Diagnose this? Squealing sound.

[Professor]

High pitched squealing sound. Brakes rotors and pads are two months old ... they are not the culprit. I hear it at low speeds ... coming from the rear of the car. Only when car is in motion. Fairly continuous. Has nothing to do with vertical oscillation (going over bumps). What the heck does that sound like?

Wheel bearing?

Another symptom (possibly unrelated) ... when I let off the throttle when the car is under load (in other words going up a hill or accelerating ... as opposed to just maintaining speed) the car has a slight jerk (not in the steering wheel) that feels like it is coming from the rear (as if the brake is being applied only on one side of the car).

Hmmm. As I type this I just thought of another symptom ... the emergency brake pedal is squeaky and goes down real easy right now ... I just thought it was out of adjustment. Maybe the emergency brake is the culprit?

[fastblackmerc]

High pitched squealing sound. Brakes rotors and pads are two months old ... they are not the culprit. I hear it at low speeds ... coming from the rear of the car. Only when car is in motion. Fairly continuous. Has nothing to do with vertical oscillation (going over bumps). What the heck does that sound like?

Wheel bearing?

Another symptom (possibly unrelated) ... when I let off the throttle when the car is under load (in other words going up a hill or accelerating ... as opposed to just maintaining speed) the car has a slight jerk (not in the steering wheel) that feels like it is coming from the rear (as if the brake is being applied only on one side of the car).

Hmmm. As I type this I just thought of another symptom ... the emergency brake pedal is squeaky and goes down real easy right now ... I just thought it was out of adjustment. Maybe the emergency brake is the culprit?

Check the rear end and check the emergency brakes (shoes).

[88LTDCV351]

Do you smell anything burning?

[Pat]

Inspect your rear control arms they can wear out and cause a jerking.

[jktipton]

Sounds sort of similar to what I experienced on my 99 Crown Vic when the axle seal failed.

[Professor]

Update ... squealing is prevalent at lower speeds. Squealing DOES dissappear when brake pedal is engaged. Squealing is intermittently long and short in length ... like dash dash dash (morse code) ... dashes become faster as ground speed increases.

[Professor]

Do you smell anything burning?

Nothing burning.

[Jeffonebuck]

Sounds like you are narrowing it down to the brakes first. Check those and then on to the bearings. You haven't run over any cats lately !!? :beer:


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[fastblackmerc]

Update ... squealing is prevalent at lower speeds. Squealing DOES dissappear when brake pedal is engaged. Squealing is intermittently long and short in length ... like dash dash dash (morse code) ... dashes become faster as ground speed increases.

Check the rear pads and emergency brake shoes.

[Professor]

Check the rear pads and emergency brake shoes.

Makes sense. Rear pads are only a few months old ... unless a faulty caliper prematurely wore them out. You can actually make it squeal by putting the car in park, releasing the parking brake and rocking the car forward and back (don't know how hard that is on the tranny).

[fastblackmerc]

Makes sense. Rear pads are only a few months old ... unless a faulty caliper prematurely wore them out. You can actually make it squeal by putting the car in park, releasing the parking brake and rocking the car forward and back (don't know how hard that is on the tranny).

You'll probably need to replace the shoes and all the hardware.

[Professor]

Turns out that it is the parking brake. The shoes and all the hardware have to be replaced .... Total cost at the stealership? $550

[Professor]

Oh ... And surprise, surprise ... Parts are on back order.

[RF Overlord]

Turns out that it is the parking brake. The shoes and all the hardware have to be replaced .... Total cost at the stealership? $550Wow.

Shoes (http://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/parking-brake-shoe/mercury/marauder/2003/8-cylinders-4-6l-mfi-dohc) $24.99

Hardware (http://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/parking-brake-hardware-kit/mercury/marauder/2003/8-cylinders-4-6l-mfi-dohc) $13.99

Paying the dealer more than 14X - Priceless

Fairly easy to DIY with no special tools.

[jwibbity]

Wow.

Shoes (http://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/parking-brake-shoe/mercury/marauder/2003/8-cylinders-4-6l-mfi-dohc) $24.99

Hardware (http://www.autozone.com/brakes-and-traction-control/parking-brake-hardware-kit/mercury/marauder/2003/8-cylinders-4-6l-mfi-dohc) $13.99

Paying the dealer more than 14X - Priceless

Fairly easy to DIY with no special tools.

What he said ^^^^ Getting the springs back on the shoes sucks though

[Professor]

I'm going to tell the dealership to bite me ... I'll do it myself.