Noise from front left after changing to winter tires

[grahamtwatson]

2002 996 Cab C2, 24000 miles.

I changed to my winter wheels and tires a couple of weeks ago, after not being able to get the car home (the big Seattle ice/snow storm) for four days. I'm now on 17' wheels.

I've started to notice a noise coming from the left wheel (I think) which sounds a lot like the brakes rubbing - it's car speed dependent, but I don't think that applying the brake makes much difference at all. The noise also seems loudest at low speeds - 10~15 mph - and disappears completely at a stop. I've checked the brake pads, and there is plenty of meat left on them, and the rotor looks fine. Tire looks OK as well, and is correctly inflated.

The fact that it appears to started very shortly after I swapped the wheels makes me suspicious that I've done something bad, but I can't think what. Or perhaps it's a wheel bearing going out? :(

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Graham

[Loren]

Maybe a rock or pebble stuck between the rotor and heat shield?

[grahamtwatson]

Took the wheel off today and had a good look around. There is nothing caught in the brake/rotor assembly, and the hub rotates fairly freely by hand. Any other suggestions?

Cheers,

G

Edited January 7, 2007 by grahamtwatson

[MagnusB]

It could be Gremlins, did you check for those?

[OBVIOUS]

Are the wheels touching the inside of the wheel arch?

[/OBVIOUS]

[tmc]

Kinda a stupid question, but could the rim be warped? My wife warped the rim on my snow tires (on a pothole) when she borrowed my car one day.

[wwest]

Something inside the tire itself..??

[grahamtwatson]

Couple of interesting ideas there - Thanks!

I'll try swapping the front wheels around when I get back from my trip this week.

Thanks All.