Metal scraping sound from rear wheel can make you nervous because you don’t know the cause.
Your vehicle will make strange noises to let you know if an issue needs to be fixed immediately. Drivers, you should know what noises are normal and uncommon for your car while driving!
What about car scraping noise? It signifies a problem you must diagnose and fix as soon as possible. Don’t know how? We’re here to help; let’s learn more about it!
Metal Scraping Sound From Rear Wheel: Why And How To Fix
The grinding sound might originate from the bedding-in brake, dirty brake, a lodged stone, worn pads, bent dust covers/splash guards, or the issues in the parking brake, brake caliper, CV joints, bearings, and rear differentials.
Depending on your vehicle’s condition, there are many reasons that lead to scraping noise from the wheel while driving. Now, let’s take a closer look at them!
Bedding-in Brake
A bedding-in brake can be the first to blame if your car sounds like metal scraping when driving.
When it comes to getting the most out of your selected brake compound in terms of overall performance, longevity, and results, bedding in new pads can make a huge difference.
However, if you do it incorrectly, it will produce scraping sounds from the brake system. It will help to double-check to ensure it’s installed correctly or have professional mechanics fix it.
Dust & Debris In The Brake
If you hear the back tires grinding, remember the last time you cleaned your vehicle.
When they are trapped inside the brake, a loud metal sound will be emitted due to the force of friction. It can even affect performance and damage this system in the long run.
Look around the brakes for any lodged debris. You can either manually remove it or gently apply the brake while driving in reverse to free up the dust.
If this doesn’t work, bring your car to a reputable mechanic.
Stone Get Lodged
A stone or stray gravel can occasionally get wedged between the rotor and pad.
The problematic rear wheel will continue to grind until one of them occurs, and the tire sounds like metal scraping as a result.
The stone wears out since it is not as durable as the metal rotor or the substance of the pad, whether it be ceramic or another material, and it falls out.
Although the stone may not be visible, you should be able to notice a faint scoring where the rock has rubbed on the rotor.
It isn’t necessary to take the wheel off to view it. If you have steel wheels, look between the rim spokes or remove the hubcap.
Worn Pads
Your brake pads may be worn out once you hear a grinding or squeaking noise when you depress the brake pedal.
When the backing sheet becomes inert, metal comes in contact with the metal on the rotor. It’s also conceivable that the braking caliper and rotor are making contact.
When your brake pads begin to wear out, brake pad replacement is what you should do at once. Unless your brakes can sustain significant damage, your rotor may also suffer damage.
Then, the caliper will experience the same conditions as the rotor.
Bent Splash Guards/ Dust Covers
A dust shield can occasionally take a blow and bend toward the rotor. Therefore, it won’t matter if you apply the brakes or not because you will always hear a grinding sound while driving.
When you can see this through the holes and it is rubbing, you should be able to pry the shield off the rotor with a screwdriver to remove the back right tire making grinding noise.
Parking Brake
The brake pedal in your car’s interior is on a different circuit than the parking or emergency brake. This circuit similarly employs the calipers, rear rotors, and pads to stop a moving car, but much more gently.
Incorrect operation of this circuit could cause the caliper to become stuck and cause rear brake scraping noise when driving.
While the more powerful foot pedal circuit is hydraulically powered, this system operates via cables.
Brake Caliper
There are two positions in which brake calipers might seize up. You won’t hear a grinding sound if they are stuck open, but you might notice a dramatic decline in braking power.
As a result, when the brake pedal is depressed, the caliper forces the pad onto the rotor. And then, you can hear the brakes scraping when driving.
When the brake pedal is not depressed, one technique to check if the caliper is stuck without taking the wheel off is to check the gap between the rotor and the pad.
A few millimeters of clearance is the bare minimum. The caliper is seized if you can’t fit the tip of a screwdriver between them.
CV Joints
Through the driveshaft and the driveshaft, the CV joints in your car connect the transmission to the wheels. The final component to transfer power to your wheels is the outer joints.
Your automobile won’t move without CV joints.
Since the drive shaft is rigid, but the wheels always have some flexibility, these joints enable the minimal movement required to maintain the consistent power supply for your car’s wheels.
A grease on the interior of a rear tire is another sign that they have failed. It has broken free from the CV rubber boot that protects the joint.
The steering wheel itself may also vibrate slightly, apart from a scraping sound.
Bearings
There is a set of bearings on each back wheel.
Their purpose is to enable the wheel to spin smoothly, but when the grease lubricating the ball bearings in the race dries out, the metal balls begin to rub against one another.
The result is a scraping sound from the wheel. The wheel bearings must be replaced then.
Even when the wheel is absolutely solid, faulty bearings can still occur. You can check the wheel by rotating it while being jacked up. The wheel’s bad bearings will make a loud noise as it turns.
Rear Differentials
When cornering or turning, the car differential is a smart gear arrangement that lets each rear rotate at different rates. These differential gears are expensive to repair if they break.
Depending on whatever component has failed, even a small variation can produce a variety of noises. Spider gear failure is typically accompanied by the back tire making a grinding noise.
If you hear grinding noises and notice light brown transmission fluid on the driveway where the center rear of your automobile is parked, a lubrication leak is most likely the culprit.
Stopping a fluid leak by replacing the rear differential’s gasket if it has worn out is the least expensive differential repair.
FAQs
Is It Safe To Drive With Scraping Noise?
No, it’s not safe to drive if your wheel makes scraping noise when driving; what if you continue moving?
It can lead to potential dangers because you don’t know what’s happening and what parts need to be repaired. Sudden stops, vibrations, or even engine damage is on the horizon.
For this reason, try to have them checked as soon as possible or take your vehicle to a nearby car center.
What Signs To Change Car Brake Pads?
Signs that you should change your car brake pads:
- Car making scraping noise or squealing noise.
- You hear a clicking noise when driving or accelerating.
- The vehicle takes more time to stop than usual.
- When you stop, your car’s nose pulls to one side.
- You feel the vibration when you press the brake.
How To Check My Rear Wheel Bearing?
If your tire making scraping noise, you can check your rear wheel bearing at home with the following steps:
- Jack up the wheel
- At 3 and 9 o’clock, grab it.
- Rock it back and forth.
- Execute between 12 and 6 o’clock.
- See whether you can detect any play.
- When you rock it, it should be snug, but if you hear a thunk, that isn’t good.
In the early stages of bearing failure, your car’s bearings will grind or whine.
As the condition worsens, bearings begin to get loose in the second stage, and they can no longer spin by the third stage.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair/Replace Rear Wheel Bearing?
Now, it’s time to fix the scraping noise from the tire when driving. How much will you need to pay if it comes from a wheel bearing?
If you repair and replace yourself at home, of course, it will be more economical. Fees will range from $150 to $200 depending on the quality and type of replacement you use.
If you bring the car to the service center, you will have to spend more, including the labor and car part fees. So the total cost can range from $250 to over $400 depending on the rates in your area.
Bottom Lines
Metal scraping sound from rear wheel is a warning sign that you need to check some parts, especially the wheel and brake on the car.
Continuing to drive could put you in danger or lead to more serious damage.
It’s not difficult to diagnose it at home, provided you have the right tools and knowledge. If not, we still highly recommend turning to experts’ help to check and avoid mishaps.