'Screech' noise when pulling away
- Thread starter BrianJ
- Start date
pretzel
New member
Hello there. Hope someone can advise.
My '08 Cayman has recently developed a 'screech' noise. The noise occurs only briefly when pulling away from a standing start in conjunction with turning right and on an incline. The noise appears to emanate from the left rear of the car. This condition does not occur when pulling away straight or when turning left, or at any other time.
I have not yet consulted the OPC or local specialist as I thought I's seek the expert advice on here first. Anyone else experienced this and know the cause?
BTW I did search for this on Planet 9 and came across a post describing EXACTLY the same thing. The post there was dated 2009 but there had been no responses to date.
Thanks in advance,
Pete B.
My '08 Cayman has recently developed a 'screech' noise. The noise occurs only briefly when pulling away from a standing start in conjunction with turning right and on an incline. The noise appears to emanate from the left rear of the car. This condition does not occur when pulling away straight or when turning left, or at any other time.
I have not yet consulted the OPC or local specialist as I thought I's seek the expert advice on here first. Anyone else experienced this and know the cause?
BTW I did search for this on Planet 9 and came across a post describing EXACTLY the same thing. The post there was dated 2009 but there had been no responses to date.
Thanks in advance,
Pete B.
John H
New member
If it is a stone, there is a simple solution that might work. Find a private driveway, and slowly reverse while also applying some brake pressure (ideally you need three feet to do this properly). This can sometimes be enough to dislodge a small fragment of debris caught in the brake pad. Worth a try.
If the noise is only when pulling away and you mentioned the incline, could it be a fault with the left rear brake in relation to Hill Start Assist? http://www.porsche.com/microsite/technology/default.aspx?pool=uk&ShowSingleTechterm=PTAnfA&Category=CATAnt&Model=&SearchedString=&SelectedVariant=
Pete, I take it that your Cayman is a Gen1 as it appears to not have hill start assist although the Gen2 would have been on sale in late 2008, you mentioned it is manual so if when you stopped and then pulled away did you have the handbrake applied? The drum type handbrake favoured by Porsche since they moved to 4 wheel disc brakes can stick and if parked overnight or worse, longer, will sometimes seize and then release with a bang and so if the handbrake was applied it may just have been the sound of it contacting the drum as you pulled away, it may just have been more noticeable from one brake. If this fits with what you have noticed it should be of no concern, such things can come and go.
Fanbelt? That was my initial thought, expected everybody to say that! Might also be debris, happened to me once. Awful (metallic sounding) screeching noise when driving forward. Reversed and bit of debris revealed itself. Pooped myself thought something had caught in the brakes and wrecked them!! Btw gen 1 also has hill start.
pretzel
New member
Hi Buddy (and the other posters). Have not replied as I have been away enjoying some sunshine for a couple of weeks 
Have now tried the reversing trick to see if any debris in the rear brakes became dislodged but nothing visible and the noise persists. Thanks Buddy also for the info on sticking handbrake linings. I know what you describe but as this is a persistent thing after driving off - i.e. not only when starting out from overnnight parking, I had discounted this possible cause. Am pretty sure my Cayman does not have hill start assist, it is a Gen 1 and is a November '08 car, so right on the cusp of the Gen 1/Gen 2 transistion. The problem and my quest to solve the mystery continues...... I am due an MOT soon and will be having the OPC do it so I will mention to them and see what they say. I will of course share their response with you guys. Pete B.
Have now tried the reversing trick to see if any debris in the rear brakes became dislodged but nothing visible and the noise persists. Thanks Buddy also for the info on sticking handbrake linings. I know what you describe but as this is a persistent thing after driving off - i.e. not only when starting out from overnnight parking, I had discounted this possible cause. Am pretty sure my Cayman does not have hill start assist, it is a Gen 1 and is a November '08 car, so right on the cusp of the Gen 1/Gen 2 transistion. The problem and my quest to solve the mystery continues...... I am due an MOT soon and will be having the OPC do it so I will mention to them and see what they say. I will of course share their response with you guys. Pete B.
Pete, it's most likely a simple thing such as debris on the end of the pad as has been suggested or the anti squeal shim behind the brake pads is another candidate if you remove the pads and shims, clean them and the faces of the pistons and use some grease on them not only will you have fixed that possibility but any debris will be cleared too.[]
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pretzel
New member
Thanks for the additional suggestion Buddy. Given the suggestions so far related to brake related possibilities I think I may have not conveyed accurately the sort of sound I am hearing - very difficult to do in text of course so I'll try again. To me the sound is more of a high(ish) frequency clicking noise and lasts only briefly when the clutch is let in. Still only sporadically heard and only noticeable when pulling away whilst turning right and more likely when also on an uphill gradient. I would rather it was located in the area of the brakes of course as I fear that alternatives could me more difficult (and likely expensive) to resolve. Pete B.
One of my stones in the rear brakes sounded exactly like that, and only on slow right hand corners. The clicking noise appeared to be the stone getting turned by movement. In spite of several attempts to find it, after several months it sounded worse and worse, probably whilst grinding itself smaller and smaller, until one day when reversing it made a ping and the noise disappeared and has never returned. Might not be your problem of course.
pretzel
New member
Update on the mechanical screeching noise: I have been advised by my OPC that the problem has been traced to the power steering pump. It appears that my steering rack has had quite a serious leak and as a result there is barely enough power steering fluid to keep the pump lubricated so when there is a lot of effort required (such as when pulling away whilst turning) the noise occurs. Sounds plausible. The steering rack is being replaced as I type this. Interestingly the OPC tells me they are getting a goodwill payment towards this so what could have been a sizeable bill (over £1300) has been reduced to a more manageable £400, inclusive of fitting. I am having new front brakes fitted at the same time so most of the disassembly is occurring in any case, but still that is a big saving. I wonder if there may be a known issue? I mention this as my car does not have warranty cover. On a completely different note whilst my Cayman has been in dock I have been lent a very well specced new Boxster S PDK. Very nice piece of kit and unbelievably rapid across country. If the forthcoming Cayman is based on this then it will be a belter. Pete B.
Hi Pete, thanks for the update, I haven't heard of problems on the Gen1 steering pump which is probably common to the Boxster, Cayman and Carrera so probably just an occasional fault but it's good to hear about the OPC paying the bulk of the bill, I bet a relief to you too! According to the rules of the forum we shouldn't name and shame but we can name and praise so which OPC was so good? Glad to know you were so well looked after, it happens occasionally. BTW, it's useful if you put your approximate location as Region, county and such for finding other Cayman owners in your area.
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