I just got a 90 civic hatch and it has, what sounds like its coming from the right front wheel is, a sort of scraping noise and sometimes high pitched wining/metal scraping noise...any ideas? Also when I corner somewhat hard the right front vibrates...broken/cracked axel?? These noises normally only happen at slower speeds. Any help would be great, thanks.

 

Check the CV boots, if the boot is at all broken change the axle. I don't recommend changing just the boot because the CV joint is prolly already shot.

 

The scraping sounds more like you have a rock or something stuck in your brakes, your pads are down to the metal, or the backing plate is bent to hell, etc.

 

I think that if the sounds happen when you are turning, then it is the axle. If its the brakes, then it should occur either all the time or when you brake. I remember that when my brakes were wearing/worn down, it would make a scraping sound whenever i hit the brakes.

 

Yeah, from the post, I got the impression it was making the scraping noise all the time.

 

So I finally got a chance to get the car up on jacks and take a look. None of the boots are torn at all and I'm pretty sure my right front shock is blown. However, there is still a high pitched metal scraping noise that sounds like its coming from right where the axel ataches to the wheel hub. I checked the pads and there's still a good amount of life left on them. Any ideas as to what the high pitched noise could be? Possible bearing gone bad?

 

Generally when bearings go bad, they make a sound when you are going over the 30MPH, usually not under. If the shocks are blown, then there will be oil around your shock absorbers from them leaking. I think thats the only way they go bad.

 

In all seriousness, have a look around the brake and hub assembly for any small pebbles or rocks that might be jammed in there. Also, make sure the anti-squeal plates on the pads are all accounted for.