-19-2009, 06:48 PM

Does it only happen at certain speeds?

leolkfrm · 08-19-2009, 07:10 PM

sounds like one of the pads is not floating properly

Sue Bee · 08-20-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scavanger

Did they check to be sure the calipers move freely on their mounts?
I kind of question the ceramic pads. Might be the source of the noise. Also they have to heat up to work their best, so initial braking might not be up to par.

scav.

As far as the calipers, I would sure hope so. The brakes have been looked at 3 different times, once apparently at the dealer we bought it from, which the mechanic that we took it to confirmed that the parts were new, then two times by the mechanic we took it to (who also discovered that the rear tires were too big, and were touching).

We kind of figured that it was the ceramics, but this past weekend, we had it up and back about 130 miles on a camp trip, about 3 hours each way, and the sound was still happening at the end of the trip. I'd have thought that the pads would have warmed up by then. But, we didn't do a whole lot of stop and go, only towards the end when we got back to Illinois.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BernieB

Does it only happen at certain speeds?

No, it really is pretty constant until the brakes are applied, then it stops, but will start up again in a few minutes or so, regardless of the speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leolkfrm

sounds like one of the pads is not floating properly

That could very well be, because if the truck hits a jarring bump, it also stops temporarily.

BernieB · 08-20-2009, 08:14 AM

One more question... Is the sound coming from only one side, or from both?

My thought is that "something" is vibrating at that particular pitch, and the most likely candidate for that would be the brake rotors themselves. I'm wondering if you could have a bearing that's starting to "go" and the vibration from it is making the rotor(s) "sing". If it's only on one side then it's likely a hub bearing. If it's on both sides it's probably a bearing in the transfer case.

I would expect that a change in speed would change the pitch though, so that somewhat negates my theory. Still... it's something to consider.

BernieB · 08-20-2009, 08:16 AM

Found this too... high-pitched, whine sound

Sue Bee · 08-20-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BernieB

One more question... Is the sound coming from only one side, or from both?

My thought is that "something" is vibrating at that particular pitch, and the most likely candidate for that would be the brake rotors themselves. I'm wondering if you could have a bearing that's starting to "go" and the vibration from it is making the rotor(s) "sing". If it's only on one side then it's likely a hub bearing. If it's on both sides it's probably a bearing in the transfer case.

I would expect that a change in speed would change the pitch though, so that somewhat negates my theory. Still... it's something to consider.

Sound only happens when moving. It seems to be coming from the front, it is really hard to tell, but probably driver's side. The pitch isn't constant, it sort of is, well, it almost sounds like a 3 year old kid whimpering because she wasn't allowed to eat ice cream before dinner... EEEEeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhAHHHHHHHHHHHH eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

I hope it isn't a bearing, but your theory does make sense. Thing is a beasty bear to work on the underside without a lift.

BernieB · 08-20-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue Bee

Sound only happens when moving. It seems to be coming from the front, it is really hard to tell, but probably driver's side. The pitch isn't constant, it sort of is, well, it almost sounds like a 3 year old kid whimpering because she wasn't allowed to eat ice cream before dinner... EEEEeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhAHHHHHHHHHHHH eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

I hope it isn't a bearing, but your theory does make sense. Thing is a beasty bear to work on the underside without a lift.

So, it's definitely drivetrain related, and not a belt or pulley on the engine. This tends to reinforce my feeling that it's a bearing, or something containing a bearing, that's vibrating. When it vibrates just right the rotors are probably harmonizing with it and "singing". At least that's my theory. I could be completely wrong too.

When was the last time anyone checked fluid levels in the transfer case?

Sue Bee · 08-20-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BernieB

When was the last time anyone checked fluid levels in the transfer case?

I believe dear husband did this 2 weeks ago when he was checking the oil. Front transfer case is a thought... RSG SM might be needed.

08-19-2009, 02:24 PM	#1
Sue Bee Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 16	A different brake issue- high pitched noise Have an '03 3500 DRW 4X4 that we bought in May with 121K on it. The brakes start to make a sort of high pitched "keen", not a squeal like the wear indicators, but more almost a whistle kind of sound, after the truck has been driven for a few miles (we didn't hear the sound on the test drive). When the driver hits the brakes, the sound stops temporarily, but will start again. Eventually, it usually goes away, but this is after hours of driving. At the time we bought it, the dealer told us that the brakes had just been done. Brought to a local mechanic, who we trust, they looked at the brakes and confirmed that the pads were new, ceramics. They could find nothing wrong, and so they honed the front edges down a bit, thinking that maybe there was some sort of resonance happening. Didn't help, so we had them dig further, again, everything is newer, looks to have been done recently, and could find nothing to be concerned about. This is what we are doing with the beast, so we want to be sure that the brakes are going to work: Does anyone have any ideas of what could be causing this noise, and how to stop it?

08-19-2009, 06:48 PM	#3
BernieB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 3,876	Does it only happen at certain speeds? __________________ If the guys who design 'em had to take one home, use it every day for 2 years, and do all the maint and repairs themselves, cars would have a button on the dash to change the oil, filters & plugs.

08-19-2009, 07:10 PM	#4
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,892	sounds like one of the pads is not floating properly __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

08-20-2009, 08:14 AM	#6
BernieB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 3,876	One more question... Is the sound coming from only one side, or from both? My thought is that "something" is vibrating at that particular pitch, and the most likely candidate for that would be the brake rotors themselves. I'm wondering if you could have a bearing that's starting to "go" and the vibration from it is making the rotor(s) "sing". If it's only on one side then it's likely a hub bearing. If it's on both sides it's probably a bearing in the transfer case. I would expect that a change in speed would change the pitch though, so that somewhat negates my theory. Still... it's something to consider. __________________ If the guys who design 'em had to take one home, use it every day for 2 years, and do all the maint and repairs themselves, cars would have a button on the dash to change the oil, filters & plugs.

08-20-2009, 08:16 AM	#7
BernieB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 3,876	Found this too... high-pitched, whine sound __________________ If the guys who design 'em had to take one home, use it every day for 2 years, and do all the maint and repairs themselves, cars would have a button on the dash to change the oil, filters & plugs.

08-19-2009, 06:14 PM	#2
scavanger Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 394	Did they check to be sure the calipers move freely on their mounts? I kind of question the ceramic pads. Might be the source of the noise. Also they have to heat up to work their best, so initial braking might not be up to par. scav.

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