Grinding/Squeaky noise at slow speeds

[Mdgabriel]

Hi- I am the original owner of a '00 model. It has just under 90,000 miles now and has never had any problems... until now.

For the past 2 weeks or so I have been hearing a light grinding or squeaky noise as I slow the car down. At first I thought that it was just an issue when I was in neutral, but as I listened closer I realized that I hear it when I'm in gear as well. I probably just can't hear it at higher speeds over the engine.

I brought the car in to my local Honda dealer to diagnose. And they told me that my clutch is going. I'm not sure that I believe their analysis. I have had no problems with the clutch to this point. And what really makes me think that it's something else... like maybe wheel bearings... is that I can hear the rhythm of the noise slow down with the speed of the car. And it stops completely when the car is at a dead stop.

What do you think?

[My_yella_s2k]

possible that your brake pads are very low, causing the noise?
it could be your clutch......
put car in 1st, ebrake up and go to about 2-3k and let off of clutch slowly... does it die? does it shake terribly? or does it drop a little but stay running when ur foot is fully off the clutch?

[Mdgabriel]

I thought it could be brakes as well. I replaced all of my brake pads at the Honda dealer when I went in though and the sound persists.

I'll try your suggestion, but I don't quite understand. What does "ebrake up" mean? Parking brake? Won't the car stall when I let up on the clutch?

Thanks for your reply.

possible that your brake pads are very low, causing the noise?
it could be your clutch......
put car in 1st, ebrake up and go to about 2-3k and let off of clutch slowly... does it die? does it shake terribly? or does it drop a little but stay running when ur foot is fully off the clutch?

[repiv]

I'm focussing on your statement:

I have been hearing a light grinding or squeaky noise as I slow the car down. At first I thought that it was just an issue when I was in neutral, but as I listened closer I realized that I hear it when I'm in gear as well.

Please elaborate .................................. This noise is the same whether you are in neutral or in gear, right? If you are in neutral, how are you slowing down? Brakes or just coasting? If in neutral, is your clutch up or down? Are you turning in either directions, even slowly? Your foot is off the gas pedal, right? At what speed do you first hear it and at what speed do you no longer hear it as you slow down? What gear? What rpm do you first start to hear it?

[Mdgabriel]

I hear the noise loudest when I'm in neutral but i was able to hear it when listening closely in 1st and 2nd gear as well. I hear it if I am braking or coasting. Clutch is up. I think I hear it regardless, though... I'll have to check. I hear it when going straight. Foot is off the gas pedal. I hear it at any speed below about 30 mph. I don't think it completely goes away above that but it's certainly not as pronounced. It doesn't go away until I come to a complete stop. It actually is somewhat more pronounced below 10 mph. It's hard to say at what rpm it starts because I really can't hear it over the engine noise.

Thanks for your reply.

[repiv]

Do an experiment. Engine running, car stopped, handbrake on, tranny in neutral. Listen for the sound difference between clutch pedal full to the floor and full up. If you hear the sound more when the pedal is up, then what you are hearing is most likely transmission gear noise or tranny bearing noise. This may or may not be normal since every transmission does make some sort of gear hum when spinning around in neutral. However, if you don't hear your noise with the clutch up or down, this would lead to the need for the car to be moving. The main difference between car in neutral not rolling and car rolling (regardless of being in gear or neutral) is the rear output shaft bearing. Some have reported this as needing replacement. This same test could also be an indication that something else that turns only when the car is moving is creating the noise and this would point to all kinds of things, one of which is a wheel bearing. For this, you need to localize it to the front, middle or rear of the car, left or right. If it's in the middle, then it is more likely related to the engine or transmission/clutch. Your clutch has moving parts that can make a noise, too, but these can be somewhat eliminated with the clutch up or down while in neutral test.
As far as rpm related (engine), you need to get to a point where you hear the noise, then give it just a bit of gas with the clutch pedal down. If the sound doesn't change, it's not likely the engine.
Do the above and then we can see if it can be narrowed down some more.
You could still have brake noise but this is unlikely since you say you've just had the pads changed.

[TheStig]

Not sure what it is either. I thought brakes at first too but sounds like you took care of it though. Umm, I would say it is not the wheel bearings.. When mine went bad, it was definitely louder as speed went up.

[Edit] I wrote this while repiv wrote his. +1 for him

[Mdgabriel]

Engine running, car stopped, handbrake on, tranny in neutral. Listen for the sound difference between clutch pedal full to the floor and full up.

No sound at all. The sound is definitely only made when the car is moving.

As far as rpm related (engine), you need to get to a point where you hear the noise, then give it just a bit of gas with the clutch pedal down. If the sound doesn't change, it's not likely the engine.

The sound doesn't seem to change when running this test either.

The more I listen for the issue the more cleary it seems to be related to the motion of the car. Again, as I slow down I can hear the grinding slow down at the same pace until it comes to a complete stop simulataneously with the car. It's hard to pinpoint the exact location of the sound, but I'm fairly certain it's coming from the rear. I can't pinpoint left or right.

Could you tell me more about the rear output shaft bearing? What have others reported when this has been a problem? Is it fixable?

When I first heard the sound, my first thought was brakes as well... especially since I knew I was due for a brake change. But unless they really did a poor job at Honda service, that problem should have been solved.

[repiv]

The tranny rear output shaft bearing makes a fairly typical bearing noise when it goes bad. It can be a hum or a grind and is directly related to the speed of the car. It should be central just under the center arm rest.
Also associated with road speed are.............. Rear diff, rear wheel bearings, CV joints. If it's from the rear, I'm inclined to think it's the diff. A fluid change may reveal lots. It may show lots of metal on the magnet and the new fluid may change the sound. If it does, you've narrowed it down.