99 Outback Limited (BG) with wheel rubbing sounds in rear

[Shep2112]

Hey everyone, I came across this site a while back finally got around to registering yesterday. :)

Anyway, I have a problem with my Outback. When I'm driving slowly (say up to 20mph, haven't listened above that), my car has a squeaking sort of light metal on metal sound. And sometimes it has a more solid rubbing sound. My e-brake isn't very tight currently and if I pull it up about 1/3 to 1/2 way, the car slows down *very* slightly, but the noise completely goes away. Generally if I let the brake back down, the noise returns, but sometimes I get lucky and there's no noise at all when I let it back down.

Going along with this, when I make right hand turns, there's a bad rubbing sound in the back right wheel, like rubbing rusty metal on a grinding wheel. It stops as soon as the lateral strain on the wheel goes away.

For some reason, when I drive I don't like my left foot on the dead pedal, I usually have it back halfway to the seat, where the floor is a bit wavy. I can feel something travel about an inch or so, underneath the floor in that place. It feels small and lightweight, like something just shifting. I *think* it's after I let off the brake, a few seconds later, but I haven't narrowed it down yet. I'm not sure if this is a brake cable or something totally unrelated.

I had the rotors and pads and calipers replaced around a year ago, and have put maybe 3,000-5,000 miles on them since them. The place that did the work told me the rubbing in the back was from the bowl shaped things that surround the rotors. I don't remember the name, they're in the Haynes book I have. I know mine are really rusty and should be replaced, but this doesn't explain the sound and e-brake relationship, does it? Just the rubbing on right hand turns I would think.

I have 130k, maybe 10 or 15k on new, original size tires. All the shocks and struts are fine, the car rides great and the light rubbing sound isn't audible with the windows closed, but noises in the rear right are.

Any thoughts on this? :-?

Thanks in advance!
Eric

[Airgne]

wheel bearings maybe.

[Shep2112]

Thanks for the reply.

You think the bearings would be the grinding on right turns or the squeaking that goes away with the e-brake?

It's been a while since the wheels were off, but it seems to me there was a bit of shine on the backing plate (that's the thing I couldn't remember the name of). Just looking through the Haynes book again now.

Eric

[Airgne]

a rock might have hit your back plate causing some rubbing. i would take it all off on the back and have a good look.

[Shep2112]

I don't think that's the case. When I had the brakes redone, they had the stuff apart and didn't say anything. When I took the car out after the job was done, I noticed the sound still there, so I brought it back and they said the plates were rubbing and hadn't noticed before. I could jack it up here and try to find the problem I guess, but I don't have many tools. I think that's more of a nuisance than a problem, but this squeaking thing related to the e-brake and the movement in the floor both have me pretty concerned. I have no idea what's under the floor though. :roll:

[Airgne]

i would have taken it back to them and told them to fix it. if you told them about it before they worked on it than they should have at least looked to see what it was. if you didnt tell them i would have told them it started after and they have to fix it. you might need to wait tell more ppl see the post. i dont really know much about subies.

[Huffer]

I would really consider checking out the brake shield, which is behind the rotor. If it's bent it could be contacting the rotor.

Get the handbrake cable adjusted, or do it yourself by taking apart the interior by the handle and turning the adjustment nut - check your Haynes.

[Shep2112]

Yeah, I brought it back and was like "why is this making noise after spending all that money?" and they pulled the wheels off and said it was the shields rubbing, because they're so rusty. The noise wasn't so bad at the time, but it's gotten worse since.

I can do the handbrake adjustment, I've read the section on it several times and I don't have the screws in the console, so it should be easy enough. :)

I think I'll bring it back though to get inspected, because the handbrake shouldn't make noises go away, normally, right?

And wouldn't you know, since posting the other day, it's been quieter. Similar to the effect that happens when you bring something in to be checked out and it no longer has the problem.

I don't think the shields are bent, they looked round to me. It seems more like something flexes on right hand turns and the parts are able to come closer together briefly.

Eric

[Shep2112]

So strangely enough, just driving my car more often lately seems to have eliminated the noises? I guess it could have been a *lot* of rust built up or something. I'll try to tighten the brake this week or next, just to have it working properly. Seems to be sounding alright now. Right turns are sounding better too. So strange. :)

Eric

[J-Rock!]

it still could be wheelbearings cuase you dont need to be in a turn to hear the rubbing noise but, have it checked and like ol boy said check your backing plate for your rear brakes and rub your hand around the tire to see if it is cupped (out of round) that will cause a noise like a wheel bearing.. (bearings are known to start making noise frequently on that model)

[Shep2112]

I'll check the tires out and see if there may be a problem, thanks for the tip. :) My tire pressure was down to about 22.5 all around the other day, so I put more air into all of them. It had been about 4 months or so since they were last inflated and I knew they were getting low, though not that low. Reinflating may have helped too, but the noise went away before that. Though I don't think it would have made the wobble type of squeaky sound if it was low on air, because that's different than a bulge in one spot.

I'll check the tires out when I get a free moment this week. I suspect they're fine though, I think they're only around a year or so old, but I've seen defective tires before, so I'll see.