Strange noise coming from the wheels

[wayne.yl]

I have this strange noise, kinda like metal chirping or clacking when I get the trailer going 15mph and faster. I cannot figure out what the noise is or even exactly where it is coming from. after riding my kids bike along side the trailer while my neighbor drove, I have concluded that the noise is coming from the wheels. The only thing I can think is that the disc brakes pads are rattling as they are loose, or it could be the bearings going out or possibly it could be the little hub inserts on the the aluminum wheels. Honestly, I am just guessing and am hoping someone might shed some light on the mystery. I recently repacked the bearings on the trailer this past summer and followed the instructions on this forum to the tee. I am hoping this noise is not a result of me doing something wrong but at this point I am only guessing. Any thoughts?
wayne

[Fyrzowt]

In my past life I worked in the auto repair business. It is very common for wheel covers and wheel trim to make clicking, and other noises. IMO it would be less likely for the disk brakes to be making noise, usually they will click when applying brakes after changing directions, ie forward or backward. This would cause the pad to shift in the direction of the wheel rotation.

Get a rubber mallett and bang around on the wheel, you can usually duplicate the noise and pinpoint it.

Dave

[FreshAir]

Could be the wheel covers but all the clicking and clackings I've had in vehicles I've driven in 52 years have been bad bearings.
Neil.

[dwightdi]

The 77's that came with disk brakes usually came with Mag wheels with no hub caps, so that is out. The 40 year old disk brakes usually make noise and wear unevenly. It is likely one of the brake shoes has one end of one pad worn out. The only way I got mine to wear evenly was to, rotate them half way through their life. Andy has new sets but he charges alot. You can buy them direct for alot less if you can locate the supplier.

[boatdoc]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

I have this strange noise, kinda like metal chirping or clacking when I get the trailer going 15mph and faster. I cannot figure out what the noise is or even exactly where it is coming from. after riding my kids bike along side the trailer while my neighbor drove, I have concluded that the noise is coming from the wheels. The only thing I can think is that the disc brakes pads are rattling as they are loose, or it could be the bearings going out or possibly it could be the little hub inserts on the the aluminum wheels. Honestly, I am just guessing and am hoping someone might shed some light on the mystery. I recently repacked the bearings on the trailer this past summer and followed the instructions on this forum to the tee. I am hoping this noise is not a result of me doing something wrong but at this point I am only guessing. Any thoughts?
wayne

Hi Wayne; Remove wheel caps and repeat your drive test. Second, jack up one side of the trailer and spin the wheels by hand, any growling noise while wheel is rotating indicates problem with bearings which is magnified under load. Do not mistake brake pad drag for the low growl of the bearing. Compare the sound of each wheel against rest of them. Loose lug nut may be possibility. Check for cracked welds on inside of rims. Check torque on axle retaining bolts to frame, by trying to turn bolt heads exposed behind the wheels. If they turn easy, they are loose. Check shock absorber bushings for free play. Finally be sure your trailer plug is clean and dry at the TV.
Hope you uncover the mystery. Thanks "Boatdoc"

[Melody Ranch]

I'd vote for check the bearings...its a good time of the year to grease 'em up anyway.
I really subscribe to the "get a bigger hammer" school of thought too.
Apply it to all problems.

[wayne.yl]

Hey all,
thanks for the advice. I am going to start eliminating the possibilities as boatdoc suggests. I will keep you posted. I was hoping to get to it today but the Christmas tree and lights had to come first. My 10 year old daughter was driving the day's agenda. Oh well.
Wayne

[FreshAir]

Earlier in the 20th century mischievious pranksters would put rocks in peoples hub caps. That silliness died out with full wheel covers as it did not have the same effect. If you have hub caps on your AS and have old pranksters that live near you.......

Neil.

[wayne.yl]

Originally Posted by boatdoc

Hi Wayne; Remove wheel caps and repeat your drive test. Second, jack up one side of the trailer and spin the wheels by hand, any growling noise while wheel is rotating indicates problem with bearings which is magnified under load. Do not mistake brake pad drag for the low growl of the bearing. Compare the sound of each wheel against rest of them. Loose lug nut may be possibility. Check for cracked welds on inside of rims. Check torque on axle retaining bolts to frame, by trying to turn bolt heads exposed behind the wheels. If they turn easy, they are loose. Check shock absorber bushings for free play. Finally be sure your trailer plug is clean and dry at the TV.
Hope you uncover the mystery. Thanks "Boatdoc"

Boatdoc, I am just curious about how the trailer plug could be a factor in this noise mystery. One reason is that I live in Oregon where it rains alot in the winter and having a dry trailer plug is difficult. we are wet most of the time up here. Just curious.
thanks for your input.
wayne

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

Boatdoc, I am just curious about how the trailer plug could be a factor in this noise mystery. One reason is that I live in Oregon where it rains alot in the winter and having a dry trailer plug is difficult. we are wet most of the time up here. Just curious.
thanks for your input.
wayne

Wayne,
You can get single strands of wire bridging each other that will cause partial/intermittent application of the brakes. I have actually had a similar problem that was caused by a dual filament bulb that had vibrated so much in it's socket that the lead on the leads was bridging the terminals in the socket...took a while to find that one.

