Fellow Forum people, your help is desperately needed! My 2000 SC400 has developed a transitory, intermittant squealing noise in what sounds like the underside of the front portion of the car, near the front wheels. The noise sounds like a squeeky hamster wheel, not too loud but persistent and clearly audible when it shows up. When I've taken it to the dealer, I can't duplicate it for the tech. This is driving me nuts. It seems to happen mostly between 15-35 mph; mostly at the end of the driving day; mostly on smooth roadway on a gentle up or down grade. At first I thought the front end just needed a lubrication, but the service manager assured me that this wasn't the case. I drove him around for 15 minutes, and (of course) the noise didn't pop up. Arrgh! Has anyone experienced this before? Any ideas? Bad bearings? Bad shocks? Any ideas and possible fixes will be gratefully received! Thanks! Paul

 

same problem on my sc300...it annoys the crap out of me...sometime it shows up and sometime it doesn't.

I think mine is coming from the brakes because everytime I brake the noise goes away and when I release the pedal it comes back.

 

is this in the very beginning of driving cycle?

Could be cold brakes...

Need more info

Miles
Last Service
Last brake service

....To name a few

 

Check the brake and the 2 caliper pin. it might need some grease. good luck

 

Yep, this is most likely the cause. The pins sometimes get stuck or don't move as freely as they should. Also could be the pads are worn out.

 

It usually comes on closer to the end of the driving day rather than the beginning. It's always associated with acceleration under low throttle; it does not appear under braking. Does this change your diagnosis?

 

The miles are 28,000. Last service was 3k ago. Always serviced religiously.

 

Check the sway bar bushing. i had that squeky noise when the road goes up and down. i removed my rubber bushing that hold the sway bar and put anti freeze lub on it.

 

B1TEM3, did that lube solve the problem? I did all the brake work last week at my local dealer, including new brake pads and lubing the caliper pins, but the problem is still there. How did you figure out what it was?

 

Did the grease solve your problem? I have the same noise, it sounds like a squeaky hamster wheel but if I lightly press the brakes it goes away. Very annoying.

 

Spyder - Yes! The problem was solved, and 10K later, no more hamster wheel noise!

 

Thanks, I'm gonna give that fix a shot, this noise is driving me nuckin futz!

 

Glad to help

 

Drown the sway bar rubber bushings (4) with Areospace 303 or Vinylex. Work it into the pivit point body mounts and the bar end bushings. If needed, remove both end mountings to swivel the bar on the mounts.

Many types of grease may break down the rubber in the bushing. Rubber preservatives or protectant may be a better choice.