Help me diagnose that noise (brake related)

[fleshconsumed]

I was driving couple of days ago with open windows and noticed that my car was making noises while coasting. The noise is definitely coming from the front brakes, although for some reason I'm having real difficulty determining if it's driver's side or passenger's side. I've had someone else drive my car while sitting in the back seat and trying to listen for the noise, and it looks like it is coming from both front brakes? Which would be strange, so I'm a little confused. The noise does not appear right away when I start driving to work in the morning, I believe it only appears after I apply brakes several times, the harder I apply them the faster the noise appears. The noise also disappears as soon as I start braking, so I know for sure it's brakes. The noise gradually disappears by itself if I have a long stretch of road where I do not need to apply brakes, however, after a couple of stops it's back. The noise does not sound like a typical brake pad rub, it's much shorter, and sounds like a single muted bell chime every time the wheel turns. EDIT: another way to describe it would be a pressure switch like the one in the mouse, just more metallic in nature and much louder.

I tried taking car for a test drive and then jacking up the car one side at a time to spin the wheels with my hands to check from what side the noise is coming, but so far it's been inconclusive.

About two weeks ago I had to replace front driver's side inner fender. I'm not sure if that had anything with this noise, I don't think it does because I haven't touched brake assembly, I just took the wheel off, replaced inner fender, and put wheel back on, torqued it to recommended 80lb-ft with torque wrench.

So without taking brakes apart, which I have never done, what could it be?

Cliffs on the noise:
-does not sound like a brake pad rub, more like a muted wind chime
-comes from front brakes, unsure if driver side or passenger, could be both
-does not appear immediately after I start driving
-appears only after I hit the brakes several times, the harder I hit them the sooner it appears
-immediately goes away as soon as I hit the brakes
-gradually disappears by itself if I drive a long stretch of road without any braking
-had to take of driver's side front wheel shortly before, any relevance?

 

[7window]

On brakes I only worry if it is a grinding noise when you step on it or worse when its grinding while your car is moving.

Please describe the noise. Squeaking noise could be lack of lubricant or grease they put on the breaks to stop from making noise. Or could be time to replace the brakes. When the indicator hits the rotor it will make noise.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

On brakes I only worry if it is a grinding noise when you step on it or worse when its grinding while your car is moving.

Please describe the noise. Squeaking noise could be lack of lubricant or grease they put on the breaks to stop from making noise. Or could be time to replace the brakes. When the indicator hits the rotor it will make noise.

That would be my guess.

 

[Doppel]

Sounds like moderate braking is warming them up, they are expanding and rubbing. Then you drive longer, they cool. When you hit brakes harder they are clamping down more and reducing the vibration. Sorry i can't offer a solution. I had this problem on a vehicle and was unable to solve it after a lot of time spent, but probably you'll have much better luck.

 

[fleshconsumed]

Please describe the noise. Squeaking noise could be lack of lubricant or grease they put on the breaks to stop from making noise. Or could be time to replace the brakes. When the indicator hits the rotor it will make noise.

It's difficult to describe the noise, it always is, however it is not the brake pad rub, and it is not the typical squeal brakes make when they approach end of life, I've had both of those, and I can easily recognize them, this noise is something new. The best I can describe it is very short clunking noise, the wheels go clunk-clunk-clunk as the car is moving, the clunking speeds up as I speed up and slows down as I slow down. The noise is noticeably loud which is why I thought to ask.

 

[LTC8K6]

Something hitting something?

Loose lug / axle nut?

Bearing?

CV joint?