Car trouble! need ideas about what is wrong!

[ivank]

I need some car help.

I was on my way to the train station to pick up some friends of mine from the Bundeswehr, and when I passed ~35mph a strange 'popcorn' sound could be heard. I stopped the car and saw nothing strange coming from the back right wheel(where the sound was coming from). So I continued. Then once again at 35+mph the same sound, this time the cars drive was getting less comfortable and a bit 'jerky'. After like 3mins of jerky shuddering motions from the car, I pulled over again. However, this time smoke was more or less billowing from the wheel well, and a strong metal/rubber burning smell was coming from it.

Concerned, I turned around and went home.

Any ideas of what is causing it would be great.

My car is a 2003 Toyota Sequoia, repaired after bad crash a couple of months ago. Brakes replaces last month.

My dad and I are stumped by this, and our mechanic is in the Hamptons(2hrs away)

[Onkel Neal]

Remove the wheel and check the brakes and wheel bearings. Also look for anything that might have been caught in the wheel, some junk from the road.

In the future, if something like this happens, pull off the road and don't drive it home...it could be a serious problem.

[donut]

Pull wheel ck brake assy. alignment ? somethng is binding.

[ivank]

Neal: my 1st instinct was to just have my mom or dad pick me up, but I was ~4 miles away from my house and since the sound only happend when I passed 35mph, I drove home at 20mph. But next time I do not plan to drive it home. Thank you for the concern.:DL

To all: I am going to check the well now. Thank you for a fast answer!:yeah:

[Onkel Neal]

but I was ~4 miles away from my house and since the sound only happend when I passed 35mph, I drove home at 20mph.



Ah, well, that makes sense :salute: I had a visual image of you on the freeway for 15 miles :timeout:

[ivank]

Yea that would have been bad.:D

I looked in the well, but I need a flashlight so I am looking for one.

[Jimbuna]

If you can smell burning rubber look for signs of wear through friction on the tyre, your suspension may have collapsed or even a rubber clip that suspends your exhaust, allowing it to move against your tyre.

If your not over confident with car repairs I'd simply wait and let your mechanic friend make a definitive assessment.

[Aramike]

I need some car help.

I was on my way to the train station to pick up some friends of mine from the Bundeswehr, and when I passed ~35mph a strange 'popcorn' sound could be heard. I stopped the car and saw nothing strange coming from the back right wheel(where the sound was coming from). So I continued. Then once again at 35+mph the same sound, this time the cars drive was getting less comfortable and a bit 'jerky'. After like 3mins of jerky shuddering motions from the car, I pulled over again. However, this time smoke was more or less billowing from the wheel well, and a strong metal/rubber burning smell was coming from it.

Concerned, I turned around and went home.

Any ideas of what is causing it would be great.

My car is a 2003 Toyota Sequoia, repaired after bad crash a couple of months ago. Brakes replaces last month.

My dad and I are stumped by this, and our mechanic is in the Hamptons(2hrs away)You probably either have dented a wheel (hit any big potholes, curbs, objects in road?) or have a problem with your wheel bearings.

Both are things that only really show up when you get up to speed. I would wager that you probably just need a new wheel, which on the scale of 1-10 ranks only as about a 2 in severity.

[ivank]

come to think about it, I hit a pothole that forced me into the curb for like a second right after I left the train station last night on my way home from the city. But I was going like 55 on the rest of the way home and heard nothing.

[Schroeder]

You better let a professional have a look at it. If it is something with your suspension you go better safe than sorry. ;)

[ivank]

Yea, just checked what ever I could, and I can not see anything that looks off. But what do I know, I'm just a 800lb gorilla in the room.:haha: lol :har:

[Aramike]

come to think about it, I hit a pothole that forced me into the curb for like a second right after I left the train station last night on my way home from the city. But I was going like 55 on the rest of the way home and heard nothing.You may not have noticed it right away or it didn't develop into a noticable problem immediately.

You should have it checked out ASAP. If its the wheel, just take the sucker off and it will be obvious.

I will tell you this - the longer you drive on it the worse it can get.