1997 Taurus SHO rear brake, or perhaps bearing problem

SkurdalenFox · 11-12-2007, 09:40 AM

There has been a problem with the RR brake or maybe bearing on this car that no mechanic has been able to solve. This car has rear disc brakes.

Occasionally the RR brake, or bearings, or something make a terrible “waa-waa-waa” noise. The noise occurs randomly but frequently; usually on the high-way. The noise is wheel speed specific – faster speed results in faster frequency of the “waa-waa-waa” noise. If you tap the brakes, it’ll go away for a second, but come right back. If you steer to the left – change lanes – it’ll go away, but if you steer back to the right, it usually comes back. It seems to happen more frequently when on a road pitched to the right. If the road is crowned in the center, and you’re in the left lane – the road is pitched to the left – it doesn’t happen as frequently. Of course being in the fast lane results in speeding all the time.

The RR caliper and rotor have been replaced. I have no idea if the anti-moan brackets were installed or if the pads were shimmed properly. The mechanic said that it was a “loaded” caliper. I think that means everything, the pads and so forth, are pre-installed and therefore setup correctly.

Any ideas?

04 Mach1 · 11-12-2007, 04:55 PM

If it changes with speed and turning in toward the wheel it goes away its the wheel bearing.

SkurdalenFox · 11-12-2007, 08:14 PM

Thanks, I'll pass the info along.

Is there a way to measure the hub's run-out?

Would it provide any sort of useful information to put a dial indicator on the face of the hub - where the studs stick out - give the hub a spin, and measure the variance?

04 Mach1 · 11-13-2007, 06:16 AM

You can but most of the ones I've checked the hub run out was ok. most of the time its just due to a sealed bearing losing its lube that causes the waa waa waa noise.

SkurdalenFox · 11-13-2007, 09:04 AM

Thanks for the information.

11-12-2007, 09:40 AM	#1
SkurdalenFox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 463	1997 Taurus SHO rear brake, or perhaps bearing problem There has been a problem with the RR brake or maybe bearing on this car that no mechanic has been able to solve. This car has rear disc brakes. Occasionally the RR brake, or bearings, or something make a terrible “waa-waa-waa” noise. The noise occurs randomly but frequently; usually on the high-way. The noise is wheel speed specific – faster speed results in faster frequency of the “waa-waa-waa” noise. If you tap the brakes, it’ll go away for a second, but come right back. If you steer to the left – change lanes – it’ll go away, but if you steer back to the right, it usually comes back. It seems to happen more frequently when on a road pitched to the right. If the road is crowned in the center, and you’re in the left lane – the road is pitched to the left – it doesn’t happen as frequently. Of course being in the fast lane results in speeding all the time. The RR caliper and rotor have been replaced. I have no idea if the anti-moan brackets were installed or if the pads were shimmed properly. The mechanic said that it was a “loaded” caliper. I think that means everything, the pads and so forth, are pre-installed and therefore setup correctly. Any ideas? __________________ Jim

11-12-2007, 04:55 PM	#2
04 Mach1 Bet I red light B4U Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ANNISTON, AL Posts: 975	If it changes with speed and turning in toward the wheel it goes away its the wheel bearing. __________________ 89 gt 2.3 stroked holley head with n12n port high flow intake with great big fart can skunk 2 seat belts with kool glow water squirters and new light up shift knob basically everything from wal-mart art carr C4 10.53@127.3 w/ 1.53 60' 89 gt vert 347 eldebrock heads and intake AOD w/3000 stall unknown with 5spd went 12.7 on steet tires 04 Mach1 automatic flowmaster K+N drop in 13.9

11-12-2007, 08:14 PM	#3
SkurdalenFox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 463	Thanks, I'll pass the info along. Is there a way to measure the hub's run-out? Would it provide any sort of useful information to put a dial indicator on the face of the hub - where the studs stick out - give the hub a spin, and measure the variance? __________________ Jim

11-13-2007, 06:16 AM	#4
04 Mach1 Bet I red light B4U Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ANNISTON, AL Posts: 975	You can but most of the ones I've checked the hub run out was ok. most of the time its just due to a sealed bearing losing its lube that causes the waa waa waa noise. __________________ 89 gt 2.3 stroked holley head with n12n port high flow intake with great big fart can skunk 2 seat belts with kool glow water squirters and new light up shift knob basically everything from wal-mart art carr C4 10.53@127.3 w/ 1.53 60' 89 gt vert 347 eldebrock heads and intake AOD w/3000 stall unknown with 5spd went 12.7 on steet tires 04 Mach1 automatic flowmaster K+N drop in 13.9

11-13-2007, 09:04 AM	#5
SkurdalenFox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 463	Thanks for the information. __________________ Jim