Help me track down this squeeling noise.

[The Shape]

I bought a '93 4 popper coupe for a daily driver so now my '87 GT sets in the drive way most of the week and I drive it on the weekends. I have noticed that after letting it set for even a day when I start backing out of my driveway I have this squeeling sound coming from my rear drivers side wheel. It sounds exactly like your front brakes do when they get worn. Only this is happening while the brakes aren't applied. After getting backed out it will do this until about halfway down the block. When I have aplied the brakes a few times it goes away. I am by no means an expert on the rearend. So I am just wondering if this is more likely brake related or could it be my wheel bearing? Just need to be pointed in the right direction of what to look at. Thanks

 

[HISSIN50]

Hey J,
i would bet brakes. something might be hung up and/or the star adjuster is not quite up to par.
when you go backwards, you kinda move the hardware the other way and it shifts around (in my experience). i never bothered to mess with it.

good luck and bump. PS you still wanna get a bike?

 

[The Shape]

Hey Hissin yeah I was thinking brakes since wheel bearings tend to grind instead of squeel. I am still thinking of getting a bike. The last few weekends I have been helping my friend chop a 1971 CB750. I completely rewired it last weekend and it cranked right up. This weekend we plan to get the sporster tank mounted on it and maybe fab up the jockey shift I will shoot you some pics when we finish.

 

[HISSIN50]

TS, cool - i look forward to pics. sounds like a fun project. jockey shifter should be fun! it can be some work to fab linkage for the shifter and clutch though.
(i have 3 bikes though none are jockied).

wheel bearings, In my experience, make a serious howl and rumble.

if this only happens when you back up (and perhaps for a short time after going forward again), i would still bet brakes. the clamping force is opposite from normal and makes some racquet. ive had luck removing the drums and cleaning and greasing the pivot spots on the backing plate and tightening the not-so-automatic brake adjuster star-wheels.

side note: when you are on a closed road course, wearing a helmet, etc, have you tried applying the ebrake a little bit while driving at say 20 mph? that can be decent for pinpointing noises - the rear calipers on the eclipse make some chatter and doing this quiets them up for a bit.

oh yeah, the linings are ok? ive seen one corner of a brake shoe be worn (as if it dragged), while the rest of the lining was great. had i not been paying close attention (normally im too lazy to lean over underneath) i would have missed it.

good luck J.

 

[blk92stangg]

It could also be rust accumulation on the drums. Maybe you are parked next to sprinker, a perpetual puddle, or something similar. Either way if that is the case, after a few feet or a few steps on the brakes, the shoes wears off the rust.

 

[The Shape]

That makes sense blk92. It has been pretty rainy and humid here lately. And my next door neighbor has some sort of obsession with watering his yard. Hissin I agree the jockey shift is a bit extreme. He has a couple of other bikes he is setting this thing up to look like a 70's style chopper. Check this site out for some similar bikes. www.hondachopper.com