Wheel Sounds after getting 285/70/R17 KM2s & New Wheels

ElPaso2007 · 06-07-2009, 10:05 AM

2007 Rubicon:

About a month ago I changed to 285/70/R17 KM2s and new Eagle 140 Alloy wheels. I finally took the top down this week and noticed a couple of things that were not readily audible when driving with all the windows in.

1. An eeek-eeek-eeek, rotationally related sound coming from the left rear wheel that occurs at all speeds, when it occurs at all, which is not always. Without the top it's easy to hear but not audible with the top on and windows up. Some days I don't hear it at all even when I roll the window down and lean my head out the window, but most days I do. There are no leaves or branches visible anywhere in the wheel when examined with the wheel on.

2. A dragging sensation and rubbing sound coming from both front wheels when the jeep initially takes off from a standing position. It is not the tires rubbing the sway bar or anything like that. They turn freely and don't touch anything even when turning extreme right or left. I would call it a drag, not a rub, and you can feel it slightly vibrating the jeep when moving 2-3 mph, although I did not notice it before I could hear it with the top down. I think it is definitely something going on in the wheels themselves. After 5 mph you don't hear or feel anything. The front tires are turning smoothly again.

I play to buy a floor jack and some jack stands next week and take a look, but I'm not sure what to look for.

**USAntigoon** · 06-07-2009, 11:11 AM

Your tire patch is much wider over stock 255/75-17. Hence creating more friction with the same TOE-IN setting.
Change in wheels (may be a neg. off-set rim) will alter the scrub radius, which will also change the friction behavior of the tire patch..
I was going to look into the TOE in settings first...
Also keep in mind that with a neg. off set you will feel the road condition better (cantilever vis a vis the bearings)

ElPaso2007 · 06-07-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USAntigoon

Your tire patch is much wider over stock 255/75-17. Hence creating more friction with the same TOE-IN setting.
Change in wheels (may be a neg. off-set rim) will alter the scrub radius, which will also change the friction behavior of the tire patch..
I was going to look into the TOE in settings first...
Also keep in mind that with a neg. off set you will feel the road condition better (cantilever vis a vis the bearings)

Of course, it is the toe-in. I should have thought of that...thanks.

ElPaso2007 · 06-08-2009, 08:41 PM

Does anyone have any ideas about the "eek-eek" sound coming from the left rear wheel. I could hear it again today.

**ncb** · 06-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Maybe the brakes making the eek eek sound.

**Prot** · 06-09-2009, 04:53 AM

Some have reported small rocks becoming lodged in the drum of the emegency brakes causing the sound you describe.

08blkjk · 06-09-2009, 04:57 AM

I had a problem with mud/rust in my e-brake drum, maybe it's that.

rennypogo · 06-09-2009, 05:53 AM

EEK EEK could be lose lug nut?

Jerzjeep · 06-09-2009, 06:14 AM

When I changed to my **** Cepek wheels and 285 tires I noticed a sound coming from the wheels also. It is like a squeaky tinging sound. It might be the same as your sound. I have not done anything about it yet but I do believe it is the center cap. I can spin them on the wheel so my plan is to remove the wheel and and remove the caps to see if it stops or put some sort of tape or something on them to snug them up. I'm going to try to do this Wednesday so I will let you know if it works for me. I also checked the lugs and they were tight so that was not it. That is what I thought it was first too.

RAZORBILL · 06-09-2009, 06:23 AM

Maybe wheel weights on the inside of the wheel/rim rubbing on the brake caliper?

ElPaso2007 · 06-09-2009, 11:06 AM

It's not the brakes. I don't hear the sound when the brakes are being applied -- something I should have mentioned.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I'll check all of them out.

Jerzjeep · 06-09-2009, 11:11 AM

I do think you have the same noise I have. Drives me crazy!

ElPaso2007 · 06-09-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerzjeep

I do think you have the same noise I have. Drives me crazy!

I know, I would love to have just one day when everything on the jeep is working just right, just one day.

ElPaso2007 · 06-09-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rennypogo

EEK EEK could be lose lug nut?

Thanks this was the easiest to check, so I did first. I didn't think Discount Tires would leave loose lugs, but at least two of them were too loose on each of the four tires. One on the left rear was especially loose. Tightening them all up resolved the dragging sensation in the front at under 5 mph and the eeek-eeek sound is probably gone, too. I didn't hear it, but unusually cool here today, and it seemed I heard it more when it was hot.

Thanks to all of you.

propped1 · 06-09-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewMexico2007

Does anyone have any ideas about the "eek-eek" sound coming from the left rear wheel. I could hear it again today.

Its prolly the brake rotors slightly touching either the pads or calipers from the different camber/caster properties of the new wheels. Could also be a misaligned rim from concentric hub on an improperly fit wheel. Taking it off, putting it back on and properly toquing them could make it go away.

I had that eek sound when I had brake changed in an old truck of mine. It had drum rear brakes and a hammer is usually needed to loosen them. We bent the backing plate that holds them in place on the left rear and the drum rubbed making that sound. It was as simple a fix as bending it back.