I have a 2001 with 70,000 miles on it.

Last week, I noticed a slight high-pitched squeal / metallic grinding sound coming from my front left wheel while breaking. After a few days, the break squeal became louder, and it also began to occur when cruising without the break. The squeal seems to be loudest at one point of the wheel rotation, so higher speeds make the sound happen faster.

I do not see any lines in my rotor that would suggest a rock is stuck.

A local shop said the breaks were fine, and after driving it around and looking at it for a while, they decided the wheel bearing was to blame.

Here's my problem with this idea - the noise is not a low growl or wobbling / humming noise. It sounds like a break rotor scraping.

Any thoughts as to what this could be? Wheel bearings? Something else?

Thanks for your time, and your help.

 

On the end of your brake pad there is a squealer, if its contacting the rotor that's telling you you need pads
The dust shields on the inside of the rotor sometimes get bent and touch the rotor and cause squealing

get the garden hose out and wash the brake dust out
If you can let the rotor haze with rust it will scrub a little off the pads
Some pads (cheap) are prone to squealing
I like to grease the back of the pads where they contact the caliper with high temp caliper grease because its often another cause of squealing

 

I doubt it's the wheel bearing. It it most likely brake related. I do not recommended this but you can take out your pads and bend the indicator back a bit and see it the problem stops. Also like was said. Check the brake dust shields

 

Do dust shields bend from normal wear and tear? I don't recall any major potholes / curbs being hit.

 

One time when traversing a 2 track, somehow a stick got up by the brakes and bent my dust shield. May not be your case, but its something to think about.

 

the dust shields rust and become really flimsy
doesn't take much to bend them

I has a Pontiac years ago the a tight parking lot turn , steering wheel turned to the stop ... would cause the dust shield to bend and rub

 

all the time. the fullsize gm trucks are really bad in the back with them, they usually become so rotted you can just grab them bend them around a bit and rip the entire things off due to rust.

if it does it all the time while driving jack the tire up and spin it manually and see if you can locate it. and grab the tire and wiggle it up and down and see if the wheel bearing has any play