MLKNR

Troubleshooting a noise from my front end. Recently I've been hearing a scrapping noise that is consistent with my speed, it comes and goes. So I tried the following to Troubleshoot it.

1. While driving I pressed on the clutch to see if it went with the engine rev. rev the the engine up and down, no change to sound.

2. While driving a consistent speed, switch my gears to see if it was my universal, sound still did not change.

So I'm believing it's near my wheels. Brakes look okay, but since this is my first Miata maybe I'm miss judging the brake pads? Reading my manual it say to check my hub bearings. Did that, they looked and felt okay, grease was seeping out a bit, so with that I changed them out to be safe. This didn't resolve the noise issue. Would it be the brakes? or what else can I check out?

Nowak1981

Check and make sure the brake dust shields is t rubbing on the rotor. I had this happen to me once. Sounded like a bad wheel bearing until I took a closer look at it.

Is the noise coming from one side or both?

Does it make sound at a stop, or is it only when moving?

charchri4

Well the good news is it has to be leaving a mark so sooner or later you will be able to see it. Is it a constant scrape noise that starts and doesn't stop for an instant or a scrape, pause, scrape, pause sound? If the latter does it change in intensity with speed?

I like the brake shield too or something like a brake pad clip against the rotor. Usually that will be a scrape, pause, scrape, pause sound speeds up as you speed up and changes when you turn the steering wheel slightly or brake.

Does it ever change in sound? Is it louder at one speed over another?

I would find a quite back road and run it past the speed it happens. Then shut the engine off and mess with what you can to see if it changes. Light apply on the brake and steering from side to side and both at the same time. Listen with top and windows up and down and bring someone with to see if they think it is coming from the same side or area you do.

MLKNR

Usually it's a consistent scrap but it does get louder for 10 to 30 seconds and quests down. Above 110 kph it keeps to a consistent quiet scrap. It's usually worst at around 70kph

MLKNR

Hmm at the slower speeds this scrap pause scrap seems to be true.

MLKNR

Ah screw it. I needed bigger brakes anyways for the up coming V8. Ordered.
http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewPr...eIndexID=98665

charchri4

With scrap pause scrap my money is for sure on brakes. Jack up one corner at a time with the jack on the lower control arm so the suspension changes as little as possible. Jack it just enough that the wheel will turn and give the wheel a spin both slow and fast as you can. You will probably hear it best turning slow and I bet you find it pretty quickly this way.

This reminds me of the bad old days as a leaks squeaks and rattle guy in a Chev dealer but with a way better car!!

charchri4

LOL! Kind of like the guy that rebuilt the engine to fix a bad plug wire!

For what it's worth when I looked for the most bang for the buck in brakes from Moss, 949 racing, Go Miata and everyone else I could compare Flyin Miata FM won hands down with their stage 1 four wheel 11" kit at 1100 bucks.

Gabriel

+1 Definitely check that... when i took mine for the first drive there was a hug scrapping noise coming from the one side... I had bent that shield while working in the area... it's very pliable and very easy to bend slightly so that it touches the disk...

v8miatanet

I've got a miata sports brake kit for the fronts, 11" for $250, including used rotors/pads, lines, but you should think about replacing them once you get serious about driving the car hard.

In calgary, so no shipping costs, I get up to Edmonton a bit.

MLKNR

OMFG! it's wasn't the brakes. I got a friend with 2 good ears to come for a ride. It's coming from behind my gauges. That leaves the speedo cable. Could that be it?

MLKNR

Thanks for the offer, but I already put in the order. Good to know there are people on here from Alberta as well. Westlock myself

charchri4

Oh yeah I forgot about that. In a 90 absolutely it could be the speedo cable and probably more likely than the brakes.