Rubbing Noise from Front Wheel When Driving? (Explained)

The car is a highly important part of the American way of life. According to the US Department of Transportation’s car ownership statistics published on July 26th, 2021, 276 million vehicles were registered in the United States of America by themselves.

However, despite owning a car, many of us are unaware of many of its technical problems. Let’s take a look at one of these issues and see if a car’s front wheel generates rubbing noises when driving.

Can a car make a rubbing noise from the front wheel when driving?

When driving, a car’s front wheel can produce rubbing noises. There are various causes for these rubbing sounds. It can be caused by a faulty tire, brake caliper, pad, or rotor failure, problems with the CV joint or wheel bearing, or friction between the brake pad’s metallic material and something.

Rubbing noise from the front wheel is highly prevalent these days while driving. However, many of us dismiss it as indifference and pay little attention to it.

Despite the fact that this is a typical problem, it could indicate a major mechanical problem with your vehicle.

Nevertheless, when driving slowly, a rubbing noise from the front wheel could signal a problem with the brake pads or wheel bearing.

The grinding noise coming from the right front wheel during braking is due to friction between the brake disc and the brake caliper.

Besides, every vehicle requires a brake system. Without it, a vehicle can lose control and cause serious collisions. The rubbing noises coming from the front wheel are most likely due to mechanical issues with the braking caliper and brake pads.

Moreover, if your brake caliper is damaged, it will be unable to clench on the rotor, which is responsible for deceleration when driving. As a result, there’s a high possibility the brake will fail, resulting in some unwelcome and dangerous accidents.

Instead of ignoring the rubbing noises from the front wheel while driving, take it to the nearby auto shop for a quick repair.

Why do new tires make a rubbing noise?

New tires can generate rubbing noises at times. However, there’s no need to be concerned because it’s very common for your first few rides. 

However, a minimum amount of lubricant must be distributed on all sides of new tires. Therefore, new tires can make rubbing noises because of a lack of sufficient lubricant distribution.

Furthermore, because the tires are brand new, it is necessary to warm up quickly and stretch enough to be flexible when running. As a result, if your new tires are producing rubbing noises while driving, don’t be concerned.

However, if you discover that your new tires are still generating the same rubbing noises after a month or two of driving, there may be some mechanical problems with your vehicle. It also means that you should get your car serviced as soon as feasible.

If such a case happens, pay a visit to your nearest service center for a full maintenance and routine check-up by an expert technician to diagnose the problem and resolve it as soon as possible.

What causes a rubbing sound when driving a car?

A rubbing sound in your car can be caused for multiple reasons. Let us know some of the reasons about what actually causes these rubbing sounds while we drive our car. Those are as follows:

Faulty tires:

The first and foremost reason for the rubbing sound in the tires while driving can be because of faulty tires.

Moreover, if you drive your car on stony surfaces and in harsh road conditions full of pits, there is a high chance that your tires might have gone through some collateral damage.

As a result, the tires might’ve gone bad, causing the rubbing noises.

Brake caliper, pad, or rotor failure:

Secondly, mechanical issues in your brake caliper, brake pad, and rotor can also be one of the primary reasons behind the rubbing sound while you are driving your car.

Therefore, if you notice rubbing noises, don’t take any further risks and take it to your nearest repair shop.

Issues with CV joint or wheel bearing:

The CV joint, or Constant Velocity, is responsible for connecting the wheels with your vehicle’s transmission system. On the other hand, wheel bearings play a vital role in keeping the wheels connected to the axle.

Any mechanical issues with these two could also be the cause of the rubbing sound in your car’s tires.

Friction between the brake pad’s metallic material and some other thing:

Sometimes, due to continuous movement of the vehicle, the metallic material in the brake pad might come into contact with some other things, like any type of foreign particle.

This is also one of the reasons behind the rubbing sound while driving.

What noise will a bad wheel bearing make?

If you have a bad wheel bearing, you may hear a variety of strange noises. Most commonly, you may hear some chattering noises if you have a bad wheel bearing.

Furthermore, squealing, ticking, buzzing, and snapping noises are common symptoms of a damaged wheel bearing. These noises indicate that the wheel bearings are in bad shape.

Besides, many of us are unaware of what these noises represent or indicate, so they may appear common to us. When making quick turns on the road, these noises sometimes fade away.

However, the disappearance of noise does not suggest that your wheel bearing has been repaired on its own. Every time you drive your vehicle, there’s a chance that the condition of your wheel bearings will deteriorate.

As a result, if not addressed promptly, it may result in serious accidents. So, don’t ignore these noises and get them fixed as soon as possible by visiting your local repair shop.

How to fix a rubbing noise from front wheel when driving?

Rubbing noises while driving can create panic in the driver’s mind if he is aware of the risks that are prominent in that situation. Therefore, here are some step-by-step guides to fix this rubbing noise from the front wheel:

Lift your car using a jack:

First of all, using a mechanical jack, lift your car off the ground so that you can get a clearer view of the bottom surface of the car for better inspection. If you can’t do it yourself, call a mechanic for expert assistance.

Check the brakes for any possible damage:

Next, examine the brakes for any possible damage. Look into the brake caliper for any wear and tear. If you notice any major damage, replace the brakes or fix them accordingly.

Examine the wheel bearings and brake pads:

Thirdly, inspect the wheel bearings carefully to find out if they are loosening up or not. As previously stated, bad wheel bearings cause a variety of noises.

Therefore, change the wheel bearings if necessary. Also, examine if the thickness of the brake pad is intact.

The thickness of brake pads is usually 7-10 millimeters. If you think that the brake pad is quite damaged, replace it as per necessary.

Look for any damage to the rotor and dust shield:

The function of the dust shield is to protect the rotor from coming into contact with any kind of foreign particle such as dirt, dust, water, stones, etc.

If you think this thin piece of metal sheet has gone through much wear and tear, replace it with a new one.

Look for any rusty edges on the rotor. Make sure it’s clean to avoid rubbing noises in the front wheels.

Start your vehicle and drive it to be examined:

Finally, after you are done with all the necessary changes to your vehicle, start the engine and drive it to examine whether the rubbing sound in the front wheel is still present or not.

If you think you possess enough expertise in this field, make the necessary changes yourself with the right tools.

But in case you don’t, call a mechanic or take your car to the nearest automobile shop to perform the above mentioned steps.

Does cars make rubbing noise when driving stops when braking?

Yes, the car usually stops making the rubbing noise when the brake is applied.

When it comes to the tires, some wheels are balanced with tape weights on the inside of the wheel, which can hit the brake caliper when the wheel turns while the car is in motion. As a result, the rubbing sound occurs while driving the car.

The rubbing noises are usually heard while the car is in motion. But as soon as the brakes are applied, the motion of the car is disrupted and the rubbing noise stops immediately.

Final Thoughts

The front wheels of a car might make rubbing noises when driving. This rubbing noise of the front wheels might be caused by a number of factors. Taking the proper procedures can quickly resolve this issue, removing all of the threats and concerns associated with the rubbing sounds in your vehicle.