Aaron

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

Boatdoc, I am just curious about how the trailer plug could be a factor in this noise mystery. One reason is that I live in Oregon where it rains alot in the winter and having a dry trailer plug is difficult. we are wet most of the time up here. Just curious.
thanks for your input.
wayne

Glad Press & Seal - wrap it around your plug and seal tightly when you aren't towing. I keep a roll in "Big Dawg" my tow vehicle.

ANOTHER item from the "Girl's Tool Kit" that's real handy.

Paula Ford

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

I have this strange noise, kinda like metal chirping or clacking when I get the trailer going 15mph and faster. I cannot figure out what the noise is or even exactly where it is coming from. after riding my kids bike along side the trailer while my neighbor drove, I have concluded that the noise is coming from the wheels. The only thing I can think is that the disc brakes pads are rattling as they are loose, or it could be the bearings going out or possibly it could be the little hub inserts on the the aluminum wheels. Honestly, I am just guessing and am hoping someone might shed some light on the mystery. I recently repacked the bearings on the trailer this past summer and followed the instructions on this forum to the tee. I am hoping this noise is not a result of me doing something wrong but at this point I am only guessing. Any thoughts?
wayne

Several different things can contribute to those noises.

1. Worn clevis pins.

2. Worn bushings in the calipers.

3. Worn or loose studs on the caliper brackets.

4. Warped rotors.

5. Lastly, a defective bearing.

You must remove the wheels to thoroughly inspect each disc brake assembly.

You can rotate each rotor by hand, to find which one is causing the noise.

They should all be absolutely silent.

Depending on what you find, we have replacement parts for the original Airstream disc brake system. We also overhaul the calipers.

Andy

[boatdoc]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

Boatdoc, I am just curious about how the trailer plug could be a factor in this noise mystery. One reason is that I live in Oregon where it rains alot in the winter and having a dry trailer plug is difficult. we are wet most of the time up here. Just curious.
thanks for your input.
wayne

Hey Wayne; I was sure you would know why I said it. A wet shorted connection in your plug can momentarily send partial current to your brakes causing the solenoids to clack. Thanks "Boatdoc"

[wayne.yl]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

I have this strange noise, kinda like metal chirping or clacking when I get the trailer going 15mph and faster. I cannot figure out what the noise is or even exactly where it is coming from. after riding my kids bike along side the trailer while my neighbor drove, I have concluded that the noise is coming from the wheels. The only thing I can think is that the disc brakes pads are rattling as they are loose, or it could be the bearings going out or possibly it could be the little hub inserts on the the aluminum wheels. Honestly, I am just guessing and am hoping someone might shed some light on the mystery. I recently repacked the bearings on the trailer this past summer and followed the instructions on this forum to the tee. I am hoping this noise is not a result of me doing something wrong but at this point I am only guessing. Any thoughts?
wayne

I still have this noise I described several months ago and was hoping it would go away when I replaced the bearings several days ago. I have narrowed it down to the the calipers. I raised the trailer and spun each wheel. I found that there is some very slight play in the wheels and this results in a rattle at the caliber They rattle on the mounting posts very slightly but enough to make the noise. My question is whether there should be any play in the wheels at all? Have I not tightened the bearing nut down enough?
thanks
wayne

[azflycaster]

You should feel a little play in the wheels when they are tightened correctly.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

I still have this noise I described several months ago and was hoping it would go away when I replaced the bearings several days ago. I have narrowed it down to the the calipers. I raised the trailer and spun each wheel. I found that there is some very slight play in the wheels and this results in a rattle at the caliber They rattle on the mounting posts very slightly but enough to make the noise. My question is whether there should be any play in the wheels at all? Have I not tightened the bearing nut down enough?
thanks
wayne

There should be very little, if any, play. Are the pads rattling in the calipers? Or are the entire caliper assemblies rattling? If the pads are rattling, it's a pretty easy fix. Just slather some "disc brake quiet" on the BACKS of the pads, let the stuff get tacky, and reassemble them. The guide pins should not rattle. There should be rubber bushings holding them from rattling, usually mounted inside the mounting holes for the guid pins. BTW, guide pins is the term for the fancy sliding bolts that hold the calipers in place

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by wayne.yl

I still have this noise I described several months ago and was hoping it would go away when I replaced the bearings several days ago. I have narrowed it down to the the calipers. I raised the trailer and spun each wheel. I found that there is some very slight play in the wheels and this results in a rattle at the caliber They rattle on the mounting posts very slightly but enough to make the noise. My question is whether there should be any play in the wheels at all? Have I not tightened the bearing nut down enough?
thanks
wayne

In time, the bushings and clevis pins wear.

When enough wear has taken place, strange noises seemingly from the wheels will take place.

We have the original bushings and clevis pins, along with many other parts for the original disc brakes, including the pads, pistons, boots, etc.

Andy

[davidz71]

When I replaced the bearings on my '77 which had the disc brakes, I used the red silicone for disc brake pins. It worked like a charm.

[wayne.yl]

I am going to try the silicone first. But I will check the bushings on the calipers because I think this is where the most noise is emanating.

Andy, I read over this thread again and should have taken your advice back in December and checked the bushings then. I think this is the problem.
Thanks all for the help....again!
Terry, thanks also for teaching me the correct terminology re; the guide pins.
There is no shortage of great info on this forum.

[Streamers]

Wayne,

I am having the same noise problem with my 77 disc brakes. They have mentioned a rubber bushing on the clevis/guide pins but I haven't heard of those before. That could be my problem, I guess. I'll replace clevis/guide pins first but would like to know about the rubber bushings.