So last week I was on a high as my girl glided thru the MOT few minor advisories …one of which - Nearside front wheel slightly distorted.
She’s my only & everyday car … i’ve been walking like forest gump everywhere, in order to justify keeping her, i’m trying to cut down on fuel costs so i’ve hardly driven since the mot.
Suspiciously i’ve developed an intermittent high pitched squeal and its burning hot on that wheel … i’ve jet washed in case there was any grit etc - no luck.
So could this be a seized brake problem?
or is this the distortion ? if it is does this mean I just need alignment ?
Sounds like you have a seized caliper - brake pads binding on disc creating heat. Should be easy enough to sort out with worse case scenario being a new caliper.
Nearside wheel distorted means it is not running true - perhaps hit a kerb hard or something. I would probably replace the wheel.
Had a think about this - if the brake disc has not been fitted correctly and is not flush with the the wheel hub, the brakes will likely heat up and the wheel will appear distorted.
Is there any uncomfortable pedal movement when you apply the brakes?
Seized caliper is probably the most likely cause. However it does seem to be a coincidence that it is the same wheel that is reported to be slightly distorted. Is the wheel correctly seated on the hub? If not it could be rubbing causing overheating. Can you see any scuffs on the caliper when looking through the wheel?
Jack it up on that corner and see if it spins freely. If the caliper is sticking you probably won’t move it by hand. If it just sticks in one position then remove the wheel, clean off the hub and the back of the wheel and refit.
A sticking caliper will be real easy for any mechanic or even a local fast fit centre to diagnose.
Kwik-Fit, Halfords, ATS, F1 Autocentres and National Tyres all currently offering free brake checks. Not saying they will be the cheapest or most reliable for any work required but an easy first step to give you more of an idea.
If you can wait till Saturday late PM or Sunday I can get over and have a look for you. I’m in Bassett, Southampton - so just down the road. Let me know.
Distorted wheel? - That would be the main problem, rather than a seized caliper, One brake pad would be affected, and eventually tyre wear will show up too, on the offending tread. Depends whether you have original steel wheels on, or alloys. Spare steelies are probably available singly at most scrapyards, for a few pounds, alloys are more of a problem - they tend to be sold in sets of four, and as you are trying hard to save your hard earned, one wheel would be very difficult to get hold of. With luck (you’ll need it) if the wheels are steel, my suggestion would head in that direction, you can get the tyre changed over at most garages, assuming it is re-usable. Rhino does make a point about the brake disc, but a poorly seated disk would be an exception rather than the rule. Worth checking though, just in case. Some specialists can sort out distorted alloys, for a price, but one may not bear close to you. That will depend on what damage the wheel suffered, but a good wheel man will know at a glance if it can be repaired or not.
Once the wheel is sorted, then you can see if the wheel still gets hot, and if the caliper is seizing, get a replacement fitted, but we are talking around £100+ for that, so I hope for your sake that’s not a problem.
And - another point, wheel bearing? get that checked for running true, and that the bearing itself is not causing the problem. - More expense, but worth the effort.
no I’ve not noticed any pedal problems … had my pads & discs replaced by a friend in June last year - noticed nothing strange since …
however i’m sure my South Central Members would agree …that i can be a little ditsy sometimes - tbh it’s a miracle that I noticed the squealing …haha
usually I drive out to them in a panic … they are quite used to my hysteria & very kind in diagnosing any problems - but I couldnt risk the drive this time!
Thanks for your help … nice to be forearmed with info … as a woman , if u walk into a garage with a clueless face on , you feel like ur handed them an open invitation to rip you off! :0)
That would be amazing if you can spare the time, I would be most grateful .
The next time I drive her it will have to be straight to a garage, as the wheel got hot & noisy very quick the other day … .
However … I would like to be in the know before I do that so I don’t get robbed … as I can be a bit clueless … car wise!
my trusty mechanics that I used for years, moved out of area… so i don’t have that ‘trust’ yet in my new garage .
Id waited many years to get my MX … I bought her as a 2 year project … 2 years ago?? …
I adore her but obviously she costs me rather more than my 1L picanto used to…but I can’t bare to part with her … so I’m walking to work a lot to reduce my rush hour mileage , so I can afford to keep her… I can handle services & mot‘s… but anything other than that causes me to spin out .