My 2004 Pontiac Montana minivan started making a new noise during my morning commute today (my Bonneville is not currently driveable due to maintenance in-progress).

It sounds like somebody put a box of loud, angry crickets somewhere on the left side of the vehicle. Increases and decreases with speed. Goes away completely when turning left, gets worse when turning right. Is louder outside van than inside.

Can anybody identify the problem?

Ken_W

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2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

Is it possible the brakes need replaced.
I just had to do our van's because of the same sounds. Pads were shot which trashed the rotors.
When you turn the pads shift back and forth. If the pads are seperating it can cause that too.

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Cadet Blue....Not perfect...But paid for.
K&N Air Filter and Gutted air box. 180 Thermo Cleared Corners More to come.

"Unfortunately there is one thing standing between me and that property: the rightful owners."
- Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles
"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don't know." Capt. Geoffrey T. Spaulding - Groucho Marx - Animal Crackers

Just got done taking the brakes off... The pads looked okay (at about 40% remaining, 26K miles on them), rotors looked okay also (showing wear, but nothing serious). I cleaned the pad slider brackets with a wire brush and then put it all back together. My caliper pins probably could have used some fresh grease, but I am out.

Got it back on the road -- problem is better, but still there. It rarely makes the noise when going straight now, and still doesn't when turning left, but still does when turning right.

Could it be caliper-related, or should I just go ahead and replace the pads anyway? They are AutoZone Duramax C-Gold ceramics, with lifetime warranty, but I don't know if AZ would replace them with 40% of the pad material still remaining.

Don't see how this could be related, but I now seem to hear a bad groaning noise when turning at low speeds. I had heard this intermittently before, but now it happens every time I turn. This one could be a coincidence. I checked my power steering fluid level -- it was fine. Added a little extra fluid -- still no change to the problem.

So -- now I have TWO annoying noises, and no clue as to what to do about them (other than assuming they are brake and power-steering related). Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Ken_W

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2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

Sounds hub related, TBH. Did you check the wheels for play? A dragging caliper is a very loud grinding. Ask me how I know that...

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Checked the wheels for play a few months ago; no issues, but it's possible that something has developed since then. I'll be taking it to my mechanic for an experienced look later this week.

As for the first noise, I hear insects outside my open nighttime window as I'm writing this. One of them sounds a lot like my van noise. Hi-pitched repetitive squeaks. Aaaagh! I just can't get away from it!

Beast00: We need to talk about your mileage... You're throwing good cash away!

Ken_W

_________________
2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

I know. It's got something to do with my tune and driving style, lol.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Problem solved. A grinding noise started a few days ago, so I replaced the caliper. It's all good now.

Ken_W

_________________
2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock