I had this problem a few months ago. Fearing a CV joint issue, I took it to my mechanic and was told the 'plate behind the brakes was bent.' So a few blows with a hammer and $85 out of my pocket, the noise was gone.

Recently I was going about 10mph and drove over a patch of black ice while turning left. My front right wheel hit the curb and and now the noise is back in the same wheel. Its a pinging type noise, (almost like a loosely held screw driver to a bicycle wheel,) that occurs while turning left. I get the noise about once a rotation.

I took the wheel off but couldn't tell what the plate (or splash guard) should look like. I only have one jack so I couldn't look at the same time but the right brakes looks about the same as the left.

So has anyone had this issue? Any tips or pointers? Basically should I be bending in or out?

 

The splash guard will be a little bit larger than the rotor and should be right behind it. It is a black circular metal plate to prevent water from hitting the rotor.

You should really use jackstands when doing this, so the front of the car on jackstands. Pull up on the emergency brake and put the transmission in neutral. Spin the tire that is making noise and try to find where the rotor is scraping on the splash guard. Try to bend the part that is touching the rotor out. You may see a mark on the rotor where it is hitting the splash guard.

 

When you remove the wheel, you'll see the brake rotor. Spin the rotor & you'll see the thin sheet-metal splash-guard is very close to the rotor, but it doesn't spin along.

Depending on what you find, you bend the splashguard away from the rotor so it doesn't rub.

 

I just thought I'd follow up here. I didn't even have to take the wheel off to fix it. I took a screwdriver and a hammer and lightly tapped along the guard. When I got to the side closest to the front of the vehicle I heard a pop. I haven't had any issues since. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Thanks for posting back. Some wheels have enough open space where you can do that between the spokes. Some wheels you have to remove them...