A metallic jingle while turning

[geigs]

Hi all,
Just recently, I noticed a metallic jingling noise coming from the front driver’s side wheel when making a left hand turn or veering left. (1994 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, 4.9 with 72,xxxx miles) It does not seem to matter the speed, but seems more pronounced at faster speeds. The reason I describe it as a jingle is because it sounds like loose change ($) that has been amplified and it's high-pitched. I first noticed it last Friday during a rain storm. I checked the power steering fluid last night and it was a little low, but not severely, so I added some Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak. This morning (after an eight mile drive) I smelled the wheels (hey, you never know) and the passenger front side wheel seem to have a slight burning odor, but nothing a person would notice unless he put his nose up to it. Any suggestions on what this may be and if it warrants concern would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[submariner409]

Have the brake pads been changed, ever ? Not sure about your year, but the pads should have spring steel fingers which rub on the rotor as the pad lining gets dangerously thin. The noise can be pretty loud. Power steering has nothing to do with brake heat or smell.........

Also, check the rubber boots over the constant velocity joints....if one has cracked and the grease gone dry there can be all sorts of metallic mayhem going on just inside the wheel hub area, between the hub and transmission.

[donwon]

If you have to put new pads on it, it is a good time to change the rubber break lines.

[ewill3rd]

You sure it is a left turn?
Sometimes on hard right turns if the starter is bad the bendix will slide out and jingle on the flywheel.
Have seen that a few times.

[krimson_cardnal]

It's all that spare change Cadillac owners have laying around in their rides after spending all the paper stuff! Smell might be coming off engine - bit of oil on a hot part could do that. Brakes/hub/CV make sense as source to me.

Would never have guessed at ewill3rd's observation. Makes sense though, might not be odds on favorite, but it does point out it can come from any where. With all that spare change rattling around us owners need to think out of the box. K_C

[geigs]

And the answer is: left, front brake caliper is frozen and while there is plenty of pad life on right front, there is almost none on the left. It was also noted that the rotors are rusty (which I noticed as well), so I'm replacing both calipers, and putting new rotors and pads on. Of course they recommended flushing the ps,trans, and fuel system, but I passed on that for today. Thanks for all your suggestions!

[krimson_cardnal]

Sure you need to replace calipers? With a disassembly they certainly can be cleaned up to be serviceable. A common cause to a frozen caliper are the slide and pins. Lots of time they aren't properly lubed. K_C

[geigs]

Originally Posted by krimson_cardnal

Sure you need to replace calipers? With a disassembly they certainly can be cleaned up to be serviceable. A common cause to a frozen caliper are the slide and pins. Lots of time they aren't properly lubed. K_C

KC, I would not doubt your assessment. I just was on a business trip and on the way to the airport, the limo driver was telling me about a mechanic in my area who services his limos and usually the mechanic can make the old stuff serviceable rather than replacing it.

[krimson_cardnal]

Thanks geigs, so what was your solution? Is everything rolling smooth and is there spare change in your pocket - not clanging around in the wheels and brakes??? As long as you're satisfied with how it worked out then life is good. K_C

[geigs]

Originally Posted by krimson_cardnal

Thanks geigs, so what was your solution? Is everything rolling smooth and is there spare change in your pocket - not clanging around in the wheels and brakes??? As long as you're satisfied with how it worked out then life is good. K_C

My solution was just to replace everything. The way I look at it is that if your car does not stop when it's supposed to, you might not get a second chance. As for spare change in my pocket; I'm not concerned, I'm sure the government will bail me out.