Wheel is squeeking
 

For the past 2 years when it gets cold like around this time of year my left front wheel makes a squeeking/grinding noise. What's this about? I have no idea about how well greased it is because I never really checked.

Usually brakes, take her out on the highway and give her a few good hard stops from speed to break the glaze. Cold weather tends to glaze brake pads because they don't get hot enough under normal city use.

Might as well blow the carbon out while your there! <img src="graemlins/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="[mwink]" /> :p

Makes a squeeking/grinding noise when?? When you're sitting still just turning the wheels back and forth or going down the road. Tie rod ends are notorious for drying up and making noise on Fords cause Ford didn't put grease fittings in most of them from the factory. If it's when turning your wheel back and forth could be tie-rods or dry ball joints. Otherwise could be in brakes like chuck said.

Not the brakes.I just put brand new ones on. It only makes the noise when the car is in motion.

Brand new brake pads glaze just as easily as worn pads. It's not really a matter of how new they are it is how they are used, aftermarket brake pads are notorious for squeeking and is the main reason why I run OEM pads (their usually the same price anyway).

Did you silicone the back of the pads to the caliper piston? Doesn't always work mind you. Have you taken her out and done some real hard stops to get them hot yet?

Ditto to what chuck said. The beauty of semi-metalic pads is they last longer but they do tend to get noisy. Did you machine the rotors when pads were installed (not a guarentee but it helps to quiet the pads during break-in)? If the noise changes intensity when you step on the brake pedal it is most likely the brakes. If there is no change in the sound at all when stepping on and off the brakes you may need to look somewhere else. Also a good idea to make sure you don't have a bent shield behind the rotor if your car is equipted with one.

it's possible that one of the calipers isn't releasing the rotor completly. seen that on several fords. lift the wheel in question and see if it spins freely. if you feel it drag or grab, then your caliper might need replacing..... keep in mind thats my $0.02 though

don't know why it would happen when it cools off though......

[ November 23, 2002: Message edited by: crazy larry ]</p>