What’s this rustling sound coming from rear brakes?

[jp28173]

About 5 months ago I noticed a rustling/whirring sound coming from my rear wheels/brakes, which is mostly noticeable around 10-15mph with the windows down. Or when I’m driving at low speeds next to jersey barriers or walls. It’s constant when the wheels are in motion, doesn’t change pitch or get louder or softer, and is not affected by pressing the brake pedal at all one way or another.

I thought it was a stuck right rear caliper because the pads were shot and the rotor was wearing very funny. I just swapped out the rear pads, rotors, and the caliper in question with a new one and it made absolutely zero difference in the noise. Didn’t get softer, louder, nothing.

Is it maybe the parking brake dragging that needs adjustment? It’s louder on the passenger rear side than it is on the driver rear side, but the noise is present at both wheels. Any suggestions on what is causing this and how to get this noise to go away? Here are links to videos, first one is passenger side and second one is drivers side:

March 14, 2025

youtube.com

March 14, 2025

youtube.com

EDIT: also meant to say this noise started up out of the blue, if anyone is able to identify what’s causing this sound and how to fix it, what would have been the reason it started in the first place? Thanks!

 

[crash68]

Here are links to videos,

The links are showing that you have the videos labeled as Private, can't play them.

 

[jp28173]

The links are showing that you have the videos labeled as Private, can't play them.

Sorry about that, just fixed it... they should work now.

 

[EdGs]

How many miles on your Ram?

When you had the rear rotors off, did you spin the rear axles to see if you could still hear the noise?

What did the e-brake shoes look like?

 

[04fxdwgi]

Sure sounds like std pad rubbing on rotor, like all disc brakes do.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Often when the rear pads are getting worn down (4mm to 3mm) the wear tabs will start to scrape on the rear rotor edges.

Especially if there is a rust/scale ridge on the outer edge of the rotors.

The parking brakes could also be worth investigating as well. Perhaps they just need a good servicing and adjustment, or replacement altogether if they are worn/heavily glazed over.

 

[jp28173]

How many miles on your Ram?

When you had the rear rotors off, did you spin the rear axles to see if you could still hear the noise?

What did the e-brake shoes look like?

122,500 miles.

I did not spin the rear axles to see about the noise as I was highly confident it was a stuck right rear caliper - it was wearing funny on the outside of the rotor and it was always much hotter to the touch after driving it than the rear drivers side rotor.

I did not inspect the e-brake shoes, if I pull the tires off will I be able to see them or do I need to pull the rotors off? What should I be looking for? A quick note I was adjusting the e-brake star thing a couple days ago and the noise isn't QUITE as loud, but its still there. I had the rear end jacked up and did a couple clicks of the star adjuster, would turn the tire and it would sound a little different each time. Also it seems like there's one "spot" that catches more than the rest, when the tire makes 1 full rotation it's louder in that one spot until it makes another rotation and hits that spot again... if that makes sense and/or helps at all. Thanks.

 

[EdGs]

If you say the sound isn't as loud after adjusting the star wheel, sounds like you're gonna need to take a look at the e-brake shoes. You will need to pull the rotors to inspect them.

If you replaced the rear rotors, then the e-brake shoes were visible at that time. Sometimes the e-brakes hang up from corrosion, etc. Sometimes the pad material comes off the shoe.

Sometimes debris gets caught between the dust plate and the rotor. Or the dustplates get bent, etc.

They should look like this:

The e-brakes get adjusted once the rotors are on and held in place by a couple lug nuts with a stack of washers underneath.

The way I understand it, adjust the star wheel til the shoes start to catch the rotor, then back off 1 or 2 clicks.

Check to see if the e-brakes function properly, of course.

Have you serviced the rear diff?

 

[jp28173]

If you say the sound isn't as loud after adjusting the star wheel, sounds like you're gonna need to take a look at the e-brake shoes. You will need to pull the rotors to inspect them.

If you replaced the rear rotors, then the e-brake shoes were visible at that time. Sometimes the e-brakes hang up from corrosion, etc. Sometimes the pad material comes off the shoe.

Sometimes debris gets cauch between the dust plate and the rotor. Or the dustplates get bent, etc.

They should look like this:
View attachment 562994
The e-brakes get adjusted once the rotors are on and held in place by a couple lug nuts with a stack of washers underneath.

The way I understand it, adjust the star wheel til the shoes start to catch the rotor, then back off 1 or 2 clicks.

Check to see if the e-brakes function properly, of course.

Have you serviced the rear diff?

Thank you, I'll pull the rotors off and give them a look. Should I purchase new e-brake shoes to have on-hand in case they are in bad shape I can go ahead and replace them? Straightforward install if so?

No I have never serviced the rear diff. Should I, and if so how? Thank you again!

 

[EdGs]

You have to find out what is making the noise first. Is it coming from the right rear or left rear.

Maybe it is coming from the diff.

Do your e-brakes work? Maybe the mechanism is stuck, Do your cables droop, are the e-brake levers moving properly?

Get a mechanics stethoscope and see if you can pinpoint where the noise is coming from first. You don't want to be tearing stuff apart without some idea what is going on.

Rear diff service involves draining the gear oil, inspecting the diff and replacing the oil, not sure if you have 2wd, 4wd, anti-spin, or open diff, that might play a role in fluid type to use.

Youtube is your friend, but it can also have bad info too, I never watch just one video if I need to learn how to do something. And I am by no means an expert, there are other WAY more knowledgeable members on this site than me.

 

[jp28173]

You have to find out what is making the noise first. Is it coming from the right rear or left rear.

