Weird RS2 noise

[Simoni]

I have a strange noise coming from my left front side of my RS2. It's an irritating zoom, quite loud.
Most of the time it happens when i'm cruising at a constant speed on the motorway.
It stops when I start steering left and right but immediately comes back after that.
I've had it a week or 2 ago, never heard it again untill 2 days ago, it was back. For 3 minutes (during a 1hour drive)
Then al of a sudden it's gone, without me doing anything?
I thought it was the steering servo, but changed the oil and had it checked and it seems to be okay.
The only other thing I could think is the brake disc touching the brake caliper sometimes?


Any ideas would be appreciated!

[S2central.net]

Check for loose heatshields on the inner driveshaft... and also some heatshields on exhaust and around transmission tunnel.

[Ross]

i had a very similar problem, turned out the insides of the front discs were grooved really bad. I had to change discs and pads on both sides. It was bizarre and I have no clue what caused it! I've heard of others having the same problem, and having to get the discs turned and pads scrubbed to sort it.

it's worth running your fingers over the back of the brake disc (when cold of course!) to see if it's worn even before spending money on it. Of course it could be a host of other issues too...

[TideRS]

Check the brake pads, they should move quite easily by hand. If not, there could be corrosion between the calipers and slide plates and the pads get stucked. I had that issue with all four calipers, not easy to fix.

[EspenW]

Does the noise go away when you lightly push on the brake pedal?

[Simoni]

Yes the sound goes away with I push the brake pedal. I had the car checked just recently and my local garage didn't say anything about the discs being worn. Maybe I should have them recheck it.
I'll have a look at the brake pads too.

[alg]

It will be the pads failing to always retract fully & therefore stay in contact with disc. Turning the steering wheel can put them back into place for a while.
Answer
1 Clean caliper with no galvanisation ( stops pads fully retracting)
2 New back plates fitted correctly with the self adhesive side attached to the back of the pads without grease
Even then it will occasionally return. Usually solved by giving the calipers a real good work out.