Scratching sound from wheel area

[MakaveliX]

Hi guys.
Have a C240 2002 with about 39K on the clock.

Makes a scratching noise when turning left but the noise stops entirely If I apply the brake, even lightly.
I have just replaced the discs and pads, but noise is still there.

Tiny bit of play in the wheel when rocking at 12 and 6, but that I think is down to a worn control arm ( it has multi-link suspension and I have only replaced one of the two arms so far )
Tracking will be out as it hasn't been done yet after lots of work, car drives straight and does not pull.

Could it indicate a bad bearing ? I thought that would usually make a growling noise.

Heat shields etc all seem fine, no stones/rocks stuck anywhere

Any suggestions welcome, thanks.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Could it be a sticking caliper? Go for a run and when you park up, quickly hop out and touch your front alloys, if one side feels hotter than the other that's another indicator of a sticking caliper.

[MakaveliX]

Vsix and Vtec said:

Could it be a sticking caliper? Go for a run and when you park up, quickly hop out and touch your front alloys, if one side feels hotter than the other that's another indicator of a sticking caliper.

Thanks for the suggestion
. I do have a digital thermometer so could definitely give that a go.

Thankfully, calipers only cost £40 each for Pagids for this car so always an option.

[ninepoint2]

Could it be the dust guard has been disturbed whilst discs/pads were fitted and now rubbing? Happened to me while back.

[9xxNick]

Dust guard theory seems most likely, particularly if it's a fairly high-pitched sound. I've seen exactly the same problem on a 911 - bending the guard very slightly away from the disk fixed it.

[MakaveliX]

Still no luck. Replaced the pads/discs/sliders even.

If I spin the wheel which makes the noise, it spins more than the other wheel which doesn't. So I do not think the caliper is sticking, especially as I had no issue pushing the piston back.
Brake shield is fine, it is a low pitched noise.

Common on this car is the propshaft scratching the rear brake cable. But I have checked that and the cable is where it should be.

[GreenV8S]

Which wheel is making the noise? If you can reproduce the noise with the wheel jacked up I would have thought you should be able to locate the source.

[MakaveliX]

GreenV8S said:

Which wheel is making the noise? If you can reproduce the noise with the wheel jacked up I would have thought you should be able to locate the source.

Nearside front. If I spin the wheel there is no noise.

I will take a proper look at the propshaft when I get a chance, still though, if it subsides when braking surely it is the brakes.

There is a tiny amount of play 12 and 6 in that wheel. However I think it's one of the other control arm ball joints that I haven't done yet.

Edited by MakaveliX on Saturday 26th April 14:38

[E-bmw]

MakaveliX said:

Nearside front. If I spin the wheel there is no noise.

I will take a proper look at the propshaft when I get a chance

I don't think you will have a prop-shaft at the nearside front wheel.

[GreenV8S]

MakaveliX said:

Nearside front. If I spin the wheel there is no noise.

I assume you've jacked that corner up and spun the wheel and the noise didn't happen. In that case I would focus on what's changing when you jack the car up. Try removing the wheel and putting a support under that hub so the suspension is taking the weight. Do you get the noise then? Look at clearances that change when the weight is on the wheel.

[MakaveliX]

GreenV8S said:

I assume you've jacked that corner up and spun the wheel and the noise didn't happen. In that case I would focus on what's changing when you jack the car up. Try removing the wheel and putting a support under that hub so the suspension is taking the weight. Do you get the noise then? Look at clearances that change when the weight is on the wheel.

The only thing I can think of is the position/toe in/out/ of the wheel changing when it is on the ground. Tracking will be out as I have done lots of suspension work on the car and never had the alignment done.
Perhaps a good idea would get that done, and see if it continues.