Hey there. I have a late 2005 Base. Prior to my pads wearing out, there was never any noise from my wheels.

I had new HAWK HPS pads added today and while I understand that brakes need to be worn in...this isn't the typical brake pad noise. Infact, the sound comes when the rotors are free and the tires rolling (no brakes applied).

It's not a loud sound, but I can hear it with my window down . It also has a sort of frequency...something like "whom....whom....whom.." So I'm guessing it's an alignment issue with the wheels being placed back on?.

Anyone had anything similar before?

 

Could be an alignment (toe and/or camber) issue but im not too certain
Are your tires directional perhaps? Maybe your rotors could be a little warped??

 

But why would it suddenly be a (toe/camber) issue if prior to just taking off the wheels and the pads there were no issues. My tires are also original when the car was purchased, 28,000 miles. No feathering at all.....

I dunno....this is rather annoying. It's also a subtle noise too...that you probably won't hear with the window up

 

Dang bad news for you your wheel bearing is gone.
You need to have your wheel bearing replaced whichever one it is.
I had same problem with my 04 350Z at 80,400 miles. and it was right after I had my tire replaced.. the whoom whoom noise is defenitely a wheel bearing.. My front driver side bearing died on me but after replacing it it was all good..

 

Give it a few days till the pads are bedded in. It may just be that.

 

Yea I was just speculating on the alignment.
Xpertool could also be right, my wheel bearing went at 40,000 but no whom...whom noises though ...Im assuming you dont have warranty? 3 years is up right?

 

The front tires are feathered only you don't recognise or see it.

Bad wheel bearings.

The tires are fine just noisy.

 

You have 28,000 miles on the tires? Dang get some new tires!

 

Okay...so the noise went away and here's what the shop did. Actually there were two noises which I isolated later during my drive back to the place.

I've seen the tire feathering, so I knew it wasn't that. I should have been a little more descriptive with the noise. It was more of a knock rather than a "whoom". It was a slight knock/rattle noise everytime the wheel was rotating free. I put the window up during my drive and it was more pronounced. Had the guy at the shop drive the car, he thought it was the rear tires (which are EXTREMELY BALD) and just causing road noise. But it wasn't there before the install so it couldn't have been the tire. (Also, regarding the tires I AM definitely replacing them..just that I don't like my stock 17 inch base rims..and I'm looking for aftermarket, but since I'm dire need I'll get the 18 inch stock rims and keep those as my spare set. I'll swap to aftermarkets when I learn a bit more about what I really want).

Anyway, he suggested lifting the car up and checking for any loose parts. They tugged at everything turned the wheels, took em off. The front rotors are apparently slightly uneven. There was a slight noise coming from the front wheel (Noise 1), found out that it was actually the rotor going bad. The only way I can describe this noise is sort of like when you drag a metal pipe on the road as you walk...except it's not that loud..but VERY slight. Took the pads off to show that contact between the rotor and the pad was not uniform only on the edge and in the center of the rotor. That noise apparently won't go away until the rotors are changed completely.

Noise 2 is the knocking sound. This one is still a bummer. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT WENT AWAY AFTER I LEFT THE SHOP. What the guy did, ...and I can't explain which part it is, unless i have a diagram of the bottom of the car. He tightened two bolts on at the rear end of the car. These two bolts were located on the center of the rear end of the car. I am not sure if it was part of the suspension or axle or anything. I do know that when he put a large rod and tugged it moved a little, like as if it were supposed to give slightly. After tightening that , I drove off and it went away. I can't tell you what it was...and the mechanic had no clue either..since he thought it was road noise from the bald wheels.

At least I got that problem taken car off... Thanks guys for all the help. Maybe if someone shows me a diagram of the bottom of the car I'll pin point the location of those two bolts.