Scraping noise, rear of Hyundai i30

KaneToad

Hi, looking for some guidance, please.

I heard the weirdest noise from the rear of my car today. (At least I think it was the rear). I'd just finished about 20 mins of 100-120kph motorway driving, I braked to a complete stop. I stopped. Then I heard the weirdest noise - I thought it was the car behind me. It sounded like the underside of their car was scraping the road as it approached me. I looked in my rear view to see if I could see the plastic floor thing from their engine bay scraping but couldn't really see anything.

Pulled off when lights went green. Checked mirror again. Still couldn't see anything. Same thing happened at next set of lights. Then the Car behind turned off the road. But then it happened again at the next set of lights, the noise was me!!

What might it be?? It was weird insofar that it happened AFTER I came to a complete stop and persisted for 3-4 secs. It wasn't a noise from the engine. It sounded like it came from the rear axle?? I thought it might be a loose exhaust but got under the car and all looked well.

Was parked up for about 3 hours and then drove another 100kms of motorway. Didn't hear the noise again. It was only heard about 3 or 4 times, always after I stopped...

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Steverachmad

KaneToad wrote: »

Hi, looking for some guidance, please.

I heard the weirdest noise from the rear of my car today. (At least I think it was the rear). I'd just finished about 20 mins of 100-120kph motorway driving, I braked to a complete stop. I stopped. Then I heard the weirdest noise - I thought it was the car behind me. It sounded like the underside of their car was scraping the road as it approached me. I looked in my rear view to see if I could see the plastic floor thing from their engine bay scraping but couldn't really see anything.

Pulled off when lights went green. Checked mirror again. Still couldn't see anything. Same thing happened at next set of lights. Then the Car behind turned off the road. But then it happened again at the next set of lights, the noise was me!!

What might it be?? It was weird insofar that it happened AFTER I came to a complete stop and persisted for 3-4 secs. It wasn't a noise from the engine. It sounded like it came from the rear axle?? I thought it might be a loose exhaust but got under the car and all looked well.

Was parked up for about 3 hours and then drove another 100kms of motorway. Didn't hear the noise again. It was only heard about 3 or 4 times, always after I stopped...

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Is the car due a service or more to the point a timing belt , don't put of either especially the latter , a replacement engine versus maintenance is as the yanks say a no brainer

beauf

Sounds like the rear brakes. I'd get them checked if I was you.

KaneToad

Steverachmad wrote: »

Is the car due a service or more to the point a timing belt , don't put of either especially the latter , a replacement engine versus maintenance is as the yanks say a no brainer

Thanks for reply Steverachmad. My vehicle has a timing chain rather than a timing belt, I don't think that these need replacing. The noise seemed to be coming from the back end of vehicle rather than engine bay. Mind you, I do know that it can be very hard to pinpoint where the noise comes from when sat in the vehicle.

KaneToad

beauf wrote: »

Sounds like the rear brakes. I'd get them checked if I was you.

I will. However, given that the sound occurred after the car had come to a complete stop - rather than when under the process of braking - I'm not so sure that this was the issue. Never hurts to have the brakes checked though! Thanks.

beauf

Maybe the handbrake is not holding. Test on a hill.

KaneToad

beauf wrote: »

Maybe the handbrake is not holding. Test on a hill.

The handbrake wasn't being used at the time. It was on flat terrain. (I'm lazy and use the footbrake when stopped at light!!)

I'm wondering if it might be loose pads in the calipers. Not entirely convinced though - I can't see why the noise would persist 3-4 secs after the car had come to a complete stop. On reflection, I guess it has to have been a 'moving' part of the car that continued moving after I stopped and was scraping/rattling against something else. Don't know what would be 'moving' at the back end of the car... other than braking mechanism...(!)

CJhaughey

Get another driver, you sit in the back seat and open the windows. Listen.
It could be worn brake pads/stone in the caliper or any number of things.
Bring a lamp and look around where the noise is coming from.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Check the brake discs on the rear wheels. If they're hot, its probably an issue with the caliper or brake pad.

KaneToad

OP here...

Did the work commute today. Not a peep out of the car. The noise never returned.

I was hoping to get the wheels off this evening and have a good look but I ran out of daylight. If I find the answer, I'll report back. Thanks all for your suggestions.

bbbaldy

Exhaust heat shield. Usually rattles more when engine is idling. Would explain noise when stopped.

blackbox

Did you actually look underneath the car? Could there simply be a tree branch or something stuck in the suspension?

.

KaneToad

OP here.

Just for closures sake... in the end, I replaced discs & pads and that seems to have cured the issue. Thanks again for all your assistance.