Maybe it is coming from the diff.

Do your e-brakes work? Maybe the mechanism is stuck, Do your cables droop, are the e-brake levers moving properly?

Get a mechanics stethoscope and see if you can pinpoint where the noise is coming from first. You don't want to be tearing stuff apart without some idea what is going on.

Rear diff service involves draining the gear oil, inspecting the diff and replacing the oil, not sure if you have 2wd, 4wd, anti-spin, or open diff, that might play a role in fluid type to use.

Youtube is your friend, but it can also have bad info too, I never watch just one video if I need to learn how to do something. And I am by no means an expert, there are other WAY more knowledgeable members on this site than me.

Thanks. It's coming from both right and left, but right seems to be a little louder. It's just a light scraping sound when I jack it up and turn the tires by hand - when going about 10-15mph with the windows down, it sounds like a whirring noise almost. Noise definitely changed, albeit slightly, a few days ago when I messed with one of the e-brake star rings, so I'm guessing I'll start with inspecting the e-brake shoes. Definitely coming from the wheels though.

There should be no noise at all when I jack the rear end up and turn the tires, right? As in scraping/rubbing/friction type noise.

E-brake has always worked fine, no sagging etc. Just very strange this happened randomly and to both sides.

 

[EdGs]

You can have a little noise, because the brake pads are always in contact with the rotor.

Did you change any rotors, or just the pads? Which ones?

On my Ram, I had a front inside pad that was worn funky and the backing plate gouged the rotor.

But, at the same time I had an issue with my rear wheel bearings as well.

 

[jp28173]

You can have a little noise, because the brake pads are always in contact with the rotor.

Did you change any rotors, or just the pads? Which ones?

On my Ram, I had a front inside pad that was worn funky and the backing plate gouged the rotor.

But, at the same time I had an issue with my rear wheel bearings as well.

I changed rear pads and rotors, both sides. The noise I was/am hearing first started BEFORE I replaced the pads/rotors (and one caliper that I thought was stuck). After changing these components, the noise is exactly the same, not any quieter or louder, or different - exactly the same. But it definitely sounds like its coming from each wheel, so maybe the e-brake shoes need to be replaced. I think I remember no noise at all coming from each side when I had all the components off during the last change (tires/pads/rotors/calipers), so its gotta be the e-brake shoes I'm thinking.

 

[EdGs]

When you have the rear rotors off, spin the axles and see if you still hear the noise.

The stethoscope might help you pinpoint where the noise originates.

Just out of curiousity, while you are going down the road and turn to the left or right, does the noise change? It does not have to be a hard turn, more like a gentle swerve left and right. Just enough to see if the noise changes any.

Reaaon I ask is I had noise that I thought was from the rear, and it was, partly. I changed my rear wheel bearings and seals. I had a rear bearing that was stuck in the axle tube (193k miles on my Ram then), then discovered I had a front inside brake pad backing plate that was in contact with the rotor.

Braking noise

The Brake and Wheel section will not let me post, Mods are working on it. Had a weird issue yesterday with my brakes. 2015 SLT QC 2wd. Have 192k miles on the clock. Left work and as I was slowng to a stop,

www.ramforum.com

Rear Axle Bearings

Continuing my brake noise saga, I pulled my drivers rear axle seal and bearing, and here I am so far: After pulling, I noticed some roughness in the bearing bore: Bottom: Top: I cannot afford a new rear end, hope I can clean it up with some fine emery cloth. Top of OE bearing: I don't...

www.ramforum.com

 

[jp28173]

When you have the rear rotors off, spin the axles and see if you still hear the noise.

The stethoscope might help you pinpoint where the noise originates.

Just out of curiousity, while you are going down the road and turn to the left or right, does the noise change? It does not have to be a hard turn, more like a gentle swerve left and right. Just enough to see if the noise changes any.

Reaaon I ask is I had noise that I thought was from the rear, and it was, partly. I changed my rear wheel bearings and seals I had a rear bearing that was stuck in the axle tube, 193k miles on my Ram then), then discovered I had a front inside brake pad backing plate that was in contact with the rotor.

Braking noise

The Brake and Wheel section will not let me post, Mods are working on it. Had a weird issue yesterday with my brakes. 2015 SLT QC 2wd. Have 192k miles on the clock. Left work and as I was slowng to a stop,

www.ramforum.com

Rear Axle Bearings

Continuing my brake noise saga, I pulled my drivers rear axle seal and bearing, and here I am so far: After pulling, I noticed some roughness in the bearing bore: Bottom: Top: I cannot afford a new rear end, hope I can clean it up with some fine emery cloth. Top of OE bearing: I don't...

www.ramforum.com

No the noise doesn't change. In fact once I hit about 30mph+ I can't really hear it anymore over the road noise. It's most noticeable between about 10-15mph. That said, I took the passenger rear brakes apart the other day and narrowed it down to the parking brake shoe rubbing on the inside of the rotor. I adjusted the star wheel a few times and got the noise to completely go away. But, I don't remember which way I was turning it... and the noise is still there on the driver's side. So my question is which way should I turn the star wheel on the drivers side to "loosen" the parking brake? Turn it "up" / away from the vehicle, or turn it "down" / towards the passenger's side direction?

 

[EdGs]

Not sure the direction, but it might be opposite the other side, since the adjuster is above the axle tube on one side and below on the other.

I put a stack of washers under 2 of the lug nuts on each side when I adjusted mine. Plus, I think I left them just slightly loose to help center the rotor.

Sorry, it's been longer than a day since I did mine.

This is a pic of a front rotor but you get the idea.